Archive for April, 2009

It’s unusual to have four bank failures on one day. Here’s the FDIC press release for the Idaho bank:

First Bank of Idaho, FSB, Ketchum, Idaho, was closed today by the Office of Thrift Supervision, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with U.S. Bank, Minneapolis, Minnesota, to assume all of the deposits, excluding those from brokers, of First Bank of Idaho.

The failed bank had seven offices in Idaho and Wyoming. All seven offices will reopen on Monday as branches of U.S. Bank. Depositors of First Bank of Idaho will automatically become depositors of U.S. Bank. The two drive-up windows with Saturday hours will reopen tomorrow and operate under normal business hours.

Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until U.S. Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of First Bank of Idaho.

Over the weekend, depositors of First Bank of Idaho 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 December 31, 2008, First Bank of Idaho had total assets of approximately $488.9 million and total deposits of $374.0 million. U.S. Bank paid a premium of 0.55 percent to acquire the deposits of First Bank of Idaho.

U.S. Bank will not assume $112.8 million in brokered deposits held by First Bank of Idaho. The FDIC will pay the brokers directly for the amount of their funds. Customers who placed money with brokers should contact them directly for more information about the status of their deposits.

Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-591-2845. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Mountain Daylight Time (MDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., MDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., MDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., MDT. Customers who would like more information about today’s transaction can also visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/firstbankidaho.html.

In addition to acquiring the failed banks deposits, U.S. Bank agreed to purchase approximately $17.8 million in assets. The FDIC will retain any remaining assets for later disposition.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $191.2 million. U.S. Bank’s acquisition of the deposits of First Bank of Idaho was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. First Bank of Idaho is the 29th bank to fail in the nation this year and the first in the state. The last FDIC-insured institution to fail in Idaho was Northwestern Federal Savings and Loan Association, Boise, on August 26, 1988.

Moving on to the West Coast, here’s one from California:

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) approved the payout of the insured deposits of First Bank of Beverly Hills, Calabasas, California. The bank was closed today by the California Department of Financial Institutions, which appointed the FDIC as receiver.

For insured deposits placed directly with the bank and not through a broker, the FDIC will mail these customers checks for their insured funds on Monday. For insured deposits from brokers, the FDIC will pay the brokers directly once brokers provide the FDIC with the necessary documents. Brokered deposit customers should contact their brokers directly about the status of their accounts.

First Bank of Beverly Hills, as of December 31, 2008, had total assets of $1.5 billion and total deposits of $1 billion. It is estimated that the bank has $179,000 of uninsured deposits.

Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll free at 1-800-523-8089. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. PDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m. PDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. PDT. Interested parties can also visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/beverlyhills.html.

First Bank of Beverly Hills is the 28th FDIC-insured institution to fail this year and the fourth in California. The last bank to be closed in the state was County Bank, Merced, on February 6, 2009. The FDIC estimates the cost of the failure to its Deposit Insurance Fund to be approximately $394 million.

Here’s another one out of Michigan (FDIC press release follows):

Michigan Heritage Bank, Farmington Hills, Michigan, was closed today by the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Level One Bank, Farmington Hills, Michigan, to assume all of the deposits, excluding those from brokers, of Michigan Heritage.

The three offices of Michigan Heritage will reopen on Monday as branches of Level One. Depositors of Michigan Heritage will automatically become depositors of Level One. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until Level One can fully integrate the deposit records of Michigan Heritage.

Over the weekend, depositors of Michigan Heritage 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 December 31, 2008, Michigan Heritage had total assets of approximately $184.6 million and total deposits of $151.7 million. Level One paid a premium of 1.16 percent to acquire the deposits of Michigan Heritage.

Level One will not assume $50 million in brokered deposits held by Michigan Heritage. The FDIC will pay the brokers directly for the amount of their funds. Customers who placed money with brokers should contact them directly for more information about the status of their deposits.

Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-954-9526. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Customers who would like more information about today’s transaction can also visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/michiganheritage.html.

In addition to acquiring $101.7 million of the failed bank’s deposits, Level One agreed to purchase approximately $46.1 million in assets. The FDIC will retain any remaining assets for later disposition.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $71.3 million. Level One’s acquisition of all the deposits of Michigan Heritage was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. Michigan Heritage is the 27th bank to fail in the nation this year and the first in the state. The last bank to fail in Michigan was Main Street Bank, Northville, on October 10, 2008.

Friday is traditionally the day of the week the FDIC steps in to shut down a bank. The lastest was in Georgia, making it the 26th bank to fail this year. Here is the press release:

American Southern Bank, Kennesaw, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Bank of North Georgia, Alpharetta, Georgia, to assume all of the deposits, excluding those from brokers, of American Southern Bank.

