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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE TJ3E
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
WASHINGTON, D.C.

In the Matter of

)

1
RIGGS NATIONAL CORPORATION
Washington, D.C.

)
)
)

and

1

RIGGS INTERNATIONAL BANKING
CORPORATION
Miami, Florida

Docket Nos.

04-011-B-HC
04-011-B-EC

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)

1
1
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WHEREAS, Riggs National Corporation, Washington, D.C., a registered bank holding
company, is taking steps to address deficiencies identified by the Federal Reserve Bank of
Richmond (the “Richmond Reserve Bank”) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (the
“Atlanta Reserve Bank”) at Riggs National Corporation and Riggs International Banking
Corporation, Miami, Florida, an Edge corporation organized under Section 25A of the Federal
Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 611 et seq.) (“RIBC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Riggs Bank, N.A.,
Washington, D.C.;
WHEREAS, RIBC has been advised by the Atlanta Reserve Bank of deficiencies in its
compliance with applicable federal laws, rules, and regulations relating to anti-money laundering
policies and procedures, including the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act,
31 U.S.C. 531 1

s.
(the Bank Secrecy Act (the “BSA”)); the rules and regulations issued

thereunder by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (31 C.F.R. Part 103);and the suspicious
activity reporting requirements of Regulation K of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (the “Board of Governors”) (12 C.F.R. 211.5(k));

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the common goals of Riggs National Corporation, RIBC,
and the Board of Governors to ensure that the consolidated organization is operated in a safe and
sound manner and that all deficiencies in RIBC’s anti-money laundering policies and procedures

are satisfactorily addressed, Riggs National Corporation and RlBC are consenting to the issuance
of this Cease and Desist Order (the “Order”) by the Board of Governors;
WHEREAS, Riggs Bank, N.A. has announced its intention to close RIBC, and RIBC will
take all appropriate steps necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Order as
they apply to the operations of RIBC throughout the process of terminating its business;
WHEREAS, on May 13,2004 the boards of directors of Riggs National Corporation and
RIBC, at duly constituted meetings, adopted resolutions:
(1)

authorizing and directing j%berf- L .

bvi‘ffofi

and

/+en r~P. Mwnecc u k ,to enter into this Order on behalf of Riggs National Corporation
/

and RIBC, respectively, and consenting to compliance by Riggs National Corporation and RIBC
and their institution-affiliated parties, as defined in sections 3(u) and 8(b)(3) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1813(u) and 1818(b)(3)) (the “FDI Act”), with
each and every provision of this Order; and
(2)

waiving any and all rights that Riggs National corporation and RIBC may

have pursuant to section 8 of the FDI Act and 12 C.F.R. part 263 or otherwise:
(a)

to the issuance of a notice of charges;

(b)

to a hearing for the purpose of taking evidence with respect to any

matter implied by or set forth in this Order;
(c)

to judicial review of this Order; and

(d)

to challenge or contest, in any manner, the basis, issuance, validity,

terms, effectiveness or enforceability of this Order or any provision hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, before the filing of any notices and prior to the taking of any
testimony or adjudication of, or finding on any issue of fact or law herein, and without this Order
constituting an admission of any allegation made or implied by the Board of Governors in
connection with this proceeding, and solely for the purpose of settlement of this proceeding:

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, pursuant to section 8(i) of the FJII Act, that Riggs National
Corporation and RIBC shall cease and desist and take affirmative action as follows:

Management Review
1.

(a)

Within 20 days of this Order, the board of directors of Riggs National

Corporation shall retain an independent consultant acceptable to the Richmond Reserve Bank to
conduct a review of the functions and performance of the board of directors and senior
management and to prepare a written report of findings and recommendations. The primary
purpose of the management review shall be to aid in the development of an effective board of
directors and management structure that is suitable to the needs of the consolidated organization
and that is adequately staffed by qualified and trained personnel. The management review shall,
at a minimum, address, consider, and include:
(i)

an assessment of the current structure and composition of the board

of directors and any committees thereof, and a determination of the structure and composition
needed to adequately supervise the operations of the consolidated organization, especially the
compliance functions at Riggs National Corporation and its subsidiaries;

