More bank failures

Written by Dave Gallagher | The Bellingham Herald | May 1, 2009

Instead of posting each bank failure individually, I’ll put them in one post each week. Here are the latest ones announced by the FDIC:

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) created a bridge bank to take over the operations of Silverton Bank, National Association, Atlanta, Georgia, after the bank was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC appointed the FDIC as receiver. The newly created bank is Silverton Bridge Bank, National Association.

Silverton Bank did not take deposits directly from the general public nor did it make loans to consumers. It was a commercial bank that provided correspondent banking services to its client banks.

Silverton Bank had approximately 1,400 client banks in 44 states, and operated six regional offices. It provided a variety of services for its clients, including credit card operations, clearing accounts, investments, consulting, purchasing loans, and selling loan participations. Since the FDIC created a new bank to take over the operations of Silverton Bank, there is not expected to be any meaningful impact on the bank’s clients.

The creation of the bridge bank allows the client banks to maintain their correspondent banking relationship with the least amount of disruption. The FDIC will operate Silverton Bridge Bank, N.A., to allow preexisting marketing efforts for the bank to continue.

At the time of its closing, Silverton Bank had approximately $4.1 billion in assets and $3.3 billion in deposits, all of which are expected to be within the FDIC’s insurance limits.

Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-523-0640. 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/silverton.html.

TIB-The Independent BankersBank, Irving, Texas, was contracted by the FDIC to provide operational management of Silverton Bridge Bank, N.A.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $1.3 billion. Silverton Bank is the 30th bank to fail in the nation this year and the sixth in Georgia. The last FDIC-insured institution to fail in the state was American Southern Bank, Kennesaw, on April 24.

Number 31….

Citizens Community Bank, Ridgewood, New Jersey, was closed today by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with North Jersey Community Bank, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, to assume all of the deposits of Citizens Community Bank.

The failed bank’s sole office will reopen on Monday as a branch of North Jersey Community Bank. Depositors of Citizens Community Bank will automatically become depositors of the assuming 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 North Jersey Community Bank can fully integrate the deposit records of Citizens Community Bank.

Over the weekend, depositors of Citizens Community 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 December 31, 2008, Citizens Community Bank had total assets of approximately $45.1 million and total deposits of $43.7 million. North Jersey Community Bank paid a premium of 0.67 percent to acquire all of the deposits of the failed bank.

Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-523-8503. 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/citizens.html.

In addition to acquiring the failed bank’s deposits, North Jersey Community Bank agreed to purchase approximately $11.5 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 $18.1 million. North Jersey Community Bank’s acquisition of the deposits of Citizens Community Bank was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives.

Citizens Community Bank is the 31st bank to fail in the nation this year and the first in New Jersey. The last FDIC-insured institution to fail in the state was Dollar Savings Bank, Newark, on February 14, 2004.

Number 32….

America West Bank, Layton, Utah, was closed today by the Utah Department of Financial Institutions, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Cache Valley Bank, Logan, Utah, to assume all of the deposits of America West.

The failed bank’s three offices will reopen on Monday as branches of Cache Valley Bank. Depositors of America West Bank will automatically become depositors of the assuming 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.

Over the weekend, depositors of America West 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 December 31, 2008, America West Bank had total assets of approximately $299.4 million and total deposits of $284.1 million. Cache Valley Bank paid a discount of $352,000 to acquire all of the deposits of the failed bank.

Customers who have questions about today’s transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-523-8209. 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/americawest.html.

In addition to acquiring the failed bank’s deposits, Cache Valley Bank agreed to purchase approximately $10.9 million in assets, with a 30-day option to purchase loans at book value. The FDIC will retain any remaining assets for later disposition.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $119.4 million. Cache Valley Bank’s acquisition of all of the deposits of America West Bank was the “least costly” resolution for the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives.

America West Bank is the 32nd bank to fail in the nation this year and the second in Utah. The last FDIC-insured institution to fail in the state was MagnetBank, Salt Lake City, on January 30, 2009.