Feb. 23, 2010
 
FDIC: 'Problem Banks' Total 702 at Year End 2009, Up from 562 on Sept. 30, 2009
Agency reports 140 banks failed in 2009, highest total since 1992
 
By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews.net Editor
 
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 that the number and total assets of institutions on the FDIC's "Problem List" continued to rise, with 702 banks on the "Problem List" at the end of December, up from 552 on September 30, 2009.
 
The information was deep down in a press release, a practice we professional journalists call "burying the lede." We prefer that the bad news be like the candy bar in the swimming pool in the movie "Caddyshack," floating in plain view.
 
More buried bad news: The total assets of "problem" institutions increased during the quarter from $345.9 billion to $402.8 billion. Forty-five institutions failed during the fourth quarter, bringing the total number of failures for the year to 140, the highest annual total since 1992.
 
Commercial banks and savings institutions insured by FDIC reported an aggregate profit of $914 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, a $38.7 billion improvement from the $37.8 billion net loss the industry sustained in the fourth quarter of 2008, but still well below historical norms for quarterly profits. More than half of all institutions (50.3 percent) reported year-over-year improvements in their quarterly net income. Almost one-third of all institutions (32.7 percent) reported net losses for the quarter, compared to 34.6 percent a year earlier. For the full-year, banks reported net income totaling $12.5 billion – up from $4.5 billion in 2008.
 
"Consistent with a recovering economy, we saw signs of improvement in industry performance," said FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair. "But as we have said before, recovery in the banking industry tends to lag behind the economy, as the industry works through its problem assets."
 
Bair added that she expects bank failures to peak in 2010. So far this year, 20 banks have failed, including La Jolla Bank in San Diego County that went belly up on Friday, Feb. 19 with its remains acquired by OneWest Bank. The FDIC has estimated that expected bank failures from 2009 to 2013 will cost it about $100 billion.
 
Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 as part of the Glass-Steagall Act, to restore public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's 8,012 banks and savings associations and it promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars – insured financial institutions fund its operations.
 
The FDIC has supplied a list of banks that have failed so far in 2010, through Feb. 19:
 
February
 
La Jolla Bank, FSB, La Jolla, CA with approximately $3.8 billion in assets and approximately $2.8 billion in deposits was closed. OneWest Bank, FSB, Pasadena, CA has agreed to assume all deposits. (PR-034-2010)
 
George Washington Savings Bank, Orland Park, IL with approximately $412.8 million in assets and approximately $397.0 million in deposits was closed. FirstMerit Bank, N.A., Akron, OH has agreed to assume all deposits. (PR-033-2010)
 
The La Coste National Bank, La Coste, TX with approximately $53.9 million in assets and approximately $49.3 million in deposits was closed. Community National Bank, Hondo, TX has agreed to assume all deposits. (PR-032-2010)
 
Marco Community Bank, Marco Island, FL with approximately $119.6 million in assets and approximately $117.1 million in deposits was closed. Mutual of Omaha Bank, Omaha, NE has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-031-2010)
 
1st American State Bank of Minnesota, Hancock, MN with approximately $18.2 million in assets and approximately $16.3 million in deposits was closed. Community Development Bank, FSB, Ogema, MN has agreed to assume all deposits. (PR-030-2010)
 
January
 
American Marine Bank, Bainbridge Island, WA with approximately $373.2 million in assets and approximately $308.5 million in deposits was closed. Columbia State Bank, Tacoma, WA has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-027-2010)
 
First Regional Bank, Los Angeles, CA with approximately $2.18 billion in assets and approximately $1.87 billion in deposits was closed. First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Raleigh, NC has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-026-2010)
 
Community Bank and Trust, Cornelia, GA with approximately $1.2 billion in assets and approximately $1.1 billion in deposits was closed. SCBT National Association, Orangeburg, SC has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-025-2010)
 
Marshall Bank, N.A., Hallock, MN with approximately $59.9 million in assets and approximately $54.7 million in deposits was closed. United Valley Bank, Cavalier, ND has agreed to assume all deposits. (PR-024-2010)
 
Florida Community Bank, Immokalee, FL with approximately $875.5 million in assets and approximately $795.5 million in deposits was closed. Premier American Bank, N.A., Miami, FL has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-023-2010)
 
First National Bank of Georgia, Carrollton, GA with approximately $832.6 million in assets and approximately $757.9 million in deposits was closed. Community and Southern Bank, Carrollton, GA has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-022-2010)
 
Columbia River Bank, The Dalles, OR with approximately $1.1 billion in assets and approximately $1.0 billion in deposits was closed. Columbia State Bank, Tacoma, WA has agreed to assume all deposits. (PR-018-2010)
 
Evergreen Bank, Seattle, WA with approximately $488.5 million in assets and approximately $439.4 million in deposits was closed. Umpqua Bank, Roseburg, OR has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-017-2010)
 
Charter Bank, Santa Fe, NM with approximately $1.2 billion in assets and approximately $851.5 million in deposits was closed. Charter Bank, Albuquerque, NM has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-016-2010)
 
Bank of Leeton, Leeton, MO with approximately $20.1 million in assets and approximately $20.4 million in deposits was closed. Sunflower Bank, N.A., Salina, KS has agreed to assume all deposits. (PR-015-2010)
 
Premier American Bank, Miami, FL with approximately $350.9 million in assets and approximately $326.3 million in deposits was closed. Premier American Bank, N.A., Miami, FL has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-014-2010)
 
Barnes Banking Company, Kaysville, UT, with approximately $827.8 million in assets and $786.5 million in deposits was closed. The FDIC has created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Kaysville, UT ("DINB of Kaysville") to facilitate the resolution of Barnes Banking Company, Kaysville, UT. (PR-010-2010)
 
St. Stephen State Bank, St. Stephen, MN with approximately $24.7 million in assets and approximately $23.4 million in deposits was closed. First State Bank of St. Joseph, St. Joseph, MN has agreed to assume all deposits. (PR-009-2010)
 
Town Community Bank and Trust, Antioch, IL with approximately $69.6 million in assets and approximately $67.4 million in deposits was closed. First American Bank, Elk Grove Village, IL has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-008-2010)
 
Horizon Bank, Bellingham, WA with approximately $1.3 billion in assets and approximately $1.1 billion in deposits was closed. Washington Federal Savings and Loan Association, Seattle, WA has agreed to assume all deposits, excluding certain brokered deposits. (PR-004-2010)