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U.S. Law Enforcement Authorities and Regulators Resolve Significant Money Laundering and Sanctions Investigations
On December 11, a major international bank holding company announced agreements with U.S. law enforcement authorities and federal bank regulators to end investigations into alleged inadequate compliance with anti-money laundering and sanctions laws by the holding company and its U.S. subsidiaries (collectively the banks). Under these agreements, the banks will make payments totaling $1.92 billion, will continue to cooperate fully with regulatory and law enforcement authorities, and will take further action to strengthen its compliance policies and procedures. As part of the resolution, the bank entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the DOJ pursuant to which the banks will forfeit $1.256 billion, $375 million of which satisfies a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The four-count criminal information filed in conjunction with the DPA charges that the banks violated the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and to conduct appropriate due diligence on its foreign correspondent account holders. The DOJ also alleged that the banks violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Trading with the Enemy Act by illegally conducting transactions on behalf of customers in certain countries that were subject to sanctions enforced by OFAC. The banks agreed to pay a single $500 million civil penalty to satisfy separate assessments by the OCC and FinCEN related to the same alleged conduct, as well as a $165 million penalty to the Federal Reserve Board. The banks already have undertaken numerous voluntary remedial actions, including to (i) substantially increase AML compliance spending and staffing, (ii) revamp their Know Your Customer program, (iii) exit 109 correspondent relationships for risk reasons, and (iv) claw back bonuses for a number of senior officers. The banks also have undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of their structure, controls, and procedures, including to (i) simplify the control structure, (ii) create new compliance positions and elevate their roles, (iii) adopt a set of guidelines limiting business in those countries that pose a high financial crime risk, and (iv) implement a single global standard shaped by the highest or most effective anti-money laundering standards available in any location where the banks operates. Pursuant to the DPA, an independent monitor will evaluate the banks’ continued implementation of these and other enhanced compliance measures.
In a separate matter, on December 10, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. and the DOJ announced the resolution of a joint investigation into a British bank’s alleged movement of more than $200 million through the U.S. financial system primarily on behalf of Iranian and Sudanese clients by removing information that would have revealed the payments as originating with a sanctioned country or entity, and thereby avoiding OFAC scrutiny. To resolve the matter, the bank was required to pay $227 million in penalties and forfeiture, and to enter into a DPA and corresponding Statement of Facts. Through the DPA, the bank admitted that it violated New York State law by falsifying the records of New York financial institutions and by submitting false statements to its state and federal regulators about its business conduct, and agreed to certain enhanced compliance practices and procedures. The payment also satisfies a settlement with OFAC over the same practices, while the Federal Reserve Board required an additional $100 million penalty to resolve its parallel investigation. The settlement follows an earlier settlement between this British bank and the New York Superintendent of Financial Services regarding the same alleged conduct.
OCC Renews Mutual Savings Associations Advisory Committee
On December 12, the OCC announced that it renewed the charter for the Mutual Savings Associations Advisory Committee (MSAAC). The MSAAC originally was chartered by the Office of Thrift Supervision, and responsibility for the MSAAC transferred to the OCC under the Dodd-Frank Act, along with all of the OTS’ responsibilities for supervising federal savings associations. The MSAAC will generally meet two to three times per year to discuss issues of importance to mutual savings associations and provide advice and recommendations to OCC. It is comprised of officers and directors of a variety of mutual savings institutions. The committee’s first meeting is planned for January 16, 2013, in Washington, D.C.
OCC Releases 2013 Fee Structure
On November 30, the OCC published Bulletin 2012-40, which informs all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks of fees charged by the OCC for calendar year 2013. The Bulletin explains that the marginal rates of the OCC’s general assessment schedule continue to be indexed based on changes in the Gross Domestic Product Implicit Price Deflator for the previous June-to-June period, and that the 2013 adjustment of 1.7 percent will apply to the first $20 billion in assets of a covered institution. The Bulletin further explains that the assessment schedule continues to include a surcharge for institutions that require increased supervisory resources, and that the OCC will continue to provide a 12 percent reduction on the assessment for nonlead national banks, federal savings associations, or federal branches or agencies of a foreign bank. The new assessments are effective January 1, 2013 and are due March 29, 2013 and September 30, 2013, based on call report information as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013, respectively.
House Financial Services Subcommittees Hold Joint Hearing on Impact of Basel III Proposals
On November 29, two Subcommittees of the House Financial Services Committee held a joint hearing regarding the federal banking agency proposals to implement the Basel III international regulatory capital accords. As with a Senate hearing on the same topic last week, committee members focused bipartisan attention on the proposals’ potential impact on community banks and insurance companies that are holders of depository institutions. The committee also explored the interplay between the Basel III proposals and the pending rules to set forth the “qualified mortgage” standard and the “qualified residential mortgage” standard. The regulators promised lawmakers that they would carefully consider the concerns of community bankers. The regulators did not provide a timeline for their final rulemaking.
