Weiss Ratings News Briefs


Banks close in Utah and Nebraska for the first time in more than a year

11/07/2011

SunFirst Bank, St George, Utah, with assets of $212.7 million at June 30, was closed by Utah regulators on Friday, November 4.  It was rated E- ("Very Weak") by Weiss at the time of failure and was first identified as "Weak" in March 2008.  The bank reported a loss of more than $2.7 million for the six months ending June 30.  Although SunFirst Bank had above-FDIC-mandated Tier 1 (5%) and risk-based capital (6%) ratios of 5.43% and 8.62%, respectively, nonperforming loans represented more than 15% of its loan portfolio.  Cache Valley Bank, located in Logan, Utah, with assets of $295.5 million and a Weiss Financial Strength Rating of A-, assumed the deposits of SunFirst Bank.  Cache Valley Bank has high Tier 1 capital of 12.76% and moderate risk-based capital of 16.15%. The bank also had low nonperforming loans of 1.48% and $3.87 million in net income through June 30.

Mid City Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, with assets of $124.7 million at June 30, was rated E- ("Very Weak") by Weiss at the time of failure and was first identified as "Weak" in June 2008.  It reported a loss of more than $6.4 million for the six months ending June 30.  Mid City Bank had negative capital ratios, and nonperforming loans represented 10.8% of its loan portfolio.  Purdum State Bank, located in Purdum, Nebraska, with assets of $20.6 million and a Weiss Financial Strength Rating of C+, assumed the deposits of Mid City Bank.  Purdum State Bank has moderate risk-based capital of 23.59%, which is above the industry average.