Regulatory Matters

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Regulatory Matters [Abstract]

Regulatory Matters

(10) Regulatory Matters

On October 25, 2010, the Bank, following discussion with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC") entered into an agreement with the OCC (the "Agreement"). The Agreement requires the Bank to take certain actions, including a review of management, the establishment of a three-year strategic plan and capital program, and the establishment of programs related to internal audit, maintaining an adequate allowance for loan losses, real property appraisal, credit risk management, credit concentrations, Bank Secrecy Act compliance and information technology.

Management and the board of directors are committed to taking all necessary actions to promptly address the requirements of the Agreement, and believe that the Bank has already made measurable progress in addressing these requirements. In connection with the foregoing, the Bank has retained legal and other resources including the services of a qualified compliance consultant to assist and advise in meeting the requirements of the Agreement.

The Bank is subject to individual minimum capital ratios ("IMCR's") established by the OCC requiring Tier 1 Leverage Capital equal to at least 8.00 percent of adjusted total assets; Tier 1 Risk-based Capital equal to at least 10.50 percent of risk-weighted assets; and Total Risk Based Capital equal to at least 12.00 percent of risk-weighted assets. Management believes the Bank met all three IMCR's at September 30, 2011: Tier 1 Capital was 8.50 percent of adjusted total assets; Tier 1 Capital was 12.53 percent of risk-weighted assets; Total Risk Based Capital was 13.82 percent of risk-weighted assets. 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 Bank's financial statements.

At September 30, 2011, Suffolk's Tier 1 capital ratio was 8.57 percent of adjusted total assets, Tier 1 capital ratio was 12.60 percent of risk-weighted assets, and Total Risk Based capital ratio was 13.88 percent of risk-weighted assets.

The ability of the Bank to pay dividends to Suffolk is subject to certain regulatory restrictions. Generally, dividends declared in a given year by a national bank are limited to its net profit, as defined by regulatory agencies, for that year, combined with its retained net income for the preceding two years, less any required transfer to surplus or to fund for the retirement of any preferred stock of which the Bank has none as of September 30, 2011. In addition, a national bank may not pay any dividends in an amount greater than its undivided profits and a national bank may not declare any dividends if such declaration would leave the Bank inadequately capitalized. Therefore, the ability of the Bank to declare dividends will depend on its future net income and capital requirements. In addition, under the Agreement the Bank is required to establish a dividend policy that will permit the declaration of a dividend only when the Bank is in compliance with its capital program and with the prior written determination of no supervisory objection by the OCC.

While subject to the Agreement, Suffolk expects that its and the Bank's management and board of directors will be required to focus a substantial amount of time on complying with its terms. There also is no guarantee that the Bank will be able to fully comply with the Agreement. If the Bank fails to comply with the terms of the Agreement, it could be subject to further regulatory enforcement actions.