UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission file no. 001-12647

 

 

Oriental Financial Group Inc.

Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

 

IRS Employer Identification No. 66-0538893

 

Principal Executive Offices:

997 San Roberto Street

Oriental Center 10th Floor

Professional Offices Park

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00926

Telephone Number: (787) 771-6800

 

 

 

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Common Stock

($1.00 par value per share)

 

7.125% Noncumulative Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series A

($1.00 par value per share, $25.00 liquidation preference per share)

 

7.0% Noncumulative Monthly Income Preferred Stock, Series B

($1.00 par value per share, $25.00 liquidation preference per share)

 

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o     No þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filings pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o

 

Indicated by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ

 

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of Oriental Financial Group Inc. (the “Group”) was $267.5 million based upon the reported closing price of $10.91 on the New York Stock Exchange as of June 29, 2007.

 

As of February 29, 2008, the Group had 24,200,579 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the Group’s annual report to shareholders for the year 2007 are incorporated herein by reference in response to Items 5 through 9A of Part II and Item 15(a)(1) of Part IV.

 

Portions of the Group’s definitive proxy statement relating to the 2007 annual meeting of shareholders are incorporated herein by reference in response to Items 10 through 14 of Part III.

 

 

ORIENTAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.

 

FORM 10-K

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2007

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

When used in this Form 10-K or future filings by Oriental Financial Group Inc. (the “Group”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in the Group’s press releases or other public or shareholder communications, or in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases “would be,” “will allow,” “intends to,” “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimated,” “project,” “believe,” “should” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

The future results of the Group could be affected by subsequent events and could differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. If future events and actual performance differ from the Group’s assumptions, the actual results could vary significantly from the performance projected in the forward-looking statements.

 

The Group wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made and are based on management’s current expectations, and to advise readers that various factors, including regional and national economic conditions, substantial changes in levels of market interest rates, credit and other risks of lending and investment activities, competitive, and regulatory factors, legislative changes and accounting pronouncements, could affect the Group’s financial performance and could cause the Group’s actual results for future periods to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. The Group does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

 

 

General

 

The Group is a publicly-owned financial holding company incorporated on June 14, 1996 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, providing a full range of financial services through its subsidiaries. The Group is subject to the provisions of the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, (the “BHC Act”) and, accordingly, subject to the supervision and regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”).

 

The Group provides comprehensive financial services to its clients through a complete range of banking and financial solutions, including mortgage, commercial and consumer lending; checking and savings accounts; financial planning, insurance, asset management, and investment brokerage; and corporate and individual trust and retirement services. The Group operates through three major business segments: Banking, Treasury and Financial Services, and distinguishes itself based on quality service and marketing efforts focused on mid and high net worth individuals and families, including professionals and owners of small and mid-sized businesses, primarily in Puerto Rico. The Group has 24 financial centers in Puerto Rico and a subsidiary, Caribbean Pension Consultants Inc. (“CPC”), based in Boca Raton, Florida. The Group’s long-term goal is to strengthen its banking-financial services franchise by expanding its lending businesses, increasing the level of integration in the marketing and delivery of banking and financial services, continuing to maintain effective asset-liability management, growing non-interest revenues from banking and financial services, and improving operating efficiencies.

 

The Group’s strategy involves:

 

(1) Strengthening its banking-financial services franchise by expanding its ability to attract deposits and build relationships with mid net worth individual customers and professional and mid-market commercial businesses through aggressive marketing and expansion of its sales force;

 

(2) Focusing on greater growth in mortgage, commercial and consumer lending; insurance products, trust and wealth management services, which traditionally have been one of the Group’s greatest strengths; and increasing the level of integration in the marketing and delivery of banking and financial services;

(3) To maximize net interest income, the Group matches its portfolio of investment securities with the related funding to better lock-in favorable spreads. To emphasize safety and liquidity, the Group primarily invests in U.S. government agency obligations. The Group plans to continue to build its investments profile, while remaining attentive to market opportunities that could further improve net interest margin.

 

(4) Opening, expanding or relocating financial centers; improving operating efficiencies; and continuing to maintain effective asset-liability management; and

 

(5) Implementing a broad ranging effort to instill in employees and make customers aware of the Group’s determination to effectively serve and advise its customer base in a responsive and professional manner.

 

Together with a highly experienced group of senior and mid level executives, this strategy has generally resulted in sustained growth in the Group’s mortgage, commercial, consumer lending and wealth-management activities, allowing the Group to distinguish itself in a highly competitive industry. The unstable interest rate environment of recent years has validated the strategy’s basic premise for greater revenue diversity, which remains an integral part of the Group’s long-term goal.