The one office of American Southern Bank will reopen on Monday as a branch of Bank of North Georgia. Depositors of American Southern Bank will automatically become depositors of Bank of North Georgia. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until Bank of North Georgia can fully integrate the deposit records of American Southern Bank.

Over the weekend, depositors of American Southern 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 March 30, 2009, American Southern Bank had total assets of approximately $112.3 million and total deposits of $104.3 million. Bank of North Georgia paid a premium of 0.003 percent to acquire the deposits of American Southern Bank.

Bank of North Georgia will not assume $48.7 million in brokered deposits held by American Southern Bank. The FDIC will pay the brokers directly for the amount of their funds. Customers who placed money with brokers should contact them directly for more information about the status of their deposits.

Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-323-6111. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Customers who would like more information about today’s transaction can also visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/amsouthern.html.

In addition to acquiring $55.6 million of the failed bank’s deposits, Bank of North Georgia agreed to purchase approximately $31.3 million in assets. The FDIC will retain any remaining assets for later disposition.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $41.9 million. Bank of North Georgia’s acquisition of all the deposits of American Southern Bank was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. American Southern Bank is the 26th bank to fail in the nation this year and the fifth in the state. The last bank to fail in Georgia was Omni National Bank, Atlanta, on March 29.

Today the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released its estimates of per capita income in U.S. metro areas in 2007. If anything, it shows how much Whatcom County residents were making before the financial meltdown/recession hit.

In 2007, the per capita personal income for Whatcom County residents in 2007 was $33,487, up 6.2 percent from the previous year. Whatcom’s per capita income was 87 percent of the U.S. total.

I was looking through this week’s Bellingham building permits. Here are a couple worth noting.

– A tenant improvement permit was approved to convert the former Frank’s Place pawn shop on Railroad Avenue to a consignment clothing store. Don’t have details yet on the new business, but will start looking around.

– It looks like the WaMu brand name will now be disappearing around Bellingham. Permits were issued to take down those signs and replace them with Chase Bank signs.

A couple of readers have asked me to keep posting bank closures across the U.S. Here are a couple that happened on Friday (By the way, Fridays are typically when the FDIC steps in to shut down a bank so they can go through the paperwork during the weekend and open up on Monday under whichever bank is taking over). Below are the FDIC press releases:

Great Basin Bank of Nevada, Elko, Nevada, was closed today by the Nevada Financial Institutions Division, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Nevada State Bank, Las Vegas, Nevada, to assume all of the deposits of Great Basin Bank of Nevada.
The five offices of Great Basin Bank of Nevada will reopen on Monday as branches of Nevada State Bank. Depositors of Great Basin Bank of Nevada will automatically become depositors of Nevada State Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until Nevada State Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Great Basin Bank of Nevada.
Over the weekend, depositors of Great Basin Bank of Nevada 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 December 31, 2008, Great Basin Bank of Nevada had total assets of $270.9 million and total deposits of $221.4 million. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Nevada State Bank agreed to purchase approximately $252.3 million of assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.
The FDIC and Nevada State Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $143.4 million of Great Basin Bank’s assets. Nevada State Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers.
The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $42 million. Nevada State Bank’s acquisition of all the deposits was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. Great Basin Bank of Nevada is the twenty-fifth FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the second in Nevada. The last FDIC-insured institution to be closed in the state was Security Savings Bank, Henderson, on February 27, 2009.

American Sterling Bank, Sugar Creek, Missouri, was closed today by the Office of Thrift Supervision, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Metcalf Bank, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, to assume all of the deposits of American Sterling Bank.
The Missouri offices of American Sterling will reopen on Saturday, and the offices in California and Arizona will reopen on Monday as branches of Metcalf Bank. Depositors of American Sterling Bank will automatically become depositors of Metcalf Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until Metcalf Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of American Sterling Bank.
Over the weekend, depositors of American Sterling 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 March 20, 2009, American Sterling Bank had total assets of approximately $181 million and total deposits of $171.9 million. In addition to assuming the failed bank’s deposits, Metcalf also agreed to purchase approximately $173.6 million in assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.
The FDIC and Metcalf Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $100 million of American Sterling’s assets. Metcalf Bank will share with the FDIC in the losses on the assets covered under the agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers.
The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $42 million. Metcalf Bank’s acquisition of all the deposits was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. American Sterling Bank is the twenty-fourth FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year. The last FDIC-insured institution to be closed in Missouri was Hume Bank, Hume, on March 7, 2008.

Whatcom County homes selling in the fourth quarter were still overvalued, according to the latest report from IHS Global Insight.

This area was considered 26 percent overvalued in the study, which conisders a variety of factors including median sales price, population density and relative income levels. Whatcom County is considered the eighth most overvalued metro area in the country. Atlantic City was the highest, followed by Wenatchee.

