by Calculated Risk on 1/29/2011 10:26:00 AM

Note: this is an unofficial list of Problem Banks compiled only from public sources.

Here is the unofficial problem bank list for Jan 28, 2011.

Changes and comments from surferdude808:

Not the safest week in banking as the FDIC released its formal enforcement actions for December 2010 and closed four institutions including the largest bank headquartered in New Mexico. This week there were 15 additions and three removals. The changes leave the Unofficial Problem Bank list at 949 institutions with assets of $410.9 billion, up from 937 institutions with assets of $409.4 billion.

The removals include three of the four failures -- First Community Bank, Taos, NM ($2.3 billion Ticker: FSNM); Firstier Bank, Louisville, CO ($782 million); and Evergreen State Bank, Stoughton, WI ($246 million). The other failure this week -- The First State Bank, Camargo, OK was only placed under enforcement action in December 2010 (35 days before it failed) by the FDIC so it never made an appearance on the Unofficial Problem Bank List.

Among the 13 additions are First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown, KY ($1.2 billion Ticker: FFKY); The Heritage Bank, Hinesville, GA ($952 million); First American International Bank, Brooklyn, NY ($604 million); Park Federal Savings Bank, Chicago, IL ($216 million Ticker: PFED); and Premier Service Bank, Riverside, CA ($157 million Ticker: PSBK).

Other changes include the issuance of Prompt Corrective Action orders by the FDIC against The Bank of Commerce, Wood Dale, Il ($174 million) and the Federal Reserve against Virginia Business Bank, Richmond, VA ($129 million). Positively, the FDIC terminated the PCA order against AmericanWest Bank, Spokane, WA ($1.5 billion Ticker: AWBCQ).

After the monthly release of actions by the FDIC, it would not be unusual for the Unofficial Problem Bank List to trend down until the middle of next month as closings tend to outpace new order issuance during this part of the month. Overall, if trends persist, the list could hit CR's anticipated [1000] mark by the end of May 2011.

by Calculated Risk on 1/29/2011 08:55:00 AM

From the American Trucking Association: ATA Truck Tonnage Index Jumped 2.2 Percent in December

The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 2.2 percent in December after falling a revised 0.6 percent in November. The latest improvement put the SA index at 111.6 (2000=100) in December, which was the highest level since September 2008. In November, the SA index equaled 109.2.
...
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that December’s improvement fits well with the see-saw pattern that many carriers are reporting. “Fleets continue to tell me that freight volumes are very choppy – up one week, but down the next. That is a trend that is likely to continue this year as the economy is not growing across the board yet.” Still, Costello said it was a positive sign for the economy that SA tonnage reached the highest level in 27 months. “I continue to expect truck freight tonnage to grow modestly during the first half of 2011 and accelerate in the later half of the year into 2012.”

Click on map for graph gallery.

This graph from the ATA shows the Truck Tonnage Index since Jan 2006.

This is the highest level since September 2008 - and it appears truck tonnage is increasing again after stalling out last spring and summer.

by Calculated Risk on 1/29/2011 01:47:00 AM

From Al Jazeera English (All times are local in Egypt.). Latest entries ...

6:38 am Internet and mobile phone networks are still down in Egypt.

6:30 am The headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party in Cairo are still on fire.

A couple of stories ...

From the WaPo: Cairo in near-anarchy as protesters push to oust president

From the NY Times: Mubarak Orders Crackdown, With Revolt Sweeping Egypt

by Calculated Risk on 1/28/2011 08:38:00 PM

Taos bank demise
The high price of low living
Malfeasance results
by Soylent Green is People
From the FDIC: U.S. Bank, National Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Assumes All of the Deposits of First Community Bank, Taos, New Mexico

As of September 30, 2010, First Community Bank had approximately $2.31 billion in total assets and $1.94 billion in total deposits ... The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $260.0 million. ... First Community Bank is the eleventh FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the first in New Mexico.

A billion here, a billion there ...

by Calculated Risk on 1/28/2011 07:42:00 PM

Tier 1 capital.
Without it, which banks might fail?
Today: First Tier Bank.
by Soylent Green is People
From the FDIC: FDIC Creates the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Louisville to Protect Insured Depositors of FirsTier Bank, Louisville, Colorado

As of September 30, 2010, FirsTier Bank had $781.5 million in total assets and $722.8 million in total deposits. ... The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $242.6 million. FirsTier Bank is the tenth FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the second in Colorado.

That makes three today - and another one with no buyer.