 

While progress is expected to continue, the Group is not immune from general and local financial and economic conditions. However, the Group remains well capitalized, having one of the strongest capital positions in the Puerto Rico banking industry. Past experience is not necessarily indicative of future performance, especially given market uncertainties, but based on a reasonable time horizon of three to five years, the strategy is expected to maintain its steady progress towards the Group’s long-term goal.

 

Segment Disclosure

 

The Group has three reportable segments: Banking, Treasury, and Financial Services. Management established the reportable segments based on the internal reporting used to evaluate performance and to assess where to allocate resources. Other factors such as the Group’s organizational structure, nature of products, distribution channels and economic characteristics of the products were also considered in the determination of the reportable segments. The Group measures the performance of these reportable segments based on pre-established goals involving different financial parameters such as net income, interest spread, loan production, and fees generated.

 

For detailed information regarding performance of the Group’s operating segments, please refer to Note 17 to the Group’s accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Banking Activities

 

Oriental Bank and Trust (the “Bank”), the Group’s main subsidiary, is a full-service Puerto Rico commercial bank with its main office located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Bank has 24 branches throughout Puerto Rico and was incorporated in 1964 as a federal mutual savings and loan association. It became a federal mutual savings bank in July 1983 and converted to a federal stock savings bank in April 1987. Its conversion from a federally-chartered savings bank to a commercial bank chartered under the banking law of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on June 30, 1994, allowed the Bank to more effectively pursue opportunities in its market and obtain more flexibility in its businesses, placing the Bank in the mainstream of financial services in Puerto Rico. As a Puerto Rico-chartered commercial bank, it is subject to examination by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico (the “OCFI”). The Bank offers banking services such as commercial and consumer lending, saving and time deposit products, financial planning, and corporate and individual trust services, and, through its residential mortgage lending division and its mortgage lending subsidiary, Oriental Mortgage Corporation (“Oriental Mortgage”), capitalizes on its banking network. The Bank operates an international banking entity (“IBE”) pursuant to the International Banking Center Regulatory Act of Puerto Rico, as amended (the “IBE Act”) which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank, named Oriental International Bank Inc. (the “IBE subsidiary”) organized in November 2003. The IBE subsidiary offers the Bank certain Puerto Rico tax advantages and its services are limited under Puerto Rico law to persons and assets/liabilities located outside of Puerto Rico. Another IBE, which operated as a division of the Bank, was liquidated on May 31, 2007, after obtaining the corresponding regulatory approvals.

Banking activities include the Bank’s branches and mortgage banking activities with traditional retail banking products such as deposits and mortgage, commercial, and consumer loans. The Bank’s lending activities are primarily with consumers located in Puerto Rico. The Bank’s loan transactions include a diversified number of industries and activities, all of which are encompassed within three main categories: mortgage, commercial, and consumer.

 

The Group’s mortgage banking activities are conducted through a division of the Bank, and also through Oriental Mortgage. The mortgage banking activities primarily consist of the origination and purchase of residential mortgage loans for the Group’s own portfolio and from time to time, if conditions so warrant, the Group may engage in the sale of such loans to other financial institutions in the secondary market. The Group originates Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”)-insured, Veterans Administration (“VA”)-guaranteed mortgages, and Rural Housing Service (“RHS”)-guaranteed loans that are primarily securitized for issuance of Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) mortgage-backed securities which can be resold to individual or institutional investors in the secondary market. Conventional loans that meet the underwriting requirements for sale or exchange under standard Federal National Mortgage Association (the “FNMA”) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (the “FHLMC”) programs are referred to as conforming mortgage loans and are also securitized for issuance of FNMA or FHLMC mortgage-backed securities. In 2006, and after FNMA’s approval for the Group to sell FNMA-conforming conventional mortgage loans directly in the secondary market, the Group became an approved seller of FNMA, as well as FHLMC, mortgage loans for issuance of FNMA and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities. The Group is also an approved issuer of GNMA mortgage-backed securities. The Group continues to outsource the servicing of the GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC pools that it issues and its mortgage loan portfolio. In January 2008, the Group entered into an exclusive alliance with Primerica Financial Services, Inc. (“Primerica”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup, in which the Group is the supplier of a mortgage platform and related services for Primerica in its program to market home loans to its clients in Puerto Rico.

 

Servicing assets represent the contractual right to service loans for others. Servicing assets are included as part of other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Loan servicing fees, which are based on a percentage of the principal balances of the loans serviced, are credited to income as loan payments are collected.

 

Servicing assets are initially recognized at fair value. The Group elected the amortization method with periodic testing for impairment.