(ii)

the identification of the type and number of officer positions

needed to manage and properly supervise the affairs of the consolidated organization; and
(iii)

an evaluation of each executive and senior compliance officer to

determine whether the individual possesses the ability, experience, and other qualifications
required to competently perform present and anticipated duties, to adhere to the policies and
procedures of the consolidated organization and maintain it in a safe and sound condition, and to
comply with the requirements of this Order.
(b)

A copy of the written report required by paragraph l(a) shall be provided

to the Richmond Reserve Bank at the same time it is provided to Riggs National Corporation.

Board Oversight
2.

Within 60 days of this Order, Riggs National Corporation’s board of directors

shall submit to the Richmond Reserve Bank a written plan to strengthen board oversight of the
management and operations of the consolidated organization. The plan shall, at a minimum,
address, consider, and include:
(a)

The actions that the board of directors will take to maintain effective

supervision of the consolidated organization’s senior management and major operations and
activities;
(b)

the responsibility of the board of &rectors to monitor management’s

adherence to approved policies and procedures and to applicable laws and regulations;
(c)

a description of the detailed information to be included in the periodic

reports that will be reviewed by the board of directors in its oversight of the operations and
management of the consolidated organization; and

(d)

criticisms relating to the board of directors’s oversight of management

noted in the most recent report of inspection and the report of the most recent corporate
governance targeted review of Riggs National Corporation (collectively, the “Reports”).

Risk Management
3.

Within 60 days of this Order, Riggs National Corporation shall submit to the

Richmond Reserve Bank an acceptable plan designed to improve the consolidated organization’s
risk management practices. The plan shall, at a minimum, address, consider, and include:
(a)

Procedures to ensure the prompt identification and effective measurement,

monitoring and control of key risks throughout the consolidated organization;
(b)

enterprise-wide risk management practices, including overall policies,

procedures, risk limits, and management reporting;
(c)

the board of directors’s and senior management’s responsibilities for

identifying, measuring, monitoring, and controlling risk;
(d)

procedures for evaluation, approval, and oversight of policies, procedures,

risk limits, new business initiatives, and strategic changes; and
(e)

the risk management criticisms noted in the Reports.

Internal Audit
4.

Within 60 days of this Order, Riggs National Corporation shall submit to the

Richmond Reserve Bank an acceptable written internal audit program for the consolidated
organization. The program shall, at a minimum, address, consider, and include:
(a)

Generally accepted auditing standards, including, but not limited to, the

scope and frequency of audits and periodic reporting to the board of &rectors;
(b)

direct lines of reporting between the auditors and the board of directors;

5

(c)

periodic review of the consolidated organization’s internal controls;

(d)

the requirements outlined in the Amended Interagency Guidance on the

Internal Audit Function and its Outsourcing, issued March 17,2003;
(e)

the resources and expertise to be dedicated to ensuring the complete and

timely implementation of the internal audit program; and
(f)

corrective steps to address criticisms of the audit function noted in the

Reports, as well as criticisms of RIBC’s audit function noted in the most recent report of the
examination of RIBC (the “Report of Examination”).

Dividends, Interest Payments, and Stock Redemption
5.

(a)

Riggs National Corporation shall not declare or pay any dividends without

the prior written approval of the Richmond Reserve Bank and the Director of the Division of
Banking Supervision and Regulation of the Board of Governors (the “Director”).
(b)

Riggs National Corporation shall not make any distributions of interest,

principal, or other sums with respect to the debentures issued in connection with its trust
preferred securities without the prior written approval of the Richmond Reserve Bank and the
Director.
(c)

Riggs National Corporation shall not purchase, redeem, or otherwise

acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its stock without the prior written approval of the
Richmond Reserve Bank and the Director.
(d)

All requests for prior written approval shall be received by the Richmond

Reserve Bank at least 30 days prior to the proposed dividend declaration date, payment date, or
repurchase date, and shall contain, but not be limited to, current and projected information on
consolidated capital, asset quality, earnings, liquidity, and cash flow.

