Office of Thrift Supervision
Western
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The OTS established the Western Region in March 2009 by combining all of the former West Region and eight states from the former Midwest Region. The Region extends from the Pacific Northwest down the coast and across the West through Texas and into nearby states. Nearly all of the 20 states in the region are west of the Mississippi River. The Region also oversees thrifts in Alaska, Hawaii and Guam. The Western Region, with headquarters in Dallas, has large cities and large thrift institutions, as well as substantial numbers of small towns, farms and ranches — and the community banks that serve them. Many of the thrifts in the Region are in towns with populations of less than 50,000, where bank managers have strong community ties and often greet their customers by name. These are areas defined by agriculture, reasonable housing costs, a good labor supply and a generally favorable tax environment. Thrifts tend to be smaller in these communities and spread over wide expanses. In its examination strategy, the Region focuses on establishing and maintaining relationships with its regulated institutions — built through off-site monitoring, regular on-site examinations, and routine communications and contacts — so that when OTS examiners uncover problems, a solid foundation exists for working cooperatively toward solutions. |
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