 

Loan Underwriting

 

All loan originations, regardless of whether originated through the Group’s retail banking network or purchased from third parties, must be underwritten in accordance with the Group’s underwriting criteria including loan-to-value ratios, borrower income qualifications, debt ratios and credit history, investor requirements, and title insurance and property appraisal requirements. The Group’s underwriting standards comply with the relevant guidelines set forth by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”), VA, FNMA, FHLMC, federal and Puerto Rico banking regulatory authorities, as applicable. The Group’s underwriting personnel, while operating within the Group’s loan offices, make underwriting decisions independent of the Group’s mortgage loan origination personnel.

 

Sale of Loans and Securitization Activities

 

The Group may engage in the sale or securitization of a portion of the residential mortgage loans that it originates and purchases and utilizes various channels to sell its mortgage products. The Group is an approved issuer of GNMA-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities which involves the packaging of FHA loans, RHS loans or VA loans into pools of mortgage-backed securities for sale primarily to securities broker-dealers and other institutional investors. The Group can also act as issuer in the case of conforming conventional loans in order to group them into pools of FNMA or FHLMC-issued mortgage-backed securities which the Group then sells to securities broker-dealers. The issuance of mortgage-backed securities provides the Group with flexibility in selling the mortgage loans that it originates or purchases and also provides income by increasing the value and marketability of such loans. In the case of conforming conventional loans, the Group also has the option to sell such loans through the FNMA and FHLMC cash window program.

Treasury Activities

 

Treasury activities encompass all of the Group’s treasury-related functions. The Group’s investment portfolio consists of mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, both non-agency and those issued by U.S. Government agencies, U.S. Treasury notes, U.S. Government agency bonds, P.R. Government obligations, structured credit investments and money market instruments. Mortgage-backed securities, the largest component, consist principally of pools of residential mortgage loans that are made to consumers and then resold in the form of pass-through certificates in the secondary market, the payment of interest and principal of which is guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA or FHLMC. For more information see Notes 2 and 3 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

The Group’s principal funding sources are securities sold under agreements to repurchase, branch deposits, Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances, and subordinated capital notes. Through its branch system, the Bank offers personal non-interest and interest-bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”) and commercial non-interest bearing checking accounts. The FDIC insures the Bank’s deposit accounts up to applicable limits. Management makes retail deposit pricing decisions periodically through the Asset and Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”), which adjusts the rates paid on retail deposits in response to general market conditions and local competition. Pricing decisions take into account the rates being offered by other local banks, LIBOR, and mainland U.S. market interest rates.

 

Financial Services Activities

 

Financial services activities are generated by such businesses as securities brokerage, fiduciary services, insurance, and pension administration.

 

Oriental Financial Services Corp. (“OFSC”) is a Puerto Rico corporation and the Group’s subsidiary engaged in securities brokerage and investment banking activities in accordance with the Group’s strategy of providing fully integrated financial solutions to the Group’s clients. OFSC, a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, is a registered securities broker-dealer pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. OFSC does not carry customer accounts and is, accordingly, exempt from the Customer Protection Rule (SEC Rule 15c3-3) pursuant to subsection (k)(2)(ii) of such rule. It clears securities transactions through National Financial Services, LLC, a clearing agent which carries the accounts of OFSC’s customers on a “fully disclosed” basis.

 

OFSC offers securities brokerage services covering various investment alternatives such as tax-advantaged fixed income securities, mutual funds, stocks, and bonds to retail and institutional clients. It also offers separately managed accounts and mutual fund asset allocation programs sponsored by unaffiliated professional asset managers. These services are designed to meet each client’s specific needs and preferences, including transaction-based pricing and asset-based fee pricing.

 

OFSC also manages and participates in public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities in Puerto Rico. It has a joint venture agreement with Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. to engage in municipal securities business with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its instrumentalities, municipalities, and public corporations. Investment banking revenue from such activities include gains, losses, and fees, net of syndicate expenses, arising from securities offerings in which OFSC acts as an underwriter or agent. Investment banking revenue also includes fees earned from providing merger-and-acquisition and financial restructuring advisory services. Investment banking management fees are recorded on the offering date, sales concessions on settlement date, and underwriting fees at the time the underwriting is completed and the income is reasonably determinable.

 

Oriental Insurance Inc. (“Oriental Insurance”) is a Puerto Rico corporation and the Group’s subsidiary engaged in insurance agency services. It was established by the Group to take advantage of the cross-marketing opportunities provided by financial modernization legislation. Oriental Insurance currently earns commissions by acting as a licensed insurance agent in connection with the issuance of insurance policies by unaffiliated insurance companies and anticipates continued growth as it expands the products and services it provides and continues to cross market its services to the Group’s existing customer base.

Caribbean Pension Consultants, Inc., a Florida corporation, is the Group’s subsidiary engaged in the administration of retirement plans in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.

