by Calculated Risk on 10/16/2010 09:09:00 AM

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

Here is the unofficial problem bank list for Oct 15, 2010.

Changes and comments from surferdude808:

The Unofficial Problem Bank List shrank this week in both the number of institutions and assets. There were eight removals and six additions leaving the list at 875 institutions, down from 877 last week.

The removal of mid-size regional contributed to the decline in aggregate assets to $401.6 billion from $417.3 billion.

The removals include two of the three failed banks -- Security Savings Bank, F.S.B. ($508 million) and Westbridge Bank and Trust ($91 million). Interestingly, the other failure this week -- Premier Bank ($1.2 billion) was not subject to a published enforcement action.

Eastern National Bank ($446 million) had its action terminated. Carolina First Bank ($11.6 billion) merged into TD Bank, N.A. at the end of September. Three subsidiaries of Lauritzen Corporation (Ticker FINN) -- First National Bank, Fort Collins, CO ($1.9 billion); Castle Bank, National Association, Dekalb, IL ($1.1 billion); and First National Bank of Kansas, Overland, KS ($745 million) merged into their affiliate First National Bank of Omaha, which leaves one affiliate, First National Bank South Dakota, still on the list. We anticipate other multi-bank holding companies such as Premier Financial Bancorp (Ticker: PFBI) to merge its weak subsidiaries into a stronger affiliate. The other removal was an unassisted merger of First Bank, Farmersville, TX ($95 million) into Independent Bank, McKinney, TX.

As anticipated last week, the OCC released its enforcement actions for late August/early September. Six national banks were added this week include First Texoma National Bank, Durant, TX ($215 million); The First National Bank of Eagle River, Eagle Rover, WI ($158 million); North Georgia National Bank, Calhoun, GA ($142 million); The Camden National Bank, Camden, AL ($119 million); First National Bank, Groesbeck, TX ($50 million); and Nevada National Bank, Las Vegas, NV ($39 million).

Other modifications this week include a Prompt Corrective Action order issued by the OTS against Appalachian Community Bank ($90 million), and a name change and charter flip for Bay Cities National Bank ($273 million) to Opus Bank and state non-member status.

by Calculated Risk on 10/15/2010 07:07:00 PM

No Tan Man purp walk.
Bank C.E.O.'s breath relief sigh.
Joe "Coors" hangs his head.
by Soylent Green is People
From the FDIC: Providence Bank, Columbia, Missouri, Assumes All of the Deposits of Premier Bank, Jefferson City, Missouri

As of June 30, 2010, Premier Bank had approximately $1.18 billion in total assets and $1.03 billion in total deposits. ... The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $406.9 million. ... Premier Bank is the 132nd FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the sixth in Missouri.

That makes 3 today ... almost 40% loss on Premier.

by Calculated Risk on 10/15/2010 06:16:00 PM

Banking Titanic
Collides with the Hindenburg
It's really that bad.
by Soylent Green is People
From the FDIC: Simmons First National Bank, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Assumes All of the Deposits of Security Savings Bank, F.S.B., Olathe, Kansas

As of June 30, 2010, Security Savings Bank, F.S.B. had approximately $508.4 million in total assets and $397.0 million in total deposits. ... The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $82.2 million. .... Security Savings Bank, F.S.B. is the 130th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the second in Kansas.

From the FDIC: Midland States Bank, Effingham, Illinois, Assumes All of the Deposits of WestBridge Bank and Trust Company, Chesterfield, Missouri

As of June 30, 2010, WestBridge Bank and Trust Company had approximately $91.5 million in total assets and $72.5 million in total deposit ... The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $18.7 million. ... WestBridge Bank and Trust Company is the 131st FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the fifth in Missouri.

The FDIC is back to work ...

by Calculated Risk on 10/15/2010 04:18:00 PM

Notes: this data is not seasonally adjusted. There is a very distinct seasonal pattern for imports, but not for exports. LA area ports handle about 40% of the nation's container port traffic.

The following graph shows the loaded inbound and outbound traffic at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in TEUs (TEUs: 20-foot equivalent units or 20-foot-long cargo container). Although containers tell us nothing about value, container traffic does give us an idea of the volume of goods being exported and imported.

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

Loaded inbound traffic was up 24% compared to September 2009.

Loaded outbound traffic was up 5% from September 2009.

For imports, there is a clear seasonal pattern and frequently a double peak - first in late summer, and then in October as retailers build inventory for the holiday season - so part of this decrease in September imports is just the normal seasonal pattern. And imports will probably increase in October.

For exports there is no clear seasonal pattern, and it appears exports have stalled or even be declining.

Not only have the pre-crisis global imbalances returned, but exports appear to have peaked in May (no clear seasonal pattern), and have moved down over the last 7 months.

by Calculated Risk on 10/15/2010 12:56:00 PM

From Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke:

The significant moderation in price increases has been widespread across many categories of spending, as is evident from various measures that exclude the most extreme price movements in each period. For example, the so-called trimmed mean consumer price index (CPI) has risen by only 0.9 percent over the past 12 months, and a related measure, the median CPI, has increased by only 0.5 percent over the same period.

The Cleveland Fed released the measures of inflation that Bernanke mentioned for September this morning:

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the median Consumer Price Index was virtually unchanged at 0.0% (0.6% annualized rate) in September. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index increased 0.1% (0.9% annualized rate) during the month. The median CPI and 16% trimmed-mean CPI are measures of core inflation calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland based on data released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) monthly CPI report.

Earlier today, the BLS reported that the seasonally adjusted CPI for all urban consumers rose 0.1% (1.2% annualized rate) in September. The CPI less food and energy was unchanged at 0.0% (0.0% annualized rate) on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Over the last 12 months, the median CPI rose 0.5%, the trimmed-mean CPI rose 0.8%, the CPI rose 1.1%, and the CPI less food and energy rose 0.8%

So these three measures: core CPI, median CPI and trimmed-mean CPI, were all below 1% in September, and also under 1% for the last 12 months.

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

This graph shows these three measure of inflation on a year-over-year basis.

They all show that inflation has been falling, and that measured inflation is up less than 1% year-over-year. Core CPI and median CPI were flat in September, and the 16% trimmed mean CPI was up 0.1%.

Note: The Cleveland Fed has a discussion of a number of measures of inflation: Measuring Inflation

by Calculated Risk on 10/15/2010 10:03:00 AM

So much data ...

COLA: It is now official - CPI-W averaged 214.126 in Q3 2010, below the previous Q3 peak of 215.495 in 2008 - so there will be no increase in Social Security benefits or the maximum contribution base for 2011. For an explanation, see my post last month: No increase to Social Security Benefits for 2011 (unofficial)

Consumer Sentiment

From MarketWatch: Consumer sentiment edges lower in October

The preliminary Reuters-University of Michigan consumer sentiment index edged lower in October, falling to 67.9 ... from 68.2 last month.

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

Consumer sentiment is a coincident indicator - and this suggests a sluggish economy.

This was a big story in July when consumer sentiment collapsed to the lowest level since late 2009. It has moved sideways since then ...

NY Fed Manufacturing index increases in October

From the NY Fed: Empire State Manufacturing Survey

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that conditions improved in October for New York State manufacturers. The general business conditions index rose 12 points, to 15.7. The new orders and shipments indexes were also positive and well above their September levels.
...
The index for number of employees climbed for a third consecutive month, although the average workweek index dipped slightly.

Here is a graph from the NY Fed.

These regional surveys had been showing a slowdown in manufacturing and are being closely watched right now. This was above expectations.