Today isn't just Friday... it's Bank Failure Friday!

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Update: Bank Failures #8 & #9 added.

As always, in the interest of keeping our finger on the pulse of the strenght of the American Financial Sector, we bring you the latest updates on the US banking system. Curiously, everytime a bank fails in the US, the announcement is always delayed until late on Friday afternoons. In many blog circles Friday is now jokingly referred to as 'Bank Failure Friday'.

Last Friday there were 3 failures which brought year's total to 6.

Today there have been three more failures, bringing the 2009 bank failure total to 9.

Bank Failure #7

FirstBank Financial Services, McDonough, GA

From the FDIC: Regions Bank, Birmingham, AL, Acquires All the Deposits of FirstBank Financial Services, McDonough, GA

FirstBank Financial Services, McDonough, Georgia, was closed today by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Regions Bank, Birmingham, Alabama, to assume all of the deposits of FirstBank Financial Services.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $111 million. Regions Bank's acquisition of all deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. FirstBank is the seventh bank to fail in the nation this year. The last bank to fail in Georgia was Haven Trust Bank, Duluth, on December 12, 2008.

Bank Failure #8: Alliance Bank, Culver City, CA

From the FDIC: California Bank and Trust, San Diego, CA, Acquires All of the Deposits of Alliance Bank, Culver City, CA

Alliance Bank, Culver City, California, was closed today by the California Department of Financial Institutions, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with California Bank & Trust, San Diego, California, to assume all of the deposits of Alliance Bank.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $206.0 million. California Bank & Trust's acquisition of all deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. Alliance Bank is the eighth to fail in the nation this year, and the second in California. The last bank to fail in the state was 1st Centennial Bank, Redlands, on January 23.

Bank Failure #9: County Bank, Merced, California

From the FDIC: Westamerica Bank, San Rafael, California, Acquires All the Deposits of County Bank, Merced, California

County Bank, Merced, California, was closed today by the California Department of Financial Institutions, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Westamerica Bank, San Rafael, California, to assume all of the deposits of County Bank.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $135 million. Westamerica Bank's acquisition of all deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. County Bank is the ninth bank to fail in the nation this year, and the third in California.


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