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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE THE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVF SYSTEM
WASHINGTON, D.C
Written Agreement by and between
HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED )
Columbus, Ohio
and
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF CLEVELAND
Cleveland, Ohio

WHEREAS, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Board of
Governors”) seeks to address deficiencies identified by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
(the “Reserve Bank”) at Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, Columbus, Ohio (“Huntington”),
a registered bank holding company,
corporate governance, internal audit, risk
management, and financial and regulatory reporting;
WHEREAS, the Board of Governors has coordinated with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
to review certain reports filed by Huntington in 2001 and 2002 and amended in 2003;
WHEREAS, Huntington’s wholly owned subsidiary, the Huntington National Bank.
Columbus, Ohio (the “Bank”), a national bank, has entered into a formal agreement with
the OCC;
WHEREAS, Huntington is taking steps to address deficiencies relating to its corporate
governance, internal audit, risk management, and financial and regulatory reporting, and
Huntington and the Reserve Bank have mutually agreed to enter into this Written Agreement
(the “Agreement”) to ensure that Huntington continues to address such deficiencies; and
, 2005, the board of directors of Huntington adopted
WHEREAS, on ~ A , u ~
a resolution authorizing and
to enter into this Agreement on
behalf of Huntington and consenting to compliance by the
of directors of Huntington and
Huntington’s institution-affiliated parties, as defined in sections
and
of the Federal
Act”)
U.S.C.
and
with each and every
Deposit Insurance Act (the
provision of this A,

NOW, THEREFORE. the Reserve Bank and Huntington agree as follows:

Review
1.

Within 10 days of this Agreement. Huntington's board of directors shall
(a)
an independent management consultant acceptable to the Reserve Bank to conduct a
review of the structure, functions, and performance of Huntington's management and board of
directors (the "Management Review"), and to prepare a written report that includes findings,
conclusions, and recommendations. The primary purposes of the Management Review shall be,
first, to assist Huntington's board of directors in the development of board and management
structures that are adequately staffed by qualified and trained personnel and are commensurate
with the size, complexity, and business activities of the consolidated organization, particularly in
the areas of audit, accounting, and financial and regulatory reporting; and, second, to enhance
Huntington's corporate governance and audit policies, procedures, and practices at the board of
directors, committee, and management levels. The terms of the engagement letter shall provide
that the independent firm will submit its report within 90 days of its engagement and will provide
a copy of its report to the Reserve Bank at the same time that it is provided to Huntington. The
Management Review and report shall address, consider, and include, at a minimum, an
evaluation of:
The effectiveness of Huntington's board of directors and its

out their oversight responsibilities,
committees in
including but not limited to, an assessment of the qualifications of
members of the board of directors and its committees; the
timeliness and adequacy of information provided to the board of
directors and committees; the number and types of responsibilities
assigned to committees; and the frequency of board of directors
and committee meetings;
the management structure of Huntington, including
recommendations regarding the type and number of senior officer
and officer positions needed to manage and properly supervise the
affairs of Huntington on an enterprise-wide basis, particularly in
the functions of
audit, risk management, accounting
policies and procedures, and financial and regulatory reporting;
each senior executive officer of Huntington to determine whether
the individual possesses the ability, experience, and other
qualifications required to competently perform present and
anticipated duties, to adhere to established policies and procedures,
and to comply with the requirements of this Agreement;
the effectiveness of Huntington's policies and procedures that are
designed to ensure enterprise-wide compliance with banking and
securities laws and regulations, compliance with generally
aicui-3te

regulatory reports and public financial statements, and the

identification and reporting of deficiencies and weaknesses to
senior management and the board of directors;
controls to ensure compliance with Huntington’s policies and
procedures related to internal reporting and approval of accounting
changes; and
the effectiveness of Huntington’s policies and procedures that are
designed to ensure compliance with the requirements of
section
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Improvement Act of 1991
(“FDICIA 112”).
Within 60 days after Huntington’s receipt of the Management Review
report, Huntington shall submit a written management plan to the Reserve Bank describing
specific actions that the board of directors proposes to take to fully address the findings and
recommendations of the Management Review.

