NR 97-95
October 22, 1997

     OCC Will Hold Hearing; Agency Seeks Fines, Restitution 
      and Prohibition Order from Former Bank Vice President

WASHINGTON,  D.C. -- The Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency (OCC) today announced that it will hold a public
hearing beginning October 28, 1997, in the agency's
administrative proceedings against Richard Salmon, former
vice president of the Bank of the Desert, N.A., Indio,
California.

The OCC seeks $813,670 in restitution from Mr. Salmon in
connection with losses the Bank incurred when it was forced
to charge-off 16 allegedly fictitious loans.  The agency also
seeks to prohibit Mr. Salmon from further participating in
the affairs of any insured financial institution, and has
assessed a $25,000 civil money penalty against him.  

The OCC has charged that Mr. Salmon breached his fiduciary
duty to the Bank, engaged in unsafe or unsound banking
practices, and violated federal banking law between 1992 and
1996 when he originated 24 fictitious loans, totaling
$1,948,997.12, and converted the proceeds of the loans for
his personal benefit.  

The Salmon hearing will commence at 9:30 a.m. P.S.T., in
Department 50 of the Superior Court, County of Orange, 700
Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, California.  OCC
administrative actions are open to the public as required by
the Crime Control Act of 1990.

                               # # #

The OCC charters, regulates and supervises more than 2,600 national banks and
66 federal branches and agencies of foreign banks in the United States,
accounting for 56 percent of the nation's banking assets.   Its mission is to
ensure a safe, sound and competitive national banking system that supports the
citizens, communities and economy of the United States.