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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE THE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Written Agreement by and between
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL BANK
St. Louis, Missouri

1
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Docket No. 03-020-WNRB-SM

1

and
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF ST. LOUIS
St. Louis, Missouri

1
)

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WHEREAS, as the result of the identification of deficiencies in its operations, Southern
Commercial Bank, St. Louis, Missouri (the “Bank”), a state chartered bank that is a member of
the Federal Reserve System, is taking steps to enhance and improve its policies and procedures
for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Currency and Foreign
Transactions Reporting Act (31 U.S.C. 531 1 g
t s.)
(the Bank Secrecy Act (the “BSA”)) and the
rules and regulations issued thereunder by the U S . Department of the Treasury (31 C.F.R.
103.11 g
t %.); the suspicious activity reporting and BSA compliance requirements of
Regulation H ofthe Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. 208.62 and 208.63); and the rules and
regulations of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (“OFAC”)
(31 C.F.R. 500 et seq.);
WHEREAS, in recognition of the common goal of the Bank and the Federal Reserve
Bank of St. Louis (the “Reserve Bank”) to ensure that the Bank fully addresses all deficiencies in
the Bank’s anti-money laundering policies and procedures, customer due diligence practices, and
internal control environment, the Bank and the Reserve Bank have mutually agreed to enter into
this Written Agreement (the ”Agreement”); and

WHEREAS,on

r u n e 10

,2003 the board of directors of the Bank, at a

duly constituted meeting, adopted a resolution authorizing and directing &be&

&uk&

to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the Bank, and consenting to compliance by the Bank
and its institution-affiliated parties, as defined in section 3(u) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act, as amended (the "FDI Act") (12 U.S.C. 1813(u)), with each and every provision of this
Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Bank and the Reserve Bank agree as follows:
1.

Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank an

acceptable written program designed to upgrade and improve the Bank's system of internal
controls to ensure compliance with all applicable provisions of the BSA and the rules and
regulations issued thereunder, as required by section 208.63 of Regulation H of the Board of
Governors (12 C.F.R. 208.63). 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, at a minimum:
(a)

Provide for a system of internal controls to ensure compliance with the

BSA and the rules and regulations thereunder, including comprehensive policies and procedures
for compliance with all recordkeeping and reporting requirements, covering all areas of
operations, including but not limited to, currency transactions, wire transfers, and monetary
instrument transactions;
(b)

provide for regular, comprehensive, independent testing of compliance

with the BSA and the rules and regulations issued thereunder and ensure that compliance audits
are performed frequently, are fully documented, and are conducted with the appropriate
segregation of duties; and

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(c)

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.

2.

Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank an

acceptable enhanced 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 the Bank to law enforcement and supervisory authorities, as required
by the suspicious activity reporting provisions of Regulation H of the Board of Governors
(12 C.F.R. 208.62). At a minimum, the program shall include:
(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 the customer base of the Bank to:
(i)

Identify the categories of customers whose transactions and

banking activities are usual and routine; and
(ii)

determine the appropriate level of enhanced due diligence

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

For those customers whose transactions require enhanced due diligence,

procedures to:
(i)

Determine the appropriate documentation necessary to confirm the

identity and business activities of the customer;

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(ii)

understand the normal and expected transactions of the customer;

(iii)

report suspicious activities in compliance with existing reporting

and

requirements set forth in Regulation H of the Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. 208.62).

3.

Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank an

acceptable written program designed to ensure compliance with all OFAC regulations, as well as
any rules and 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.
4.

The written programs required by paragraph 1,2, and 3 of this Agreement shall be

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

5.

All communications regarding this Agreement shall be sent to:
(a)

Mr. Timothy A. Bosch
Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
41 1 Locust Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63102

(b)

Mr. Robert W. Hawkins
Chairman
Southern Commercial Bank
4435 Meramec Bottom Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63 I1 1

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6.

Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Reserve

Bank may, in its sole discretion, grant written extensions of time to the Bank to comply with any
provision of this Agreement.
7.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding on the Bank and each of its

institution-affiliated parties, in their capacities as such, and their successors and assigns.
8.

Each provision of this Agreement shall remain effective and enforceable until

stayed, modified, terminated or suspended by the Reserve Bank.
9.

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

Board of Governors, the Reserve Bank, or any other federal or state agency from taking any
other action affecting the Bank or any of its current or former institution-affiliated parties.
10.

This Agreement is a "written agreement'' for the purposes of, and is enforceable

by the Board of Governors as an order issued under, section 8 ofthe FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1818).

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

day of

-x-

L 8-T

,2003.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Southern Commercial Bank

4 & A . b L

By:

Timothy A. Bhsch
Vice President

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