Federal Banking Regulators Issue Statement on Conversions of Troubled Banks
On November 26, the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC, and the OCC, together with the CSBS, issued guidance on implementation of section 612 of the Dodd-Frank Act, which imposes restrictions on conversions of national banks and federal savings associations to state-chartered institutions and vice versa. As the Interagency Statement describes, section 612 generally prohibits such charter conversions while an institution is subject to either a formal enforcement order issued by its primary regulator involving a significant supervisory matter or to a memorandum of understanding entered into with its primary regulator involving a significant supervisory matter. The Statement (i) explains that federal and state agencies consider the prohibition to cover all formal enforcement actions by a federal or state agency, (ii) encourages institutions subject to the prohibition that are seeking conversion under one of the several exceptions to notify regulators prior to submitting a conversion application, and (iii) outlines the processes by which federal and state agencies will comply with the notification and information sharing requirements of section 612.
OCC Notifies Banks of Civil Money Penalty Inflation Adjustments and New Flood Insurance Penalties
On November 20, the OCC issued Bulletin 2012-38 to advise national banks and federal savings associations about a recent OCC rule that adjusted the maximum civil money penalties (CMPs) for inflation and implemented higher flood insurance CMPs. The OCC rule revises the penalty tables that identify the statutes that provide the OCC with CMP authority, describe the different tiers of penalties provided in each statute, and set out the maximum penalty the OCC may impose pursuant to each statutory provision. The rule also implements the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, which was signed into law on July 6, 2012 as part of a broad transportation bill. That Act increased the maximum CMP per flood insurance violation and removed the annual cap on flood insurance penalties assessed against a single lender in a calendar year. Effective December 6, 2012, any regulated lending institution that is found to have a pattern or practice of committing flood insurance violations will be assessed a civil penalty not to exceed $2,000 per violation, with no calendar year limit on such penalties.
OCC Issues Bulletin Regarding Extended SCRA Protections
On November 19, the OCC issued Bulletin 2012-37, which advises all national banks and federal savings associations of the extension of certain servicemember protections afforded by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Currently, SCRA grants an individual protection from foreclosure during the period of active duty and for nine months thereafter, a benefit that was due to expire at the end of 2012. The Bulletin notes that the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, which was enacted in August 2012, provides that (i) SCRA will continue to provide servicemembers with foreclosure protection during the period of active duty and for nine months thereafter past the end of the current calendar year into 2013, (ii) beginning February 2, 2013, the mortgage foreclosure protection will extend to one full year after the period of active duty, and (iii) on January 1, 2015, SCRA's expanded foreclosure protection will sunset, and the protection period will revert to the period of active duty service plus 90 days.
OCC Extends Compliance Date for Lending Limits Rule
On November 14, the OCC issued Bulletin 2012-36 to extend until April 1, 2013 the deadline for covered institutions to comply with the OCC’s lending limit rule. In June 2012 the OCC implemented a Dodd-Frank Act requirement that the OCC’s existing lending limit rule apply to certain credit exposures arising from derivative transactions and securities financing transactions, and originally allowed national banks and savings association until January 1, 2013 to comply.
Federal Reserve Board and OCC Renew Efforts to Market Independent Foreclosure Reviews
On November 13, the Federal Reserve Board and the OCC announced renewed efforts to remind eligible borrowers to participate in the Independent Foreclosure Review Program by December 31, 2012. Under the program, an eligible borrower can have his or her foreclosure reviewed for free by independent consultants to determine whether the borrower was financially injured due to errors, misrepresentations, or other deficiencies in the foreclosure process. An injured borrower may be eligible for compensation or other remedies. The program originally was scheduled to close April 30, 2012, but has been extended numerous times over the past year. The renewed marketing effort includes targeted print, radio, and online advertising, as well as direct coordinated outreach by community, housing, and faith-based groups.
Federal Banking Regulators Issue Supplemental Statement Regarding Borrower and Institution Relief Following Hurricane Sandy
On November 14, the Federal Reserve Board, the OCC, the National Credit Union Administration, and the FDIC supplemented a prior statement on the impact of Hurricane Sandy on customers and the operations of financial institutions. The supplemental guidance identifies activities that could be considered “reasonable and prudent” steps to assist affected customers, including, for example (i) waiving certain fees and penalties, including ATM and overdraft fees, (ii) easing credit limits and terms for new loans, and (iii) offering payment accommodations. The regulators also provide post-storm guidance regarding loan modifications, the Community Reinvestment Act, and customer identification. The guidance largely mirrors guidance issued by the FDIC on November 9, 2012 in Financial Institution Letter FIL-47-2012.