Bank Counseling & Compliance
Practice Overview
Marked by fierce competition, economic turmoil, and aggressive regulation and supervision, the banking industry has faced unprecedented challenges in recent years. Buckley delivers regulatory, enforcement, transactional, and litigation counsel to federal and state chartered depository institutions and their holding companies. Our clients include banks of all sizes — global banks, domestic banks, regional and community banks, and specialty banks. We also helps banks, financial services institutions, and fintech companies deliver an enterprise-level “whole institution” perspective to their regulators — from risk and data management to capital planning, governance and other prudential issues — which can empower firms to execute on anticipated growth strategies and significantly expedite the lifting of limitations.
Bank Regulatory
The firm works with banking clients, including national and state chartered commercial banks, federal and state-chartered thrifts, and savings banks in complying with the laws and regulations governing their operations. Our experience includes advising on bank formation issues and de novo charters; routine filings, disclosures, and financial reporting; and reviewing, drafting, and implementing compliance policies and procedures involving all consumer protection and bank regulatory requirements. We work with our clients to maintain appropriate capital, reserve, credit rating, and corporate governance requirements (including those under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, and other director and officer responsibilities), as well as to comply with payment system requirements and e-commerce laws and regulations. We also advise on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and outsourcing agreements, and navigate our clients through regulatory examinations, enforcement actions, litigation, and transactions.
Corporate Governance
Corporate governance standards as applied by the banking agencies have never been more demanding. We counsel bank boards and executive management on regulatory expectations and conduct reviews of corporate governance processes, working closely with boards, board committees, and executive management, and our lawyers make presentations to clients on the latest developments and provide recommendations on strengthening corporate governance practices.
Executive Compensation & Benefits
The firm provides legal support for the design of executive compensation and benefits in conformity with bank regulatory expectations, including incentive compensation, and drafting equity compensation plans, changes in control provisions, and appropriate disclosures in securities filings and proxy statements.
New Products
Buckley assists banks and bank/financial holding companies in developing new products and services that are permissible as incidental or related to banking or financially-related in a manner consistent with regulatory expectations and risk management. We have assisted a number of banks entering the wealth management, trust, and insurance agency businesses, and with acquisitions of such companies.
Director & Officer Liability and Defense
Bank directors and officers are at greater risk of personal liability than other corporate directors and officers. They are subject to a variety of enforcement actions, including civil money penalties, restitution, and cease and desist orders and removals. If their bank fails, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver may sue them. Buckley supports the efforts of bank directors and officers to mitigate risk of personal liability through customized training and reviews of policies, processes, and practices to assure that bank boards and management are conducting business in a manner that will protect them from undue liability.
Our attorneys advise bank boards and management on protecting themselves against personal liability through D&O insurance policies, charter and bylaw indemnification provisions, and indemnification agreements with individual directors. Our team also defends against enforcement and civil actions filed by banking agencies and other governmental authorities. Members of our team include former bank regulators and experienced civil and criminal litigators, as well as the Executive Director of the American Association of Bank Directors, a nonprofit trade association representing the interests of bank and savings institution directors.
Troubled Banks
Our firm advises on the myriad issues that banks and their holding companies, directors, and officers face when confronted with a threat to their continued operations. We offer troubled banks comprehensive advice on complex regulatory, transactional, litigation, and personal liability issues, and work closely with investors to identify, negotiate, and close on investment opportunities with troubled institutions and their regulators. Our team defends matters involving the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Federal Reserve, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Justice (DOJ), and other regulatory and enforcement authorities. We help our clients navigate through internal investigations, and represent Chapter 7 trustees of insolvent bank and thrift holding companies through the Chapter 7 process. We are also involved in transactions and design strategies that help our clients increase capital levels and avoid or delay regulatory enforcement actions and receiverships. For banks operating under change in management or golden parachute restrictions, our attorneys assist institutions with regulatory requests to comply with approval requirements.
Bankruptcy Trustee
Buckley represents Chapter 7 trustees of insolvent banks and thrift holding companies in fulfilling their responsibilities to creditors seeking to recover their interests through the Chapter 7 process. We serve as special counsel to trustees in conducting and/or assisting in investigations concerning the financial affairs of the debtor holding company and the failure of its underlying bank or thrift. We assess and litigate claims against insiders and third-party advisors of the debtor holding company, and advise on investigations and litigation of avoidable transfers. We defend against government enforcement and civil actions naming or otherwise involving the debtor holding company. Our firm also handles similar matters for debtors in Chapter 11 proceedings.
