FDIC Provides Guidance on Meeting the Financial Needs of Customers Affected by Hurricane Sandy

Nov 12 - The FDIC encourages depository institutions to consider all reasonable and prudent steps to assist customers in communities affected by recent storms. The FDIC realizes that although the effects of natural disasters on local businesses and individuals can be devastating, they often are transitory. The FDIC recognizes that efforts to work with borrowers in the affected communities can be consistent with safe-and-sound banking practices and in the public interest.

Highlights:

• The FDIC encourages depository institutions to consider all reasonable and prudent steps to assist customers in communities affected by recent storms.
• When consistent with safe-and-sound banking practices, these efforts may include waiving fees, increasing ATM cash limits, easing credit card limits, allowing loan customers to defer or skip payments, and delaying the submission of delinquency notices to credit bureaus.
• The FDIC encourages depository institutions to use non-documentary verification methods permitted by the Customer Identification Program requirement of the Bank Secrecy Act for affected customers who cannot provide standard identification documents.
• Prudent efforts by depository institutions to meet customers' cash and financial needs generally will not be subject to examiner criticism.
• Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for Bank Customers in Areas Affected by Hurricane Sandy for more information at: www.fdic.gov/news/disaster/sandy/sandyfaq.pdf
• Depository institutions can advise customers to contact the FDIC toll free at 800-ASK-FDIC or 1-877-275-3342 with questions about deposit insurance or accessing bank accounts.