This area has been high on this list for a few years; during one recent stretch this housing market was considered extremely overvalued (more than 35 percent overvalued). So while the percentage we’re considered overvalued has been dropping, many others are dropping faster, which is moving us up on the list.

I’ll have the story out later today… but what are you seeing? As we head into the buying season, are home prices still being set too high?

Well, the FDIC jumped in to close a second bank late on Good Friday. What’s interesting about this one is the assets weren’t sold to another bank. Here are the details from the FDIC press release:

New Frontier Bank, Greeley, Colorado, was closed today by the State Bank Commissioner, by Order of the Banking Board of the Colorado Division of Banking, which then appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Greeley (DINB), which will remain open for approximately 30 days to allow depositors time to open accounts at other insured institutions. At the time of closing, the receiver immediately transferred to the DINB all insured deposits of New Frontier, except for brokered deposits, certificates of deposit (CDs) and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The receiver also transferred to the DINB all secured public unit deposits. Under the FDI Act, the FDIC may create a deposit insurance national bank to ensure that depositors have continued access to their insured funds where no other bank has agreed to assume the insured deposits.

Bank of the West, San Francisco, California, was contracted by the FDIC to provide operational management of the DINB. The main office and two branches of New Frontier will open on Monday, April 13, 2009. Banking activities, such as direct deposit and writing checks, ATM and debit cards, can continue normally for former customers of New Frontier during the 30-day transition period. It is also important to note that New Frontier official checks will continue to clear and will be issued to customers closing accounts.

All insured depositors of New Frontier are encouraged to transfer their insured funds to other banks. They may do so by asking their new bank to electronically transfer their deposits from the DINB or by writing checks for the amount in their accounts.

The FDIC will mail checks at the end of the transition period to the address of record for depositors who have not closed or transferred their accounts during the transition period.

Brokered deposits, CDs and IRAs are not a part of this transaction. The FDIC will mail checks to non-brokered deposit customers. The FDIC will pay the brokered deposits directly to the brokers for the amount of their insured funds. Customers with brokered deposits should contact their brokers directly for information concerning their money.

The FDIC created the DINB to permit uninterrupted service for customers with checking and NOW accounts. This arrangement allows for uninterrupted direct deposits and automated payments from customers’ accounts and allows them time to find another institution with which to do business.

As of March 24, 2009, New Frontier had total assets of $2.0 billion and total deposits of about $1.5 billion. At the time of closing, there were approximately $150 million in insured deposits and $4 million in deposits that potentially exceeded the insurance limits. Uninsured deposits were not transferred to the DINB. This amount is an estimate that is likely to change once the FDIC obtains additional information from these customers.

Customers with accounts in excess of $250,000 should contact the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-830-4705 to set up an appointment to discuss their deposits. This phone number will be operational this evening until 9 p.m., MDT; on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., MDT; on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., MDT; and thereafter from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., MDT. Customers who would like more information on today’s transaction should visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/newfrontier.html.

Beginning Monday, depositors of New Frontier with more than $250,000 at the bank may visit the FDIC’s Web page “Is My Account Fully Insured?” at http://www2.fdic.gov/dip/Index.asp to determine their insurance coverage.

The FDIC as receiver will retain all the assets from New Frontier for later disposition. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

The cost to the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund is estimated to be $670 million. New Frontier is the twenty-third bank to fail this year and the second in Colorado. The last bank to be closed in the state was Colorado National Bank, Colorado Springs, on March 20, 2009.

Cape Fear Bank of North Carolina became the 22nd bank to be shut down by the FDIC in 2009. Here are the details from the FDIC press release:

Cape Fear Bank, Wilmington, North Carolina, was closed today by the North Carolina Office of Commissioner of Banks, which then appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Charleston (First Federal), Charleston, South Carolina, to assume all of the deposits of Cape Fear Bank.

Cape Fear Bank’s eight offices will reopen on Monday as branches of First Federal. Depositors of Cape Fear Bank will automatically become depositors of First Federal. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of both banks should continue to use their existing branches until First Federal can fully integrate the deposit records of Cape Fear Bank.

Over the weekend, depositors of Cape Fear 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 March 31, 2009, Cape Fear Bank had total assets of approximately $492 million and total deposits of $403 million. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, First Federal agreed to purchase approximately $468 million in assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.

The FDIC and First Federal entered into a loss-share transaction on approximately $395 million of Cape Fear Bank’s assets. First Federal will share with the FDIC in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers as they will maintain a banking relationship.

Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-866-806-6128. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., EDT; on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties can also visit the FDIC’s Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/capefear.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $131 million. First Federal’s acquisition of all deposits was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. Cape Fear Bank is the twenty-second bank to fail in the nation this year. The last bank to fail in North Carolina was Crown National Bank, Charlotte, on May 20, 1993.