 

Market Area and Competition

 

The main geographic business and service area of the Group is in Puerto Rico, where the banking market is highly competitive. As of December 31, 2007, Puerto Rico had 10 commercial banking institutions with a total of approximately $101 billion in assets according to industry statistics published by the FDIC. The Group ranked 8th based on total assets at December 31, 2007. Puerto Rico banks are subject to the same federal laws, regulations and supervision that apply to similar institutions in the United States of America.

 

The Group competes with brokerage firms with retail operations, credit unions, savings and loan cooperatives, small loan companies, insurance agencies, and mortgage banks in Puerto Rico. The Group encounters intense competition in attracting and retaining deposits and in its consumer and commercial lending activities. Management believes that the Group has been able to compete effectively for deposits and loans by offering a variety of transaction account products and loans with competitive terms, by emphasizing the quality of its service, by pricing its products at competitive interest rates, by offering convenient branch locations, and by offering financial planning services at each of its branch locations. The Group’s ability to originate loans depends primarily on the service it provides to its borrowers in making prompt credit decisions and on the rates and fees that it charges.

 

Regulation and Supervision

 

General

 

The Group is a financial holding company subject to supervision and regulation by the Federal Reserve Board under the BHC Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999. The qualification requirements and the process for a bank holding company that elects to be treated as a financial holding company requires that all of the subsidiary banks controlled by the bank holding company at the time of election must be and remain at all times “well capitalized” and “well managed.”

 

The Group elected to be treated as a financial holding company as permitted by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, if the Group fails to meet the requirements for being a financial holding company and is unable to correct such deficiencies within certain prescribed time periods, the Federal Reserve Board could require the Group to divest control of its depository institution subsidiary or alternatively cease conducting activities that are not permissible for bank holding companies that are not financial holding companies.

 

Financial holding companies may engage, directly or indirectly, in any activity that is determined to be (i) financial in nature, (ii) incidental to such financial activity, or (iii) complementary to a financial activity provided it does not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act specifically provides that the following activities have been determined to be “financial in nature”: (a) lending, trust and other banking activities; (b) insurance activities; (c) financial, investment or economic advisory services; (d) securitization of assets; (e) securities underwriting and dealing; (f) existing bank holding company domestic activities; (g) existing bank holding company foreign activities; and (h) merchant banking activities.

 

In addition, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act specifically gives the Federal Reserve Board the authority, by regulation or order, to expand the list of financial or incidental activities but requires consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department and gives the Federal Reserve Board authority to allow a financial holding company to engage in any activity that is complementary to a financial activity and does not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system.

 

The Group is required to file with the Federal Reserve Board and the SEC periodic reports and other information concerning its own business operations and those of its subsidiaries. In addition, Federal Reserve Board approval must also be obtained before a bank holding company acquires all or substantially all of the assets of another bank or merges or consolidates with another bank holding company. The Federal Reserve Board also has the authority to issue cease and desist orders against bank holding companies and their non-bank subsidiaries.

The Bank is regulated by various agencies in the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Its main regulators are the OCFI and the FDIC. The FDIC insures the Bank’s deposits up to $100,000 per depositor, except for certain retirement accounts which are insured up to $250,000 per depositor. The Bank is subject to extensive regulation and examination by the OCFI and the FDIC, and is subject to certain Federal Reserve Board regulations of transactions with Bank affiliates. The federal and Puerto Rico laws and regulations which are applicable to the Bank regulate, among other things, the scope of its business, its investments, its reserves against deposits, the timing of the availability of deposited funds, and the nature and amount of and collateral for certain loans. In addition to the impact of such regulations, commercial banks are affected significantly by the actions of the Federal Reserve Board as it attempts to control the money supply and credit availability in order to control inflation in the economy.

 

The Group’s mortgage banking business is subject to the rules and regulations of FHA, VA, RHS, FNMA, FHLMC, HUD and GNMA with respect to the origination, processing and selling of mortgage loans and the sale of mortgage-backed securities. Those rules and regulations, among other things, prohibit discrimination and establish underwriting guidelines which include provisions for inspections and appraisal reports, require credit reports on prospective borrowers and fix maximum loan amounts, and, with respect to VA loans, fix maximum interest rates. Mortgage origination activities are subject to, among others, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Federal Truth-in-Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder which, among other things, prohibit discrimination and require the disclosure of certain basic information to mortgagors concerning credit terms and settlement costs. The Group is also subject to regulation by the OCFI with respect to, among other things, licensing requirements and maximum origination fees on certain types of mortgage loan products.

 

The Group and its subsidiaries are subject to the rules and regulations of certain other regulatory agencies. OFSC, as a registered broker-dealer, is subject to the supervision, examination and regulation of the FINRA, the SEC, and the OCFI in matters relating to the conduct of its securities business, including record keeping and reporting requirements, supervision and licensing of employees and obligations to customers.