6

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
6.

Within 60 days of this Order, RIBC shall submit to the Atlanta Reserve Bank an

acceptable written program designed to ensure compliance with all applicable provisions of the
BSA and the rules and regulations issued thereunder. The program shall include provisions for
updates on an ongoing basis as necessary to incorporate amendments to the BSA and the rules
and regulations thereunder. The program shall take into account any plan for the termination of

RIBC’s operations and accounts.
(a)

The program shall, at a minimum, upgrade and improve RIBC’s system of

internal controls to ensure compliance with the BSA and the rules and regulations thereunder,
including, but not limited to, policies and procedures designed to:
(i)

ensure compliance with all applicable reporting and recordkeeping

(ii)

identify, assess, and manage risks associated with the types of

requirements;

accounts, transactions, and services provided by R E X ;
(iii)

ensure identification and verification of the identity of account

holders and transactors in accordance with applicable regulations; and
(iv)

effectively monitor transactions, including incoming and outgoing

funds transfers, ACH transactions, checks, cash and monetary instruments, and internal funds
transfers involving corporate and partnership entities, for suspicious or unusual activities.
(b)

The program shall provide for regular, comprehensive, independent testing

of compliance with the BSA and the rules and regulations thereunder, and shall ensure, at a
minimum, that compliance review:
(i)

is performed frequently and is fully documented;

7

(ii)

is conducted with the appropriate segregation of duties; and

(iii)

covers all substantive requirements and compliance processes,

including, but not limited to, reporting lines for following up on compliance findings and
procedures to ensure that compliance issues are fully addressed at the appropriate management
level and satisfactorily resolved.
(c)

The program shall provide for adequate training of all appropriate

personnel, conducted by competent staff and covering all relevant BSA and related requirements
(including accurate recordkeeping and form completion and the detection and reporting of
suspicious activity), and ensure that the training is reviewed on a regular basis so that all
personnel have the most current information available.
(d)

The program shall provide that RIBC’s program is at all times managed by

a qualified officer with responsibility for all BSA compliance and related matters, that adequate
resources are available to implement and maintain an effective compliance program, and that the
Atlanta Reserve Bank will receive notification of any change in the BSA compliance officer
position.

Suspicious Activity Reporting and Customer Due Diligence
7.

Within 60 days of this Order, RIBC shall submit to the Atlanta Reserve Bank an

acceptable written customer due diligence program designed to reasonably ensure the
identification and timely, accurate, and complete reporting of all known or suspected violations
of law against or involving RIBC to law enforcement and supervisory authorities as required by
the suspicious activity reporting provisions of Regulation K of the Board of Governors

(12 C.F.R. 211.5(k)). The program shall take into account any plan for the termination of
RIBC’s operations and accounts. At a minimum, the program shall include:

8

(a)

An effective system to ensure that all known or suspected violations of

law are properly identified and reported;
(b)

a risk focused assessment of RIBC’s customer base to:
(i)

identify the categories of customers whose transactions and

banking activities are routine and usual; and
(ii)

determine the appropriate level of enhanced due diligence

necessary for those categories of customers that RIBC has reason to believe pose a heightened
risk of illicit activities at or through RIBC; and
(c)

for those customers whose transactions require enhanced due diligence,

additional procedures to:
(i)

determine and obtain the appropriate documentation necessary to

confirm the identity and business activities of the customer;
(ii)

understand the normal and expected transactions of the customer;

(iii)

report suspicious activities in compliance with the reporting

and

requirements set forth in Regulation K of the Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. 211.5(k)).

Transaction Review
8.

(a)

Within 20 days of this Order, RIBC shall engage the services of a

qualified independent firm (the “Consultant”) acceptable to the Atlanta Reserve Bank to conduct
a review of account and transaction activity to determine whether suspicious activity involving
accounts or transactions at, by, or through RIBC was properly identified and reported in
accordance with applicable suspicious activity reporting regulations (the “Review”).