2.
Within 180 days of completion of the Management Review, and thereafter not
less frequently than semi-annually, the board of directors shall review management’s adherence
to Huntington’s
policies and procedures in the areas of accounting, financial and
regulatory reporting, internal audit, and corporate governance and shall prepare written findings
and conclusions of this review along with written descriptions of any management or operational
changes that are made as a result of the review. These written findings shall be included in the
minutes of the board of directors’ meeting’s and maintained for subsequent supervisory review.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Huntington shall ensure that its consolidated organization fully complies with the
3.
requirements of FDICIA
and its implementing regulations set forth in Part
of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s regulations
C.F.R. 363). Documentation indicating
how each FDICIA
annual report was prepared shall be maintained for subsequent
supervisory review.
Huntington shall
steps Lo enhance its enterprise-wide compliance program to
ensure that Huntington complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not
limited to, FDICIA 112 and all relevant securities laws and regulations.
4.

Risk Management and Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
Within 90 days of this Agreement, Huntington shall submit to the Reserve Bank
an acceptable written plan designed to strengthen Huntington‘s risk management in the areas of
accounting and financial and regulatory reporting. The plan shall, at a minimum, address,
consider. and include:

3

Enhanced risk management policies and procedures designed to identify,
(a)
measure, monitor, and control
associated with accounting and financial and regulatory
reporting;
measures to improve the board of directors’ oversight of management’s
(b)
and financial and
implementation of risk management policies and procedures for
regulatory reporting;
management information systems and reporting procedures designed to
(c)
ensure that management personnel and the board of directors and its committees receive timely.
informative, and accurate reports necessary to effectively manage risks and correct weaknesses
and deficiencies associated with accounting and financial and regulatory reporting; and
internal controls designed to ensure adherence to risk management
(d)
policies and procedures and consistent compliance with GAAP and with all applicable laws,
regulations, and supervisory guidance relating to financial and regulatory reporting.
Audit

6.
Within 10 days of this Agreement, Huntington shall engage an
(a)
to the Reserve Bank to conduct a review of the enterprise-wide
independent firm
internal audit function (the “Audit Review”) and to prepare a written report that includes
findings, conclusions, and recommendations (the “Audit Report”). Prior to commencement of
the Audit Review, Huntington shall submit an engagement letter to the Reserve Bank for
approval. The terms of the engagement letter shall provide that the independent firm will submit
the Audit Report within 60 days of its engagement and will provide a copy of the Audit Report to
the Reserve Bank at the same time that it is provided to Huntington. The Audit Review and
Report shall address, consider, and include, at a minimum:
The quality of audit reports and the adequacy of information
provided to line-of-business managers and Huntington’s
Committee;
the adequacy and timeliness of formal management responses to
audit findings;
the tracking of audit issues and the internal audit function’s review
of management’s corrective action;
the adequacy of the oversight provided by Huntington’s board of
directors and its committees of the enterprise-wide internal audit
function;

-

regulatory
the internal audit
function, including but not limited to the requirements of the

4

Interagency Policy Statement on the Internal Audit Function and
its Outsourcing, issued March 17, 2003; and
(vi)

the adequacy of internal audit staffing, policies, and procedures in
relation to Huntington’s activities and complexity.

Within 60 days after Huntington’s receipt of the Audit Report, Huntington
(b)
shall submit an acceptable written plan to the Reserve Bank describing specific actions that
Huntington’s board of directors proposes to take to fully address the findings and
recommendations of the Audit Report.
The board of directors of Huntington shall continue to ensure that Huntington’s
accountant is engaged by, and reports directly to, the
Committee
independent
of the board of directors.

Accounting Policies and Procedures
8.
Upon receipt of the report prepared by the independent accounting consultant
previously engaged by Huntington to review its accounting policies and procedures
(the “Accounting Report”), Huntington shall forward a copy to the Reserve Bank.
9.
No later than March 31, 2005, Huntington shall submit to the Reserve Bank an
acceptable written plan that fully addresses’the findings and recommendations in the Accounting
Report and describes the specific actions that the board of directors proposes to take in order to
establish accounting policies and procedures that provide appropriate guidance on accounting
matters, ensure compliance with applicable laws and guidelines, ensure the accuracy of
Huntington’s regulatory reports and public financial statements, and enhance Huntington’s
accounting control environment. The plan shall, at a minimum, address, consider, and include:

The completeness and accuracy of Huntington’s books, records, and
(a)
public financial statements, including consistent application of GAAP and adherence to the
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99 on Materiality (“SAB 99”) and other applicable
accounting guidance;
a formal process for ongoing documentation and maintenance of
(b)
accounting policies and procedures;
the timely provision of complete and accurate reports to the board of
(c)
directors or its committees regarding changes in accounting treatment of
financial
statement items and material transactions;
disclosure of accounting policy changes to Huntington’s external auditors,
(d)
consistent with SAB 99; and
enhanced internal controls to ensure consistent adherence to accounting
(e)
policies and procedures.

