Note 8 - Regulatory Matters

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Text Block]

8. REGULATORY MATTERS

The Banks are subject to regulations and, among others things, may be limited in their ability to pay dividends or otherwise transfer funds to the holding company. Under applicable restrictions as of March 31, 2012, no dividends could be paid by the Parent or Metro United to the Parent, without regulatory approval. In addition, dividends paid by the Banks to the holding company would be prohibited if the effect thereof would cause the Banks’ capital to be reduced below applicable minimum capital requirements.

On August 10, 2009, MetroBank entered into a written agreement (the “Agreement”) with the OCC. The Agreement is based on the findings of the OCC during the annual on-site examination of MetroBank performed in the first quarter of 2009 and is primarily focused on matters related to MetroBank’s asset quality. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Board of Directors of MetroBank has appointed a compliance committee to monitor and coordinate MetroBank’s performance under the Agreement. The Agreement provides for, among other things, the development and implementation of written programs to reduce MetroBank’s credit risks, monitor and reduce the level of criticized assets and manage commercial real estate loan concentrations in light of current adverse commercial real estate market conditions generally and in its market areas. During and since the completion of the examination, management of MetroBank has proactively made adjustments to policies and procedures in an effort to alleviate the effects of the credit challenge caused by the economic deterioration and market conditions generally and in its market areas.

 On July 22, 2010, Metro United entered into a Stipulation to the Issuance of a Consent Order ("Stipulation") with the FDIC and the CDFI.  Pursuant to the Stipulation, Metro United has consented to the issuance of a Consent Order ("Order") by the FDIC and CDFI, also effective as of July 22, 2010.  The Order is based on the findings during the annual on-site examination of Metro United performed in the first quarter of 2010 utilizing financial information as of December 31, 2009.  The Order represents the agreements between Metro United, the FDIC and the CDFI as to areas of Metro United's operations that warrant improvement and requires the submission of plans for making those improvements. The Order imposes no fines or penalties on Metro United.

Under the terms of the Order, Metro United cannot declare or pay cash dividends and shall not establish any new branches or other offices without the prior written consent of certain officials of the FDIC and the CDFI.  In addition, pursuant to the Order, Metro United developed and submitted a written capital plan to achieve and maintain ratios of Tier 1 capital to average total assets (leverage) of at least 9% and total capital to total risk-weighted assets of at least 13% by December 31, 2010. As of March  31, 2012, Metro United's Tier 1 leverage ratio was 11.99% and its total  risk-based capital ratio was 16.80%. The Order requires certain corrective steps, imposes limits on activities (such as payment of dividends), prescribes regulatory parameters (such as asset management) and requires the adoption of new or revised policies, procedures and controls on Metro United's operations.  In many cases, Metro United must adopt or revise the policies and submit them to the FDIC and CDFI for approval within the time frames prescribed.

Although Metro United meets the capital levels deemed to be “well-capitalized”, due to the capital requirement within the Order, it cannot be considered better than "adequately capitalized" for capital adequacy purposes, even if it exceeds the levels of capital set forth in the Order.  As an adequately capitalized institution, Metro United may not pay interest rates on deposits that are more than 75 basis points above the rate of the applicable market of Metro United as determined by the FDIC.  Additionally, neither MetroBank nor Metro United may accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits without prior approval of the OCC or the FDIC and CDFI, respectively.

Management and the Boards of Directors of the Company, MetroBank and Metro United have taken steps to address the findings of the respective exams and are working with the OCC to comply with the requirements of the Agreement and the FDIC and CDFI to improve the condition of Metro United and comply with the requirements of the Order.  Failure by MetroBank and Metro United to meet the requirements and conditions imposed by the Agreement and Order, respectively, could result in more severe regulatory enforcement actions such as capital directives to raise additional capital, civil money penalties, cease and desist or removal orders, injunctions, and public disclosure of such actions against MetroBank and Metro United.  Any such failure and resulting regulatory action could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of the Company, MetroBank and Metro United.

The Company and the Banks are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. The regulations require the Company to meet specific capital adequacy guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Banks’ capital classification is also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Company and the Banks to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, and of Tier 1 capital to average assets. Management believes, as of March 31, 2012, that the Company and the Banks met all capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject.

As of March 31, 2012, the most recent notifications from the OCC with respect to MetroBank categorized MetroBank as “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since the notifications that management believes have changed MetroBank’s level of capital adequacy.

Although regulatory standards require the ratios stated below, as a result of the Order, Metro United is required to maintain a leverage ratio at least 9.0% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 13.0%.  Due to the capital requirement within Metro United's Order, Metro United cannot be considered to be any better than "adequately capitalized" for capital adequacy purposes even if it exceeds the capital  levels set forth in the Order.

The Company’s and the Banks’ actual capital amounts and ratios at the dates indicated are presented in the following table (dollars in thousands):

	Actual					Minimum Required For Capital Adequacy Purposes					To be Categorized as Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
	Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio
As of March 31, 2012
Total risk-based capital ratio
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.	$	199,813		17.59	%	$	90,899		8.00	%	$	N/A		N/A	%
MetroBank, N.A.		144,535		17.23			67,112		8.00			83,890		10.00
Metro United Bank		49,816		16.80			23,725		8.00			29,656		10.00
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.		185,379		16.32			45,450		4.00			N/A		N/A
MetroBank, N.A.		133,862		15.96			33,556		4.00			50,334		6.00
Metro United Bank		46,066		15.53			11,862		4.00			17,793		6.00
Leverage ratio
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.		185,379		12.55			59,085		4.00			N/A		N/A
MetroBank, N.A.		133,862		12.21			43,858		4.00			54,822		5.00
Metro United Bank		46,066		11.99			15,369		4.00			19,212		5.00
As of December 31, 2011
Total risk-based capital ratio
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.	$	195,765		17.30	%	$	90,552		8.00	%	$	N/A		N/A	%
MetroBank, N.A.		140,510		16.82			66,831		8.00			83,539		10.00
Metro United Bank		48,778		16.48			23,674		8.00			29,593		10.00
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.		181,368		16.02			45,276		4.00			N/A		N/A
MetroBank, N.A.		129,864		15.55			33,416		4.00			50,124		6.00
Metro United Bank		45,034		15.22			11,837		4.00			17,756		6.00
Leverage ratio
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.		181,368		12.16			59,659		4.00			N/A		N/A
MetroBank, N.A.		129,864		11.67			44,514		4.00			55,643		5.00
Metro United Bank		45,034		11.80			15,269		4.00			19,086		5.00