Articles
"Resisting temptation in a crisis: Making sure ethics and compliance don’t get diluted under financial strain" co-authored by Daniel R. Alonso (Compliance & Enforcement)
As the pandemic crisis begins its long process of receding, near the top of mind in companies of all sizes is how to thrive, or even survive, with the economy in turmoil. With such pressures, it would be easy for business executives to let compliance issues drop down on their list of priorities...
Articles"What constitutes reasonable security per Calif. privacy law?" by Amanda R. Lawrence, Michael A. Rome, and James C. Chou (Law360)
California Consumer Privacy Act compliance has been focused on developing the policies, procedures and infrastructure to support new privacy rights for California residents, which include, among other things, the right to know what personal information companies have on them, the right to delete...
ArticlesSpecial Alert: OCC issues CRA final rule
On May 20, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced a final rule to modernize the regulatory framework implementing the Community Reinvestment Act. The final rule marks the culmination of a three-year effort led by the Treasury Department to revamp the CRA and arrives exactly six...
Special Alerts"Ruling on anti-hacking law may guide fair lending tests" by Jeffrey P. Naimon, H Joshua Kotin, and Frida Alim (Law360)
Regulators, consumer groups, academics and private litigants are grappling with the fair lending implications of the credit models powering the explosive growth in online lending by banks and financial technology firms. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in late March concluded...
Articles"CRA reform plan is suddenly outdated" by Warren W. Traiger (American Banker)
Bank regulators were in the process of reshaping a 43-year-old community lending law when the coronavirus pandemic hit, prompting calls from bankers and community advocates alike to suspend rulemaking and revealing how inflexible the proposal could be amid a crisis. Even absent current economic...
Articles"Navigating digitized mortgage processes during Covid-19" by Valerie L. Hletko and Edward W. Somers (Law360)
The risks presented by the coronavirus pandemic have forced innovation in executing consumer contracts — and fast. Not least affected is the mortgage industry, which typically relies on in-person interactions for document execution to satisfy legal requirements and investor guidelines. Office...
Articles"Paycheck Protection Program poses AML compliance challenges" by Daniel P. Stipano and Benjamin W. Hutten (Bloomberg Law)
Promised relief started flowing to small businesses recently under the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, but many lenders releasing funds now face a substantial compliance burden: establishing an anti-money-laundering...
Articles"Preparing for private right of action under Calif. privacy law" by Amanda R. Lawrence and Michael A. Rome (Law360)
The California Consumer Privacy Act went into effect at the beginning of this year, and while the California attorney general will not begin enforcing it until July, the private right of action that the CCPA created is available to consumers now. The CCPA expressly provides for a private right of...
ArticlesSpecial Alert: CARES Act places significant burdens on servicers of consumer debt but provides some relief to depositories
President Trump late last week signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act that attempts to soften the negative economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on consumers, including by suspending payments for certain student loan borrowers and enabling mortgage loan borrowers to...
Special Alerts"5 FCA enforcement predictions after Coronavirus relief bill" by Andrew W. Schilling (Law360)
On March 27, President Donald Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. Although the False Claims Act is not mentioned in this stimulus bill, the implications of the act on FCA enforcement are likely to be significant. Click here to...
Articles"Getting the cash out of cannabis" by Benjamin W. Hutten (Bloomberg Law)
States began legalizing cannabis businesses in 1996, and, ever since, Congress and financial regulators have grappled with how to bank the cannabis industry—so far with little success. Most of the billions of dollars in annual cannabis sales are still in cash, putting the industry and its employees...
Articles"The hazy legal landscape of cannabis: A review" by Fredrick S. Levin, Daniel P. Stipano, Katherine L. Halliday, and Benjamin W. Hutten (Los Angeles Daily Journal)
The legality of cannabis varies widely on what product is at issue and what law applies. There is significant divergence, and at times direct conflict, between state and federal laws. Under federal law, a slight difference in chemical composition or the marketed use of a product can determine...
Articles"Banks need to prep for OFAC Cuban ‘U-Turn’ exception limits" by Benjamin W. Hutten (Bloomberg Law)
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control recently announced changes to its Cuba sanctions intended to further financially isolate the Cuban government. Most importantly, OFAC will effectively rescind the “U-Turn,” an exception to the Cuban embargo that allowed U.S. banks to...
Articles"Legislative developments in compliance: The Coordinating Oversight, Upgrading and Innovating Technology, and Examiner Reform Act" by Daniel P. Stipano (FiSCA Currents)
The House Financial Services Committee voted unanimously in May to approve what could become the first anti-money laundering legislation passed since the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001, and the first legislation aimed at reforming the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). The Coordinating Oversight, Upgrading and...
