DFI Monthly Bulletin
Volume 14, Issue 6 – December 2010
Message from the Commissioner
December 2010 Floods
Commissioner William Haraf urges Department of Financial Institutions’ licensees to grant appropriate latitude to customers affected by the severe flooding resulting from the December storms. The Governor on Tuesday, December 21 proclaimed a state of emergency in Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and Tulare counties due to extreme weather and storm conditions.
Because of the property damage and the widespread effect it will have on the economy in these counties, the Commissioner encourages the Department’s licensees to work with customers in dealing with the economic hardships of this disaster.
The Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF)
Helping Banks Invest in the Community
The U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF) is a $30 billion fund enacted into law as part of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. It encourages lending to small businesses by providing Tier 1 capital to qualified community banks with assets of less than $10 billion. Through the SBLF, Main Street banks and small businesses can work together to help create jobs and promote economic growth in local communities across California and the nation.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury will provide banks with capital by purchasing Tier 1-qualifying preferred stock or equivalents in each bank. The dividend rate on SBLF funding will be reduced as a participating community bank increases its lending to small businesses. The initial dividend rate will be, at most, 5%. If a bank’s small business lending increases by 10% or more, then the rate will fall to as low as 1%.
Several DFI licensees have elected to participate in the SBLF. If you are interested in having your bank participate in the SBLF, or for more information go here.
Residential Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) Registration to Begin
The federal financial institution regulatory agencies have announced that the system for federal registration of residential mortgage loan originators (MLOs) will begin operation on or around January 31, 2011. The agencies’ rules implementing the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (S.A.F.E. Act) require MLOs to register with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (Registry) within 180 days of the date the Registry begins accepting federal registrations. The agencies will confirm the opening date for federal registration closer to the actual date and will publish notice of that date in the Federal Register.
Institutions should periodically visit the Registry’s Web site at: http://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/fedreg/Pages/default.aspx for updates and important technical information about the registration process.
SCO Winter 2010 Newsletter
The Holder Outreach Team at the State Controller’s Office (SCO) has asked DFI to forward the following notice to licensees that are holders of unclaimed property:
Dear Holders,
Please take some time to read the 2010 Winter Holder Newsletter regarding the California Unclaimed Property Program. The newsletter includes information about Securities and Helpful Hints for Holder Remit Reports. The newsletter can be found at http://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_rptg_outreach.html.
If you have any questions, please contact the Unclaimed Property Reporting Unit at (916) 464-6284 or ucpreporting@sco.ca.gov. You may also contact the Holder Outreach Unit at updholderoutreach@sco.ca.gov.
Thank you for your time,
Holder Outreach Team
Commercial Bank Activity
Conversion to State Charter
California General Bank, N.A., Pasadena to convert to state-chartered commercial bank under the name California General Bank
Effected: 12/6/10
Acquisition of Control
Endurance Partners, L.P., Endurance Partners (Q.P.), L.P., Endurance General Partners, L.P., Ewing Asset Management, LLC, Ewing & Partners, and Timothy G. Ewing, to acquire control of Independence Bank
Filed: 11/24/10
Withdrawn: 12/31/10
Peter Heung Ng Hui, to acquire control of First Choice Bank
Approved: 12/7/10
Merger
Alta Alliance Bank, Oakland, to merge with and into Torrey Pines Bank, San Diego
Approved: 12/1/10
Effected: 12/31/10
American Premier Bank, Arcadia, to merge with and into First General Bank, Rowland Heights
Approved: 12/23/10
California Oaks State Bank, Thousand Oaks, to merge with and into California United Bank, Encino
Effected: 12/31/10
First Commerce Bank, Encino, to merge with and into Grandpoint Bank, Los Angeles
Effected: 12/28/10
Professional Business Bank, Pasadena, to merge with and into California General Bank, Pasadena, under the name “Professional Business Bank”
Effected: 12/31/10
Premium Finance Company Activity
Voluntary Surrender of License
AICCO, Inc.
Notified: 11/9/10
Effected: 12/9/10
CIBA Financial Services, Inc.
Notified: 11/11/10
Effected: 12/9/10
Credit Union Activity
Bylaw Amendment
One credit union received approval for one bylaw amendment during November 2010.
Field of Membership
Two credit unions received approval to add two new fields of membership during November 2010.
Merger
1st Pacific Credit Union, Vallejo, CA, to merge with and into Self-Help Federal Credit Union, Durham, NC
Effected: 12/23/10
El Camino Hospital Federal Credit Union, Burlingame, to merge with and into United Health Credit Union, Burlingame
Filed: 12/29/10
First Metropolitan Credit Union, Concord, to merge with and into Travis Credit Union, Vacaville
Effected: 12/14/10
Star Energy Credit Union, Bakersfield, to merge with and into Chevron Federal Credit Union, Oakland
Filed: 12/21/10
UFCW #916 Federal Credit Union, Redding, to merge with and into Members 1st Credit Union, Redding
Approved: 11/9/10
Effected: 12/6/10
Money Transmitter Activity
New Transmitter
GPS Capital Markets, Inc.
Opened: 12/22/10
Unidos Financial Services, Inc.
Opened: 5/6/10
Acquisition of Control
First Global Data Corp. USA, to acquire control of Samso’s Express Money Transfer, Inc.
Approved: 12/22/10
WILLIAM S. HARAF
Commissioner of Financial Institutions
Bulletin for Month ended
December 2010, issued pursuant
to Financial Code section 258