Regulatory Matters

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Regulatory Matters

Regulatory Matters

Note 17. Regulatory Matters

BSA Consent Order

On November 5, 2014, the Bank entered into a Stipulation to the Issuance of a Consent Order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") and the California Department of Business Oversight ("DBO"), consenting to the issuance of a Consent Order ("the BSA Consent Order") relating to identified deficiencies in the Bank's centralized Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering compliance program, which is designed to comply with the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and related anti-money laundering regulations (collectively, the "BSA/AML Requirements"). Per the BSA Consent Order, the Bank must review, update and implement an enhanced Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering ("BSA/AML") risk assessment process based on the 2010 Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council BSA/AML Examination Manual. Some of the areas highlighted in the BSA Consent Order include the requirements to: i) enhance customer due-diligence procedures; ii) improve the enhanced due diligence analysis for high-risk customers; iii) ensure the proper identification and reporting of suspicious activity; iv) address and correct the noted violations of law; v) ensure that there is sufficient and qualified staff; and vi) ensure that all staff are properly trained to carry out the BSA/AML programs. Certain activities, including expansionary activities, that otherwise require regulatory approval will likely be impeded while the BSA Consent Order remains outstanding. The Company continues to make progress in addressing the issues identified in the BSA Consent Order that was entered into with its regulators in November of 2014. However, the Company still has additional work to do in order to fully remediate the issues identified in the BSA Consent Order. Compliance and resolution of the BSA Consent Order will ultimately be determined by the FDIC and DBO.