 

Oriental Insurance is subject to the supervision, examination and regulation of the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of Puerto Rico in matters relating to insurance sales, including but not limited to, licensing of employees, sales practices, charging of commissions and reporting requirements.

 

Holding Company Structure

 

The Bank is subject to restrictions under federal laws that limit the transfer of funds to its affiliates (including the Group), whether in the form of loans, other extensions of credit, investments or asset purchases, among others. Such transfers are limited to 10% of the transferring institution’s capital stock and surplus with respect to any affiliate (including the Group), and, with respect to all affiliates, to an aggregate of 20% of the transferring institution’s capital stock and surplus. Furthermore, such loans and extensions of credit are required to be secured in specified amounts, carried out on an arm’s length basis, and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

 

Under Federal Reserve Board policy, a bank holding company, such as the Group, is expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to its banking subsidiaries and to also commit resources to support them. This support may be required at times when, absent such policy, the bank holding company might not otherwise provide such support. In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and be entitled to a priority of payment. In addition, any capital loans by a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary bank. The Bank is currently the only depository institution subsidiary of the Group.

 

Since the Group is a financial holding company, its right to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors (including depositors in the case of depository institution subsidiaries) except to the extent that the Group is a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.

Dividend Restrictions

 

The principal source of funds for the Group is the dividends from the Bank. The ability of the Bank to pay dividends on its common stock is restricted by the Puerto Rico Banking Act of 1933, as amended (the Banking Act”), the FDIA and FDIC regulations. In general terms, the Banking Act provides that when the expenditures of a bank are greater than receipts, the excess of expenditures over receipts shall be charged against the undistributed profits of the bank and the balance, if any, shall be charged against the required reserve fund of the bank. If there is no sufficient reserve fund to cover such balance in whole or in part, the outstanding amount shall be charged against the bank’s capital account. The Banking Act provides that until said capital has been restored to its original amount and the reserve fund to 20% of the original capital, the bank may not declare any dividends. In general terms, the FDIA and the FDIC regulations restrict the payment of dividends when a bank is undercapitalized, when a bank has failed to pay insurance assessments, or when there are safety and soundness concerns regarding a bank. For more information see Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

The payment of dividends by the Bank may also be affected by other regulatory requirements and policies, such as maintenance of adequate capital. If, in the opinion of the regulatory authority, a depository institution under its jurisdiction is engaged in, or is about to engage in, an unsafe or unsound practice (that, depending on the financial condition of the depository institution, could include the payment of dividends), such authority may require, after notice and hearing, that such depository institution cease and desist from such practice. The Federal Reserve Board has issued a policy statement that provides that insured banks and bank holding companies should generally pay dividends only out of operating earnings for the current and preceding two years. In addition, all insured depository institutions are subject to the capital-based limitations required by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991(“FDICIA”).

 

Federal Home Loan Bank System

 

The FHLB system, of which the Bank is a member, consists of 12 regional FHLBs governed and regulated by the Federal Housing Finance Board. The FHLB serves as a credit facility for member institutions within their assigned regions. They are funded primarily from proceeds derived from the sale of consolidated obligations of the FHLB system. They make loans (i.e., advances) to members in accordance with policies and procedures established by the FHLB and the boards of directors of each regional FHLB.

 

As a system member, the Bank is entitled to borrow from the FHLB of New York (the “FHLB-NY”) and is required to own capital stock in the FHLB-NY in an amount equal to the greater of $500; 1% of the Bank’s aggregate unpaid principal of its home mortgage loans, home purchase contracts, and similar obligations; or 5% of the Bank’s aggregate amount of outstanding advances by the FHLB-NY. The Bank is in compliance with the stock ownership rules described above with respect to such advances, commitments, home mortgage loans and similar obligations. All loans, advances and other extensions of credit made by the FHLB-NY to the Bank are secured by a portion of the Bank’s mortgage loan portfolio, certain other investments and the capital stock of the FHLB-NY held by the Bank. At no time may the aggregate amount of outstanding advances made by the FHLB-NY to the Bank exceed 20 times the amount paid in by the Bank for capital stock in the FHLB-NY.

