February 26, 2024 / Source: FDIC

Regulatory Relief

February 26, 2024 | FIL-8-2024

SUPERVISORY PRACTICES REGARDING DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS AND BORROWERS AFFECTED BY WILDFIRES IN WASHINGTON

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) recognizes the serious impact of wildfires on customers and operations of financial institutions in affected areas of Washington and will provide regulatory assistance to institutions subject to its supervision.  These initiatives will provide regulatory relief and facilitate recovery.  The FDIC encourages depository institutions in the affected areas to meet the financial services needs of their communities.

The affected area in Washington is Spokane County.

Lending: The FDIC encourages bankers to work constructively with borrowers in communities affected by wildfires.  The FDIC realizes the effects of natural disasters on local businesses and individuals are often transitory, and prudent efforts to adjust or alter terms on existing loans in affected areas should not be subject to examiner criticism.  In supervising institutions affected by wildfires, the FDIC will consider the unusual circumstances they face.  The FDIC recognizes that efforts to work with borrowers in communities under stress can be consistent with safe-and-sound banking practices as well as in the public interest.¹

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA): Financial institutions may receive CRA consideration for community development loans, investments, or services that revitalize or stabilize federally designated disaster areas in their assessment areas or in the states or regions that include their assessment areas.  For additional information, institutions should review the Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment at Section 12(g)(4)(ii).  For help in identifying community development activities to revitalize or stabilize a disaster area, financial institutions can contact their regional Community Affairs Officer.

Investments: Bankers are encouraged to monitor municipal securities and loans affected by wildfires.  The FDIC realizes local government projects may be negatively affected and encourages bankers to engage in appropriate monitoring and take prudent efforts to stabilize such investments.

Reporting Requirements: FDIC-supervised institutions affected by wildfires should notify the San Francisco Regional Office if they expect a delay in filing Reports of Income and Condition or other reports.  The FDIC will evaluate any causes beyond the control of a reporting institution when considering the length of an acceptable delay.

Publishing Requirements: The FDIC understands the damage caused by wildfires may affect compliance with publishing and other requirements for branch closings, relocations, and temporary facilities under various laws and regulations.  Banks experiencing disaster-related difficulties in complying with any publishing or other requirements should contact the San Francisco Regional Office.

Consumer Laws: For consumers’ principal dwelling-secured loans, Regulation Z provides consumers an option to waive or modify the three-day rescission period when a “bona fide personal financial emergency” exists.  To exercise this option, the consumer must provide the lender with a statement describing the emergency in accordance with the regulation.

Temporary Banking Facilities: The San Francisco Regional Office will expedite any request to operate temporary banking facilities by an institution whose offices have been damaged or that desires to provide more convenient availability of services to those affected by wildfires.  In most cases, a telephone notice to the FDIC will suffice initially.  Institutions may submit necessary written notification later.