Department of Financial Institutions enters into a Settlement Agreement with Vigo Financial Corporation

Jul 11, 2006

San Francisco – California Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Acting Commissioner Michael A. Kelley announced today that he has entered into a Settlement Agreement with Vigo Remittance Corp. (“Vigo”), a licensed money transmitter. Vigo received a license from DFI on March 1, 1994, to engage in business as a money transmitter pursuant to Financial Code Chapter 14 (Section 1800).

DFI and Vigo mutually agreed to enter into the Settlement Agreement (“Agreement”) in recognition of their common goals to ensure safety and soundness and compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

The Agreement was based on an investigation by DFI’s Examinations and Legal Divisions. Vigo has paid $75,000 to the Department, and the Acting Commissioner has agreed to release Vigo from any liability resulting from alleged violations of the California Financial Code related to failure to maintain required minimum tangible net worth.

DFI supervises over 700 financial institutions with assets totaling over $290 billion. The Department is responsible for administering state laws regulating state-licensed financial institutions: banks, credit unions, industrial banks, savings associations, trust companies, offices of foreign banks, issuers of travelers’ checks and payment instruments (money orders), and transmitters of money abroad. DFI reports to Business, Transportation & Housing Agency Secretary Sunne Wright McPeak and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

###