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Saturday, February 07, 2009

Bank Failure #9 in 2009: County Bank, Merced, California

by Calculated Risk on 2/07/2009 01:37:00 AM

From the FDIC: Westamerica Bank, San Rafael, California, Acquires All the Deposits of County Bank, Merced, California

County Bank, Merced, California, was closed today by the California Department of Financial Institutions, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Westamerica Bank, San Rafael, California, to assume all of the deposits of County Bank.
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As of February 2, 2009, County Bank had total assets of approximately $1.7 billion and total deposits of $1.3 billion. In addition to assuming all of the failed bank's deposits, including those from brokers, Westamerica Bank agreed to purchase all of County Bank's assets.

The FDIC and Westamerica Bank entered into a loss-share transaction. Westamerica Bank will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-sharing arrangement is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The agreement also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers as they will maintain a banking relationship.
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The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $135 million. Westamerica Bank's acquisition of all deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. County Bank is the ninth bank to fail in the nation this year, and the third in California.
Missed this one. Three this week again ...

Update: Haiku from Soylent Green is People:

Mercy for Merced
Trifecta is now complete
A Quinella next?