Basic Flashcards
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
How does Sections 10(b) and (c) of the FDI Act empower FDIC examiners? (TIEE)
- Empower examiners to make a thorough examination of a bank’s affairs
- Examiners should document all significant examination obstacles and the regional office’s resolution of the situation
- If faced with serious impediments to an examination, including uncooperative executive officers, or restricted access to bank employees or records, examiners should contact the RO
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What is the purpose of examinations?
- Public Confidence - Maintain public confidence in integrity of banking system
- Laws & Regulations - Determining adherence to laws and regulations
- Protecting DIF - Protecting the financial integrity of the deposit insurance fund
- Understand Problems - Supply an understanding of the nature, relative seriousness and cause of a bank’s problems
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What does “FFIEC” represent and who are the members?
- Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
- FDIC,
- FRB,
- OCC,
- NCUA,
- CFPB,
- State Liaison Committee (Composed of five representatives of state supervisory agencies)
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What does UFIRS represent, when was it adopted, and by whom?
The Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (UFIRS) was adopted by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) on November 13, 1979, and updated in December 1996.
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What is the purpose of UFIRS and how has it evolved?
- UFIRS proved to be an effective supervisory tool for evaluating financial institutions on a uniform basis and for identifying institutions requiring special attention;
- Revisions to UFIRS include the addition of a sixth component addressing SMR, explicit references to the quality of risk management processes with the management component, and risk identification elements within the composite and component rating descriptions
- Assists regulatory agencies in fulfilling their mission of maintaining stability and public confidence in the nations financial system
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
Can the Board and management disclose the examination ratings to all bank employees? Explain.
Banks cannot, except in very limited circumstances, disclose the ratings or any part of a report of examination (ROE) without the prior written consent of their primary regulator.
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What is the purpose of an “Examination Letter?
- Clearly communicated the FDIC’s expectations for troubled institutions
- The Examination Letter should:
- Be delivered by FDIC FS to executive officers/presidents during examination exit meetings for banks newly-assigned a CAMELS composite 3 rating or worse;
- Letters should notify management the bank’s composite rating was tentatively downgraded and conveying expectations that management stabilize the bank’s risk profile and strengthen the financial condition;
- Notify management that actions taken to materially expand the bank’s balance sheet or risk profile are inconsistent with supervisory expectations;
- Also inform management they are required to obtain a non-objection from their regional director before engaging in any transactions that would materially change the institution’s balance sheet composition, such as significantly increasing total assets or volatile funding sources
- Immediate corrective measures, including the issuance of a temporary order requiring an institution to cease and desist, may be appropriate in higher-risk situations, such as:
- Fails to follow the instructions in the letter;
- Does not acknowledge, or is slow to address, the institution’s problems;
- Takes actions that compound the institution’s problems;
- Increases the use of volatile funding sources;
- Extends credit in an unsafe and unsound manner;
- Pays excessive dividends, salaries or bonuses; or
- Makes unjustified payments to institution-affiliated parties.
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What does SCOR stand for?
Statistical Camels Off-site Rating
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
When can the FDIC alternate with the State?
- 1 or 2 rated;
- 3 rated and stable/improving if rating is confirmed by SCOR
- No adverse trends noted from other information
- Not allowed on the 1st De Novo Exam, Must be Joint Exam
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
How are exam intervals calculated?
Time between the end date of an exam and the start of the next exam (End of exam is the earlier of day ROE submitted or 60 days after start date)
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
Are specialty exams covered by 10(d)?
- No, specialty examinations are governed by internal RMS policy
- Reasonable adjustments include extending the examination cycle for 1 and 2 rated specialty areas
- Although not permitted by statute for safety and soundness examinations
- Internal policy allows regional directors to also extend the examination cycle for 3 rated specialty areas
- Specialty areas rated 4 or 5 should normally not be extended beyond a one-year interval.
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What is the length of time between the start of a new exam and end of a prior exam?
Earlier of the date the Report was submitted for review or 60 days from the examination start date.
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What is the frequency of examinations for a newly chartered & insured institution?
- Visitation within first 6 months of operation
- Full scope within 12 months
- Full scope exam must be conducted annually for the first 7 years
- Note: If subsidiary of a multi-BHC, in satisfactory condition, normal exam cycle should be followed.
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What is the frequency of examinations for banks converting to insured state nonmember status (from national charter or state member)?
- Full scope within 12 months prior to conversion
- Note: Limited/visitation considered within 3 months of conversion
1.1 BASIC EXAM CONCEPTS & GUIDELINES
What is the frequency of examinations for noninsured banks converting to insured status?
- Full scope within 12 months of the FDIC entrance exam
- Note: Limited/visitation considered within 3 months of conversion