#19

Press Releases
FirstMerit Bank, National Association, Akron, Ohio, Assumes All of the Deposits of George Washington Savings Bank, Orland Park, Illinois

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2010
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

George Washington Savings Bank, Orland Park, Illinois, was closed today by the Illinois Department of Financial Professional Regulation – Division of Banking, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with FirstMerit Bank, National Association, Akron, Ohio, to assume all of the deposits of George Washington Savings Bank.

The four branches of George Washington Savings Bank will reopen on Saturday as branches of FirstMerit Bank, N.A. Depositors of George Washington Savings Bank will automatically become depositors of FirstMerit Bank, N.A. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from FirstMerit Bank, N.A. that it has completed systems changes to allow other FirstMerit Bank, N.A. branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of George Washington Savings Bank can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of December 31, 2009, George Washington Savings Bank had approximately $412.8 million in total assets and $397.0 million in total deposits. FirstMerit Bank, N.A. will pay the FDIC a premium of 0.31 percent to assume all of the deposits of George Washington Savings Bank. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, FirstMerit Bank, N.A. agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and FirstMerit Bank, N.A. entered into a loss-share transaction on $324.2 million of George Washington Savings Bank's assets. FirstMerit Bank, N.A. will share in the losses on the asset pools covered under the loss-share agreement. The loss-share transaction is projected to maximize returns on the assets covered by keeping them in the private sector. The transaction also is expected to minimize disruptions for loan customers. For more information on loss share, please visit: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/lossshare/index.html.

Customers who have questions about today's transaction can call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-837-0215. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Central Standard Time (CST); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., CST; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., CST; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., CST. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/georgewashington.html.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $141.4 million. FirstMerit Bank, N.A.'s acquisition of all the deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's DIF compared to all alternatives. George Washington Savings Bank is the 19th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the second in Illinois. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was Town Community Bank and Trust, Antioch, on January 15, 2010.