On February 7, 2011, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) approved a final rule on Assessments, Dividends, Assessment Base and Large Bank Pricing (“Rule”). The Rule, mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank Act”), changes the deposit insurance assessment system from one that is based on domestic deposits to one that is based on average consolidated total assets minus average tangible equity. In addition, the Rule adopts a “scorecard” assessment scheme for larger banks and suspends dividend payments if the Depository Insurance Fund (“DIF”) reserve ratio exceeds 1.5 percent but provides for decreasing assessment rates when the DIF reserve ratio reaches certain thresholds. Under the Rule, larger insured depository institutions will likely be forced to pay higher assessments to the DIF than under the old system.

The Rule will take effect for the quarter beginning April 1, 2011, and will be reflected in the invoices for assessments due September 30, 2011. However, because the Dodd-Frank Act requires that several changes be made to the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (“Call Report”) and the Thrift Financial Report, the effective date is contingent upon these changes being made and may be delayed.

Please see full alert below for more information.