5

Regulatory Reports
10.
Within 30 days of this Agreement, Huntington shall engage an
independent
acceptable to the Reserve Bank to conduct a review of regulatory reports filed
by Huntington since 2001 to determine whether they comply with GAAP and bank regulatory
requirements (the "Regulatoi-y Report Review") and to prepare a written report that includes
findings. conclusions, and recommendations. Prior to commencement of the Regulatory Report
Review, Huntington shall submit an engagement letter to the Reserve Bank for approval. The
terms of the engagement letter shall provide that the independent firm will submit its report
within 90 days of its engagement and will provide a copy of its report to the Reserve Bank at the
same time that it is provided to Huntington.
Within 60 days after Huntington's receipt of the consultant's report,
(b)
Huntington shall file amended regulatory reports to correct any reports that do not comply with
GAAP or bank regulatory requirements.
Huntington shall ensure that (a) each regulatory
including each
Consolidated Financial Statements for Bank Holding Companies with Total Consolidated Assets
of $150 million or More, or with More Than One Subsidiary Bank (Form Y-9 C), accurately
reflects Huntington's condition on the date for which it is filed and all material transactions
undertaken by the bank holding company and its subsidiaries, (b) each regulatory report is
prepared in accordance with GAAP and regulatory guidance, including but not limited to the
reporting and documentation of reserves for the allowance for loan and
and other
operations, and (c) all records indicating how the report was prepared are maintained for
subsequent supervisory review.
Huntington shall take steps to ensure that all balance sheet and income statements
12.
a monthly basis and that internal audit periodically reviews
are reconciled on at
Huntington's procedures for the preparation of regulatory reports to monitor adherence to policy,
GAAP, and regulatory guidance.

Compliance with Agreement
Within 15 days of this Agreement, the board of directors of Huntington shall
13.
appoint a committee (the "Compliance Committee") to monitor and coordinate Huntington's
compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. The Compliance Committee shall be
comprised of three or more outside directors who are not executive officers or principal
shareholders of Huntington or the Bank, as defined in section 215.2
of Regulation 0 of the
Board of Governors
C.F.R.
At a minimum, the Compliance Committee shall keep
detailed minutes of each meeting and shall report its findings to the board of directors on a
monthly basis.
Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter (June 30, September 30,
a
December 31, and
3 1)
the date of
c.
written progress report detailing the form and manner of all actions taken to secure compliance
with the provision of this Agreement, and the results thereof, to the Reserve Bank.
14.

h,rl'

6

n

Effect and Terms of Agreement
The engagement letters and plans required by paragraphs
9. and
of this Agreement shall be submitted to the Reserve Bank for review, and approval.
Acceptable engagement letters and plans shall be submitted within the time periods set forth in
this Agreement. Huntington shall adopt the approved engagement letters and plans within
10 days of approval by the Reserve Bank and then shall fully comply with them. During the
term of this Agreement, the approved engagement letters and plans shall not be amended or
rescinded without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank.

16.

All communications

this Agreement shall be sent to:

(a)

James W. Nelson
Executive Vice Pi-esident and Chief Risk Officer
Huntington Bancshares, Inc.
41 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43287

(b)

Andrew C. Burkle, Jr.
Senior Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
P.O. Box 6387
1455 East
Street
Cleveland, OH 441

The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding on Huntington and each of its
17.
institution-affiliated parties in their capacities as such, and their successors and assigns.
Each provision of this Agreement shall remain effective and enforceable until
18.
stayed, modified, terminated, or suspended by the Reserve Bank.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Reserve Bank may, in its
19.
discretion, grant written extensions of time to Huntington to comply with any provision of this
Agreement.

The provisions of this Agreement shall not bar, estop or otherwise prevent the
Board of Governors, the Reserve Bank, the SEC, or any other federal or state agency or
department from
any other action affecting Huntington or any of its
or former
institution-affiliated parties and their successors and assigns.
This Agreement is a "written agreement" for the purposes of, and is enforceable
21.
by the Board of Governors as an order issued under, section 8 of the
Act (12 U.S.C. 1818).

the

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of
,2005.

Senior Vice President