Press Release

FDIC Encourages Institutions to Consider Customer Relationships on a Case-by-Case Basis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 28, 2015

Media Contact: Barbara Hagenbaugh (202) 898-7192 bhagenbaugh@fdic.gov

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) issued a Financial Institution Letter today encouraging supervised institutions to take a risk-based approach in assessing individual customer relationships, rather than declining to provide banking services to entire categories of customers without regard to the risks presented by an individual customer or the financial institution's ability to manage the risk.

The FDIC also reinforced the agency's policies on managing customer relationships to examiners and other supervisory staff. Financial institutions that properly manage customer relationships and effectively mitigate risks are neither prohibited nor discouraged from providing services to any category of customer accounts or individual customers operating in compliance with applicable laws. FDIC examiners must provide notice in writing for any case in which an institution is directed to exit a customer relationship.

The FDIC has a new, dedicated toll-free number, 800-756-8854, and dedicated email box, bankingservicesOO@fdic.gov, for the Office of the Ombudsman for institutions concerned that FDIC personnel are not following FDIC policies on providing banking services. Communications with the ombudsman are confidential.

The FDIC also has an independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) that is charged with addressing allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse related to the programs and operations of the agency. Individuals or institutions may contact the FDIC OIG through its website, www.fdicoig.gov; by phone, 800-864-3342; or by email, ighotline@fdic.gov.

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Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's banking system. The FDIC insures deposits at the nation's banks and savings associations, 6,589 as of September 30, 2014. It promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars — insured financial institutions fund its operations.

FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically (go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-9-2015

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