(b)

Within 10 days of the engagement of the Consultant, but prior to the

commencement of the Review, RIBC shall submit to the Atlanta Reserve Bank for approval an
engagement letter that sets forth:
(i)

The scope of the Review, including the t p e s of accounts and

transactions to be reviewed
(ii)

the methodology for conducting the Review, including any

sampling procedures to be followed;
(iii)

the time period to be covered by the Review, to include, at a

minimum, January 2002 through April 2004;

(c)

(iv)

the expertise and resources to be dedicated to the Review; and

(v)

the anticipated date of completion of the Review.

Upon completion of the Review, RIBC shall provide to the Atlanta

Reserve Bank a copy of the Consultant’s report detailing the findings of the Review.
(d)

Upon completion of the Review, RIBC shall ensure that all transactions

previously required to be reported have been reported in accordance with applicable regulations
and guidelines.

9.

Within 60 days of this Order, RIBC shall submit to the Atlanta Reserve Bank an

acceptable written plan designed to ensure compliance with the regulations of the U.S.
Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC’) (31 C.F.R. 500 gt

m.),as well as any guidelines issued or administered by OFAC.

The plan shall include, at a

minimum, procedures to ensure that customer transactions are processed in accordance with
OFAC requirements and in accordance with a regularly updated list of entities and individuals
whose transactions or assets are required to be blocked, frozen, or monitored.

10

Approval and Progress Reports
10.

The program and plan required by paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Order shall be

submitted to the Richmond Reserve Bank for review and approval. The programs, plan, and
engagement letter required by paragraphs 6,7, 8, and 9 of this Order shall be submitted to the
Atlanta Reserve Bank for review and approval. Acceptable programs and plans and an
acceptable engagement letter shall be submitted to the applicable Reserve Bank within the time
periods set forth in this Order. Riggs National Corporation and RIBC, as applicable, shall adopt
the approved programs, plans, and engagement letter within 10 days of approval by the
applicable Reserve Bank and then shall fully comply with them. During the term of this Order,
the approved programs, plans, and engagement letter shall not be amended or rescinded without
the prior written approval of the applicable Reserve Bank.

11.

Within 30 days after the end of each quarter following the date of this Order,

Riggs National Corporation and RIBC shall submit to the Richmond and Atlanta Reserve Banks
written progress reports detailing the form and manner of all actions taken to secure compliance
with the provisions of this Order that are applicable to them, and the results thereof. The
Richmond and Atlanta Reserve Banks may, in writing, discontinue the requirement for progress
reports or modify the reporting schedule.

Notices
12.

All communications regarding this Order shall be sent to:

(a)

JamesBames
Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
Post Office Box 27622
Richmond. VA 23261

Robert Schenck
Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
9100 NW 36 Street
Miami,= 33178
Timothy C. Coughlin, President
Riggs National Corporation
800 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-3944
Henry D. Morneault, Chairman
Riggs International Banking Corporation
800 17&Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-3944

13.

The provisions of this Order shall be binding on Riggs National Corporation,

RIBC, and each of their institution-affiliated parties in their capacities as such, and their
successors and assigns.
14.

Each provision of this Order shall remain effective and enforceable until stayed,

modified, terminated or suspended in writing by the Board.
15.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Order, the Richmond and Atlanta Reserve

Banks may, in their sole discretion, grant written extensions of time to Riggs National
Corporation or RIBC to comply with any provision of this Order.
16.

The provisions of this Order shall not bar, estop or otherwise prevent the Board of

Governors, the Richmond Reserve Bank, the Atlanta Reserve Bank, or any federal or state
agency from taking any further or other action affecting Riggs National Corporation or any of its

subsidmi-, meldingRTBC, OT any of thek cmmt or farmer inshtutmwafF&atedpattiesor

their successors ar assigns.

r

By order of the Board of Governors of the Fedeml Reserve System this

rh

day of May,

2004.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE
mERALREsERvE SYSTEM

RXGGS NATIONAL CORPORATION
.R?

J& 7 [ W

By

By:

/

Roberr L.Allbsitron
hairm man and Chief Executive Officer
RIGGS INTERNATIONAL B A ” G
CORPORATICtN

.

Robert deV. Fnerson
Deputy Secretary of the Board