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5000 - Statements of Policy
{{8-31-98 p.5201}}
INTERAGENCY POLICY REGARDING THE ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL
MONEY
PENALTIES BY THE FEDERAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
REGULATORY
AGENCIES
This supervisory policy provides general guidance concerning
the criteria used by the Federal financial institutions regulatory
agencies (agencies) in the assessment of civil money penalties under
statutes that require consideration of the five following factors in
setting the amount of fines: 1
(1) Size of financial resources;
(2) Good faith;
(3) Gravity of the violation;
(4) History of previous violations; and
(5) Other factors that justice may require.
The principles set forth in this policy apply to penalties assessed
both by consent and through formal enforcement proceedings.
The agencies generally are authorized, under these statutes, to
assess civil money penalties for violations of:
(1) Any law or regulation;
(2) Any final or temporary order, including a cease and desist,
suspension, removal, or prohibition order;
(3) Any condition imposed in writing in connection with the grant
of any application or other request;
(4) Any written agreement; and
(5) Regulatory reporting requirements.
Under certain circumstances, the agencies may also assess fines for
unsafe or unsound practices and breaches of fiduciary duty.
In determining the amount and the appropriateness of initiating a
civil money penalty assessment proceeding under statutes requiring
consideration of the above-mentioned five statutory
factors, 2
the agencies have identified the following factors as relevant:
(1) Evidence that the violation or practice or breach of
fiduciary duty was intentional or was committed with a disregard of the
law or with a disregard of the consequences to the institution;
(2) The duration and frequency of the violations, practices, or
breaches of fiduciary duty;
(3) The continuation of the violations, practices, or breach of
fiduciary duty after the respondent was notified or, alternatively, its
immediate cessation and correction;
(4) The failure to cooperate with the agency in effecting early
resolution of the problem;
(5) Evidence of concealment of the violation, practice, or breach
of fiduciary duty or, alternatively, voluntary disclosure of the
violation, practice or breach of fiduciary duty;
(6) Any threat of loss, actual loss, or other harm to the
institution, including harm to the public confidence in the
institution, and the degree of such harm;
(7) Evidence that a participant or his or her associates received
financial gain or other benefit as a result of the violation, practice,
or breach of fiduciary duty;
(8) Evidence of any restitution paid by a participant of losses
resulting from the violation, practice, or breach of fiduciary duty;
(9) History of prior violation, practice, or breach of fiduciary
duty, particularly where they are similar to the actions under
consideration;
(10) Previous criticism of the institution or individual for
similar actions;
(11) Presence or absence of a compliance program and its
effectiveness;
{{8-31-98 p.5202}}
(12) Tendency to engage in violations of law, unsafe or unsound
banking practices, or breaches of fiduciary duty; and
(13) The existence of agreements, commitments, orders, or
conditions imposed in writing intended to prevent the violation,
practice, or breach of fiduciary duty.
The agencies will give additional consideration in cases where the
violation, practice, or breach causes quantifiable, economic benefit or
loss. In those cases, removal of the benefit or recompense of the loss
usually will be insufficient, by itself, to promote compliance with
statutory and regulatory requirements. The penalty amount should
reflect a remedial purpose and should provide a deterrent to future
misconduct.
The agencies intend these factors to provide guidance on the
appropriateness of a civil money penalty, in a manner consistent with
the statutes authorizing such an action. This policy does not preclude
any agency from considering any other matter relevant to the civil
money penalty assessment.
By Order of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council,
May 28, 1998.
[Source: 63
Fed. Reg. 30227, June 3, 1998]
[The page following this is 5213.]
{{p.5209}}
1See generally 12 U.S.C. 1786(k)(2)(G) and
1818(i)(2)(G). Go Back to Text
2Some federal laws authorizing the Federal financial
institutions regulatory agencies to assess fines, such as the civil
money penalty provisions of section 102(f) of the Flood Disaster
Protection Act of 1973, as amended, 42
U.S.C. 4012a(f), and section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, 15 U.S.C. 78u--2, do
not require the consideration of the five statutory factors. Go Back to Text
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