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February 2011
Volume 2 Issue 1
  • FIL-8-2011 Assessments, Final Rule

    The FDIC Board of Directors adopted the final rule, which redefines the deposit insurance assessment base as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank), makes changes to assessment rates, implements Dodd-Frank’s Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) dividend provisions and revises the risk-based assessment system for all large insured depository institutions (IDIs), … Read More >

  • Save Small Banks

    The number of banks has already been cut in half to roughly 7,000 with more on the way. Does it matter to policymakers? What should officials be doing today to prevent that from happening tomorrow? The biggest roadblock for community banks is regulation. There is too much of it and it’s being applied too harshly … Read More >

  • The FASB Pulls Plug on Fair Value Proposal

    The (Financial Accounting Standards Board) FASB will not be pursuing the ill-advised “mark to market” accounting requirement proposed last year.  IBAT commented on this proposal, along with several thousand others, pointing out the additional costs, misrepresentation of financial condition and inapplicability to the reality of the community bank business model, among other pertinent arguments. Click … Read More >

  • S.A.F.E. Act Registration Begins and IBAT Offers Compliance Tips

    Under the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act (S.A.F.E. Act) and the financial institution regulatory agencies’ final rules (Federal Register), residential mortgage loan originators employed by banks must register with the Registry, obtain a unique identifier from the Registry and maintain their registrations. Texas law defines residential mortgage loan originator as an individual … Read More >

October 2010
Volume 1 Issue 2
  • Executive Summary of the Dodd-Frank Act

    The Dodd-Frank Act is the product of a financial services regulatory reform effort started by the Obama Administration after the global financial crisis. The Act includes reforms and other provisions in the following areas: regulatory structure, regulation of systemically significant financial institutions, bank capital requirements, proprietary trading by certain banking entities, sponsorships of and investments … Read More >

  • Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008

    Notice of Joint Final Rule: Registration of Residential Mortgage Loan Originators The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act) was recently published in the Federal Register. The rule was taken in effect on October 1, 2010. At this time, institutions must implement appropriate policies, procedures and systems to ensure compliance.   Applicable mortgage … Read More >

  • The Latest Beige Book

    The Federal Reserve System’s latest Beige Book survey was released in September. It was reported that the Dallas area grew modestly over the past six weeks. Below are some of the highlights from the latest Beige Book. Prices Crude oil prices fell below $73/barrel by late August, down from $82 a month earlier. Gasoline, diesel and … Read More >

July 2010
Volume 1 Issue 1
  • Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines Jointly Issued by the OCC, FRB, FDIC and OTS in 1992

        By: Jeff Graham, CPA, Partner at Condley and Company, L.L.P. The economic activities over the past 2 years have created a renewed focus on the area of real estate and, as a result, regulatory agencies have increased examination emphasis.  A review of the requirements of the Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines published in … Read More >

  • Bank Qualified Bonds

      The recent economic distress has led many bankers to reconsider investing in municipal bonds in order to obtain the benefit of earning interest that is exempt from Federal income taxation.  In general with the passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, now under Section 265(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as … Read More >

  • Regulatory Reform Act

    The American Bankers Association (ABA) recently issued a memo to the U.S. Senate in April 2010 regarding the effects of S.3217, the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010. The ABA memo stated in part “…ABA strongly urges you to consider the huge new regulatory burden that this legislation will put on community banks across this … Read More >