Haven Trust Bank Florida, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

The 126th FDIC-insured institution to croak in the nation this year, is also the 24th in Florida. Haven Trust Bank Florida,  Ponte Vedra Beach, FL,  was shuttered by the agency tonight at an estimated cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) of $31.9 million.

Haven Trust Bank Florida, Ponte Vedra Beach, 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 First Southern Bank, Boca Raton, Florida, to assume all of the deposits of Haven Trust Bank Florida.

The two branches of Haven Trust Bank Florida will reopen during their normal business hours beginning Saturday as branches of First Southern Bank. Depositors of Haven Trust Bank Florida will automatically become depositors of First Southern 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. Customers of Haven Trust Bank Florida should continue to use their existing branch until they receive notice from First Southern Bank that it has completed systems changes to allow other First Southern Bank branches to process their accounts as well.

This evening and over the weekend, depositors of Haven Trust Bank Florida 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 June 30, 2010, Haven Trust Bank Florida had approximately $148.6 million in total assets and $133.6 million in total deposits. First Southern Bank did not pay the FDIC a premium for the deposits of Haven Trust Bank Florida. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, First Southern Bank agreed to purchase essentially all of the assets.

The FDIC and First Southern Bank entered into a loss-share transaction on $127.3 million of Haven Trust Bank Florida’s assets. First Southern Bank 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 1-800-430-6165. 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 athttp://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/haventrust_fl.html.