#54 - Florida

Premier American Bank, National Association, Miami, Florida, Assumes All of the Deposits of First Peoples Bank, Port Saint Lucie, Florida

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2011
Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

First Peoples Bank, Port Saint Lucie, Florida, was closed today by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Premier American Bank, National Association, Miami, Florida, to assume all of the deposits of First Peoples Bank.

The six branches of First Peoples Bank will reopen during their normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of Premier American Bank. Depositors of First Peoples Bank will automatically become depositors of Premier American Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits. Customers of First Peoples Bank should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from Premier American Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other Premier American Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of First Peoples 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 March 31, 2011, First Peoples Bank had approximately $228.3 million in total assets and $209.7 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, Premier American Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1-800-895-3212. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EDT; on Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m., EDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EDT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/firstpeoples.html.

As part of this transaction, the FDIC will acquire a value appreciation instrument. This instrument serves as additional consideration for the transaction.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $7.4 million. Compared to other alternatives, Premier American Bank's acquisition was the least costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. First Peoples Bank is the 54th FDIC-insured institution to fail in the nation this year, and the seventh in Florida. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was First Commerce Bank of Tampa Bay, Tampa, on June 17, 2011