Articles"The Edge Act: Another avenue for removal" by Amanda R. Lawrence, Scott T. Sakiyama, and Nancy H. Turner (American Bar Association)
As any first-year law student could tell you, “Any civil action brought in a State court of which the district courts of the United States have original jurisdiction, may be removed by the defendant or the defendants, to the district court of the United States . . . where such action is pending.”...
Articles"Reducing the regulatory risk of merchant cash advances and factoring" by Clinton R. Rockwell, Moorari K. Shah, and Lauren Frank (Law360)
A growing number of courts and regulators have reached different conclusions on whether factoring and merchant cash advances constitute loans subject to state lender licensing and usury regulations, leaving many factoring companies and their clients without legal certainty about the nature of the...
Articles"What commenters have to say about proposed CRA updates" by Warren W. Traiger and Caroline K. Eisner (Law360)
Finally, almost a decade after announcing a joint effort to modernize the Community Reinvestment Act, the prudential regulators have signaled that revisions are in the offing. Over the last two months, representatives from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance...
Articles"Banks looking for common ground on CRA modernization" by Warren W. Traiger and Caroline K. Eisner (Banking Exchange)
Regulatory officials in recent days have taken what appear to be initial, tentative steps toward the daunting task of revising the Community Reinvestment Act: They are talking publicly about it. That is of no small significance, given that the conversation is fraught with some of the most complex,...
Articles"Avoiding monetary penalties after OCC enforcement orders" by Daniel P. Stipano (American Bar Association Business Law Today)
In recent years, the OCC has aggressively used its cease and desist authority to address a variety of supervisory problems, including unfair or deceptive acts or practices, Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering, and safety and soundness. As a result, there are a sizeable number of consent cease...
Articles"Takeaways from military member complaints at CFPB" by Jeffrey P. Naimon, Sasha Leonhardt, and Christina R. Smith (Law360)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ’s Office of Servicemember Affairs recently released a report highlighting issues facing military consumers based on complaints submitted by service members, veterans and their families. This report identifies categories and trends among the approximately 48...
Articles
News & Blogs
California Department of Business Oversight will monitor licensees’ compliance with face covering guidance
The California Department of Business Oversight announced that it will monitor licensees’ compliance with face covering guidance issued by the California governor and the California Department of Public Health. All customers must be required to wear appropriate face coverings under circumstances...
InfoBytesSBA releases PPP borrower information
On July 6, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in conjunction with the Treasury Department, released the business information of certain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan recipients. For any loan over $150,000, the SBA data release includes business names, addresses, NAICS codes, zip...
InfoBytesFFIEC addresses LIBOR transition
On July 1, the member agencies of the Federal Financial Institutions Examinations Council (FFIEC) issued a joint statement highlighting several risks that will result from the anticipated cessation of LIBOR at the end of 2021. Institutions with LIBOR exposures should put in place appropriate risk...
InfoBytesState Issues, Covid-19, District of Columbia, Consumer Credit, Credit Report, Consumer Finance
On July 7, the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner again extended its remote work guidance for mortgage companies, mortgage loan originators, supervised loan licenses, credit service organizations, money transmitters, and credit notification registrations, previously covered here . With...
InfoBytesHawaii regulator extends guidance permitting licensees to reduce office hours, temporarily close offices
On July 2, the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions extended earlier guidance, previously covered here , that temporarily permits licensees with locations in Hawaii to reduce hours or close offices during Hawaii’s Covid-19 emergency period. Notice of temporary closure or relocation from...
InfoBytesPPP extended until August 8
On July 4, President Trump signed S.4116 , which extends authorization for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through August 8. Additionally, the measure separates the amount authorized for the SBA’s standard 7(a) small business lending program from the PPP’s...
InfoBytesOCC issues new UDAP/UDAAP Comptroller’s Handbook booklet
On June 29, the OCC issued a new Comptroller’s Handbook booklet , “Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices and Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices,” which covers details for examiners regarding UDAP violations under Section 5 of the FTC Act and UDAAP violations under sections 1031 and...
InfoBytesFinCEN outlines BSA due diligence requirements for hemp-related businesses
On June 29, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued guidance for hemp-related business customers to explain due diligence requirements and identify the types of information financial institutions can collect to comply with Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) regulatory requirements. The...