 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act

 

Under FDICIA the federal banking regulators must take prompt corrective action in respect to depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. FDICIA, and the regulations issued thereunder, established five capital tiers: (i) “well capitalized,” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or more, has a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or more, has a Tier I leverage capital ratio of 5.0% or more, and is not subject to any written capital order or directive; (ii) “adequately capitalized,” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or more, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or more and a Tier I leverage capital ratio of 4.0% or more (3.0% under certain circumstances) and does not meet the definition of “well capitalized,” (iii) “undercapitalized,” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 8.0%, a Tier I risk-based ratio that is less than 4.0% or a Tier I leverage capital ratio that is less than 4.0% (3.0% under certain circumstances), (iv) “significantly undercapitalized,” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio that is less than 6.0%, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio that is less than 3.0% or a Tier I leverage capital ratio that is less than 3.0%, and (v) “critically undercapitalized,” if it has a ratio of tangible equity to

total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0%. A depository institution may be deemed to be in a capitalization category that is lower than is indicated by its actual capital position if it receives a less than satisfactory examination rating in any of the first four categories. The Bank is a “well-capitalized” institution.

 

FDICIA generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distribution (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fees to its holding company if the depository institution would thereafter be undercapitalized. Undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to restrictions on borrowing from the Federal Reserve System. In addition, undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to growth limitations and are required to submit capital restoration plans. A depository institution’s holding company must guarantee the capital plan, up to an amount equal to the lesser of 5% of the depository institution’s assets at the time it becomes undercapitalized or the amount of the capital deficiency when the institution fails to comply with the plan. The federal banking agencies may not accept a capital plan without determining, among other things, that the plan is based on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the depository institution’s capital. Significantly undercapitalized depository institutions may be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized, requirements to reduce total assets, and cessation of receipt of deposits from corresponding banks. Critically undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to the appointment of a receiver or conservator.

 

Insurance of Accounts and FDIC Insurance Assessments

 

The Bank is subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments. The Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 (the “Reform Act”) merged the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”) and the Savings Association Insurance Fund (“SAIF”) into a single Deposit Insurance Fund, and increased the maximum amount of the insurance coverage for certain retirement accounts, and possible “inflation adjustments” in the maximum amount of coverage available with respect to other insured accounts. In addition, it granted a one-time initial assessment credit (of approximately $4.7 billion) to recognize institutions’ past contributions to the fund. As a result of the merger of the BIF and the SAIF, all insured institutions are subject to the same assessment rate schedule.

 

Under the Reform Act, the FDIC made significant changes to its risk-based assessment system so that effective January 1, 2007 the FDIC imposes insurance premiums based upon a matrix that is designed to more closely tie what banks pay for deposit insurance to the risks they pose. The new FDIC risk-based assessment system imposes premiums based upon factors that vary depending upon the size of the bank. These factors are: for banks with less than $10 billion in assets — capital level, supervisory rating, and certain financial ratios; for banks with $10 billion up to $30 billion in assets — capital level, supervisory rating, certain financial ratios and (if at least one is available) debt issuer ratings, and additional risk information; and for banks with over $30 billion in assets — capital level, supervisory rating, debt issuer ratings (unless none are available in which case certain financial ratios are used), and additional risk information. The FDIC has adopted a new base schedule of rates that the FDIC can adjust up or down, depending on the revenue needs of the DIF, and has set initial premiums for 2007 that range from 5 cents per $100 of domestic deposits for the banks in the lowest risk category to 43 cents per $100 of domestic deposits for banks in the highest risk category. The new assessment system is expected to result in increased annual assessments on the deposits of the Bank of 5 basis points per $100 of deposits. The Bank had available an FDIC credit of approximately $630,000 which was fully utilized to offset the 2007 assessment. The Bank paid insurance premiums to the FDIC of approximately $154,000 during 2007 after utilizing such credits.

 

Regulatory Capital Requirements

 

The Federal Reserve Board has adopted risk-based capital guidelines for bank holding companies. Under the guidelines, the minimum ratio of qualifying total capital to risk-weighted assets is 8%. At least half of the total capital is to be comprised of qualifying common stockholders’ equity, qualifying noncumulative perpetual preferred stock (including related surplus), minority interests related to qualifying common or noncumulative perpetual preferred stock directly issued by a consolidated U.S. depository institution or foreign bank subsidiary, and restricted core capital elements (collectively “Tier 1 Capital”). The remainder (“Tier 2 Capital”) may consist, subject to certain limitations, of allowance for loan and lease losses; perpetual preferred stock and related surplus hybrid capital instruments, perpetual debt, and mandatory convertible debt securities; term subordinated debt and intermediate-term preferred stock, including related surplus; and unrealized holding gains on equity securities.

The Federal Reserve Board has adopted regulations with respect to risk-based and leverage capital ratios that require most intangibles, including core deposit intangibles, to be deducted from Tier 1 Capital. The regulations, however, permit the inclusion of a limited amount of intangibles related to originated and purchased mortgage servicing rights and purchased credit card relationships and include a “grandfathered” provision permitting inclusion of certain existing intangibles.

