Federal banking regulators have issued an alert for financial institutions that are affected by Hurricane Michael.

The alert was issued jointly by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration.

They “recognize the serious impact of Hurricane Michael on the customers, members, and operations of many financial institutions and will provide appropriate regulatory assistance to affected institutions subject to their supervision,” the alert says.

A complete list of the affected disaster areas can be found at www.fema.gov.

Lending

Financial institutions, the regulators write, should work constructively with borrowers in communities affected by Hurricane Michael. Prudent efforts to adjust or alter terms on existing loans in affected areas should not be subject to examiner criticism. Modifications of existing loans should be evaluated individually to determine whether they represent troubled debt restructurings. This evaluation should be based on the facts and circumstances of each borrower and loan, which requires judgment, as not all modifications will result in a troubled debt restructuring. In supervising institutions affected by Hurricane Michael, the agencies will consider the unusual circumstances these institutions face.

The agencies recognized that efforts to work with borrowers in communities under stress can be consistent with safe-and-sound practices as well as in the public interest.

Temporary facilities

The regulators wrote that they understand many financial institutions may face staffing, power, telecommunications, and other challenges in re-opening facilities after Hurricane Michael.

In cases in which operational challenges persist, the primary federal and/or state regulator will expedite, as appropriate, any request to operate temporary facilities to provide more convenient availability of services to those affected by Hurricane Michael.

In most cases, a telephone notice to the primary federal and/or state regulator will suffice initially to start the approval process, with necessary written notification being submitted shortly thereafter.

Publishing requirements

The agencies recognized that damage caused by Hurricane Michael may affect compliance with publishing and other requirements for branch closings, relocations, and temporary facilities under various laws and regulations, as applicable.

Institutions experiencing disaster-related difficulties in complying with any publishing or other requirements should contact their primary federal and/or state regulator.

Regulatory reporting requirements

Institutions affected by Hurricane Michael that expect to encounter difficulty meeting the agencies’ reporting requirements should contact their primary federal and/or state regulator to discuss their situation.

The agencies do not expect to assess penalties or take other supervisory action against institutions that take reasonable and prudent steps to comply with the agencies’ regulatory reporting requirements if those institutions are unable to fully satisfy those requirements because of the effects of Hurricane Michael.

The agencies’ staffs stand ready to work with affected institutions that may be experiencing problems fulfilling their reporting responsibilities, taking into account each institution’s particular circumstances, including the status of its reporting and recordkeeping systems and the condition of its underlying financial records.

Community Reinvestment Act

Financial institutions, as applicable, 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.

Investments

The agencies realize local government projects may be negatively affected by Hurricane Michael. Institutions should monitor municipal securities and loans affected by Hurricane Michael. Appropriate monitoring and prudent efforts to stabilize such investments are encouraged.

For more information, institutions may refer to the Interagency Supervisory Examiner Guidance for Institutions Affected by a Major Disaster.

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