Category Archives: Our Take

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

Posted on December 22, 2011 by lcam

Wishing one and all a Happy Holiday season, whether that be a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, Happy Quanza or even Festivus. And here’s hoping for a Healthy, Happy & very Prosperous New Year. Continue reading →

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A Solution for Bank’s Regulatory Nightmares

Posted on August 30, 2011 by lcam

Bankers across the United States are in fear that the flood of new paperwork will choke community banks, regulating many out of existence. We talk to bankers on a daily basis. We see the “deer in the headlights” look, when … Continue reading →

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Main Street Bank Getting Out of the Bank Business

Posted on August 12, 2011 by lcam

While bankers have long complained about their overseers and the quality of the auditors, the only reasons that financial institutions close are due to acquisition or failure. The decision by Main Street to give up their charter is unusual. Continue reading →

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City of Chicago Acts on Vacant & Abandoned Property

Posted on July 29, 2011 by lcam

The City of Chicago has passed an ordinance that redefines the “owner” of vacant properties to include banks and other financial companies. Apparently the City of Chicago is placing Mortgage holder’s and servicers’ feet nearer the fire on maintaining and securing bank-owned properties. Continue reading →

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States to get into the Dodd-Frank Act

Posted on June 24, 2011 by lcam

Individual States oversight causing more complexity in Appraisals. Continue reading →

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Finally.. the appraiser’s dream-car

Posted on May 27, 2011 by lcam

Appraisers are often to be found in their automobiles, traveling from one appraisal to another, while talking on their cellular telephones – hopefully using a hands free headset – about the last appraisal they just completed.  And with the seemingly … Continue reading →

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“Troubled Debt” loans to increase dramatically

Posted on May 19, 2011 by lcam

The number of loans that banks have to classify as troubled debt could increase dramatically in a few weeks as a result of new accounting rules issued last month. The new push to reclassify some loans is already hurting some lenders, and the reclassifications are expected to shine a spotlight on the commercial real estate lending practice that has come to be known as “extend and pretend.” Continue reading →

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Uncertainty in Financial Regulation Is Certain

Posted on May 3, 2011 by lcam

“The devil is in the details” to quote the old saw.  The law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell estimates that roughly 62% of the hundreds of rules have yet to be proposed. As Regulators continue to miss deadlines established by … Continue reading →

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FDIC Pushes CRA

Posted on April 12, 2011 by lcam

We’re seeing increasing pressure by the Federal Agencies – including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, on community banks.  Institutions such as our local Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest have been attacked on their compliance with the Federal Community … Continue reading →

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Appraisals: Back to the Basics

Posted on June 1, 2004 by lcam

Let’s face it: Real estate valuation is confusing. In the spirit of helping the lender avoid a possible upshot of this confusion–a violation of FIRREA regulations–this article addresses three areas of potential confusion: 1) market value; 2) value in use … Continue reading →

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