 

In addition, the Federal Reserve Board has established minimum leverage ratio (Tier 1 Capital to total assets) guidelines for bank holding companies and member banks. These guidelines provide for a minimum leverage ratio of 3% for bank holding companies and member banks that meet certain specified criteria including that they have the highest regulatory rating. All other bank holding companies and member banks are required to maintain a minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to total assets of 4%. The guidelines also provide that banking organizations experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions are expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels without significant reliance on intangible assets. Furthermore, the guidelines state that the Federal Reserve Board will continue to consider a “tangible Tier 1 leverage ratio” and other indicators of capital strength in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities.

 

Failure to meet the capital guidelines could subject an institution to a variety of enforcement actions including the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC and to certain restrictions on its business. At December 31, 2007, the Group was in compliance with all capital requirements. For more information, please refer to Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Safety and Soundness Standards

 

Section 39 of the FDIA, as amended by FDICIA, requires each federal banking agency to prescribe for all insured depository institutions standards relating to internal control, information systems, and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits, and such other operational and managerial standards as the agency deems appropriate. In addition, each federal banking agency also is required to adopt for all insured depository institutions standards relating to asset quality, earnings and stock valuation that the agency determines to be appropriate. Finally, each federal banking agency is required to prescribe standards for the employment contracts and other compensation arrangements of executive officers, employees, directors and principal stockholders of insured depository institutions that would prohibit compensation, benefits and other arrangements that are excessive or that could lead to a material financial loss for the institution. If an institution fails to meet any of the standards described above, it will be required to submit to the appropriate federal banking agency a plan specifying the steps that will be taken to cure the deficiency. If the institution fails to submit an acceptable plan or fails to implement the plan, the appropriate federal banking agency will require the institution to correct the deficiency and, until it is corrected, may impose other restrictions on the institution, including any of the restrictions applicable under the prompt corrective action provisions of FDICIA.

 

The FDIC and the other federal banking agencies have adopted Interagency Guidelines Establishing Standards for Safety and Soundness that, among other things, set forth standards relating to internal controls, information systems and internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit, underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth and employee compensation.

 

Activities and Investments of Insured State-Chartered Banks

 

Section 24 of the FDIA, as amended by FDICIA, generally limits the activities and equity investments of FDIC-insured, state-chartered banks to those that are permissible for national banks. Under FDIC regulations of equity investments, an insured state bank generally may not directly or indirectly acquire or retain any equity investment of a type, or in an amount, that is not permissible for a national bank. An insured state bank, such as the Bank, is not prohibited from, among other things, (i) acquiring or retaining a majority interest in a subsidiary engaged in permissible activities, (ii) investing as a limited partner in a partnership, or as a non-controlling interest holder of a limited liability company, the sole purpose of which is direct or indirect investment in the acquisition, rehabilitation or new construction of a qualified housing project, provided that such investments may not exceed 2% of the bank’s total assets, (iii) acquiring up to 10% of the voting stock of a company that solely provides or reinsures directors’, trustees’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage or bankers’ blanket bond group insurance coverage for

insured depository institutions, and (iv) acquiring or retaining the voting stock of an insured depository institution owned exclusively by insured depository institutions.

 

Under the FDIC regulations governing the activities and investments of insured state banks which further implemented Section 24 of the FDIA, as amended by FDICIA, an insured state-chartered bank may not, directly, or indirectly through a subsidiary, engage as “principal” in any activity that is not permissible for a national bank unless the FDIC has determined that such activities would pose no risk to the insurance fund of which it is a member and the bank is in compliance with applicable regulatory capital requirements. Any insured state-chartered bank directly or indirectly engaged in any activity that is not permitted for a national bank must cease the impermissible activity.

 

Transactions with Affiliates and Related Parties

 

Transactions between the Bank and any of its affiliates are governed by sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. These sections are important statutory provisions designed to protect a depository institution from transferring to its affiliates the subsidy arising from the institution’s access to the Federal safety net. An affiliate of a bank is any company or entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the bank. Generally, sections 23A and 23B (1) limit the extent to which a bank or its subsidiaries may engage in “covered transactions” with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10% of the bank’s capital stock and surplus, and limit such transactions with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20% of such capital stock and surplus, and (2) require that all such transactions be on terms that are consistent with safe and sound banking practices. The term “covered transactions” includes the making of loans, purchase of or investment in securities issued by the affiliate, purchase of assets, issuance of guarantees and other similar types of transactions. Most loans by a bank to any of its affiliates must be secured by collateral in amounts ranging from 100 to 130 percent of the loan amount, depending on the nature of the collateral. In addition, any covered transaction by a bank with an affiliate and any sale of assets or provision of services to an affiliate must be on terms that are substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the bank, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with nonaffiliated companies.