InfoBytesHouse approves resolution to reverse OCC’s CRA rule
On June 29, the U.S. House of Representatives approved resolution H.J. 90 , along party lines, which would reverse the OCC’s final rule (covered by a Buckley Special Alert ) to modernize the regulatory framework implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). As previously covered by InfoBytes...
InfoBytesARRC releases updated fallback language in the event of LIBOR transition
On June 30, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee (ARRC) released updated recommended fallback language for U.S. dollar LIBOR denominated syndicated loans and new variable rate private student loans . ARRC noted that the private student loan language is intended to minimize risk and market...
InfoBytes
Press Releases & Announcements
Buckley recognized by Chambers USA as a “top-notch” firm in financial services and white collar work
Buckley has once again received top recognition in financial services regulation, white collar crime/government investigations, and fintech from Chambers USA, which ranks the country’s leading firms and lawyers in a range of practice areas based on research and client interviews....
AnnouncementsBuckley recognized by Chambers USA as a “first-rate firm” in financial services; “crème de la crème” for White Collar practice
Buckley has once again received top recognition in financial services regulation and white collar crime/government investigations from Chambers USA, which ranks the country’s leading firms and lawyers in a range of practice areas based on research and client interviews.
In total...
AnnouncementsGordon Miller joins Buckley Sandler
WASHINGTON, DC (August 13, 2018) – Buckley Sandler LLP announced today that banking regulatory lawyer Gordon L. Miller has joined the firm as a Senior Counsel in its Washington, D.C., office. Miller brings more than three decades of public- and private-sector experience in bank regulation,...
Press ReleasesBuckley Sandler represents Old Dominion National Bank in a $38.7 million private offering
Buckley Sandler LLP represented Old Dominion National Bank in an oversubscribed private offering of common equity, which raised approximately $38.7 million from about 320 accredited individual investors.
This was the bank's second successful private placement of common equity since...
AnnouncementsBuckley Sandler recognized by Chambers USA as “an excellent firm” with “a fine stable of expert attorneys”
Buckley Sandler once again has received top recognition in financial services regulation and white collar crime/government investigations from Chambers USA, which ranks the country’s leading firms and lawyers in a range of practice areas by researching the firms and interviewing...
AnnouncementsBuckley Sandler Represents FVCBankcorp in its Acquisition of Colombo Bank
Buckley Sandler LLP represented FVCBankcorp, Inc. (FVCB) in its acquisition of Colombo Bank in a cash and stock transaction for total consideration valued at approximately $33.3 million. Following the closing of the transaction, expected in the fourth quarter of 2018, Colombo will merge into...AnnouncementsBuckley Sandler Represents Luther Burbank Corp. in $150 Million IPO
Buckley Sandler LLP represented Luther Burbank Corp., a bank holding company headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, in its recent initial public offering of common stock, which raised gross proceeds of approximately $150 million.
Luther Burbank...
AnnouncementsBest Lawyers in America Recognizes 11 Buckley Sandler Partners for 2018
Buckley Sandler is pleased to announce that 11 of its partners have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
Partners Jeremiah S. Buckley,...
AnnouncementsDaniel P. Stipano Receives Leadership Award From Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists
The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) awarded Buckley Sandler partner Daniel P. Stipano the 2017 AML/CTF Leadership in Government award at the ACAMS MoneyLaundering.com 22nd Annual International AML & Financial Crime Conference on April 4, 2017, in Hollywood...
AnnouncementsFormer Deputy Chief Counsel for Office of the Comptroller Joins BuckleySandler
WASHINGTON, DC (January 3, 2017) – BuckleySandler LLP, a premier financial services, government enforcement and litigation law firm, announced today that former Deputy Chief Counsel for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Daniel P. Stipano has joined the firm as a Partner in its...
Press Releases
Our Bank Counseling & Compliance Team
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FYI
"Resisting temptation in a crisis: Making sure ethics and compliance don’t get diluted under financial strain" co-authored by Daniel R. Alonso (Compliance & Enforcement)
Special Alert: OCC issues CRA final rule
"Ruling on anti-hacking law may guide fair lending tests" by Jeffrey P. Naimon, H Joshua Kotin, and Frida Alim (Law360)
Recent Blog Posts
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July 10, 2020
California Department of Business Oversight will monitor licensees’ compliance with face covering guidance
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July 9, 2020
SBA releases PPP borrower information
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July 8, 2020
FFIEC addresses LIBOR transition
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July 7, 2020
State Issues, Covid-19, District of Columbia, Consumer Credit, Credit Report, Consumer Finance
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July 7, 2020
Hawaii regulator extends guidance permitting licensees to reduce office hours, temporarily close offices