 

Regulation W of the Federal Reserve Board comprehensively implements sections 23A and 23B. The regulation unified and updated staff interpretations issued over the years prior to its adoption, incorporated several interpretative proposals (such as to clarify when transactions with an unrelated third party will be attributed to an affiliate), and addressed issues arising as a result of the expanded scope of non-banking activities engaged in by banks and bank holding companies and authorized for financial holding companies under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

 

Sections 22(g) and (h) of the Federal Reserve Act place restrictions on loans by a bank to executive officers, directors, and principal shareholders. Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Board implements these provisions. Under Section 22(h) and Regulation O, loans to a director, an executive officer and to a greater than 10% shareholders of a bank and certain of their related interests (“insiders”), and insiders of its affiliates, may not exceed, together with all other outstanding loans to such person and related interests, the bank’s single borrower limit (generally equal to 15% of the institution’s unimpaired capital and surplus). Section 22(h) and Regulation O also require that loans to insiders and to insiders of affiliates be made on terms substantially the same as offered in comparable transactions to other persons, unless the loans are made pursuant to a benefit or compensation program that (i) is widely available to employees of the bank and (ii) does not give preference to insiders over other employees of the bank. Section 22(h) and Regulation O also require prior board of directors’ approval for certain loans, and the aggregate amount of extensions of credit by a bank to all insiders cannot exceed the institution’s unimpaired capital and surplus. Furthermore, Section 22(g) and Regulation O place additional restrictions on loans to executive officers.

 

Community Reinvestment Act

 

Under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”), a financial institution has a continuing and affirmative obligation, consistent with its safe and sound operation, to help meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial institutions nor does it limit an institution’s discretion to develop the types of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular community, consistent with the CRA. The CRA requires

federal examiners, in connection with the examination of a financial institution, to assess the institution’s record of meeting the credit needs of its community and to take such record into account in its evaluation of certain applications by such institution. The CRA also requires all institutions to make public disclosure of their CRA ratings. The Group has a Compliance Department, which oversees the planning of products and services offered to the community, especially those aimed to serve low and moderate income communities.

 

USA Patriot Act

 

Under Title III of the USA Patriot Act, also known as the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act of 2001, all financial institutions, including the Group, OFSC and the Bank, are required in general to identify their customers, adopt formal and comprehensive anti-money laundering programs, scrutinize or prohibit altogether certain transactions of special concern, and be prepared to respond to inquiries from U.S. law enforcement agencies concerning their customers and their transactions.

 

The U.S. Treasury Department (“US Treasury”) has issued a number of regulations implementing the USA Patriot Act that apply certain of its requirements to financial institutions. The regulations impose obligations on financial institutions to maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing.

 

Failure of a financial institution to comply with the USA Patriot Act’s requirements could have serious legal consequences for the institution. The Group and its subsidiaries, including the Bank, have adopted policies, procedures and controls to address compliance with the USA Patriot Act under existing regulations, and will continue to revise and update their policies, procedures and controls to reflect changes required by the USA Patriot Act and US Treasury’s regulations.

 

Privacy Policies

 

Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, all financial institutions are required to adopt privacy policies, restrict the sharing of nonpublic customer data with nonaffiliated parties at the customer’s request, and establish procedures and practices to protect customer data from unauthorized access. The Group and its subsidiaries have established policies and procedures to assure the Group’s compliance with all privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) implemented legislative reforms intended to address corporate and accounting fraud. SOX contains reforms of various business practices and numerous aspects of corporate governance. Most of these requirements have been implemented pursuant to regulations issued by the SEC. The following is a summary of certain key provisions of SOX.

 

In addition to the establishment of an accounting oversight board that enforces auditing, quality control and independence standards and is funded by fees from all registered public accounting firms and publicly traded companies, SOX places restrictions on the scope of services that may be provided by accounting firms to their public company audit clients. Any non-audit services being provided to a public company audit client requires pre-approval by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (“Audit Committee”). In addition, SOX makes certain changes to the requirements for partner rotation after a period of time. SOX requires chief executive officers and chief financial officers, or their equivalent, to certify to the accuracy of periodic reports filed with the SEC, subject to civil and criminal penalties if they knowingly or willingly violate this certification requirement. In addition, counsel is required to report evidence of a material violation of securities laws or a breach of fiduciary duties to the company’s chief legal officer or to both the company’s chief executive officer and its chief legal officer, and, if any of such officers does not appropriately respond, to report such evidence to the Audit Committee or other similar committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) or to the Board itself.

 

Under SOX, longer prison terms apply to corporate executives who violate federal securities laws; the period during which certain types of suits can be brought against a company or its officers is extended; and bonuses issued to top executives prior to restatement of a company’s financial statements are now subject to disgorgement if such

restatement was due to corporate misconduct. Executives are also prohibited from insider trading during retirement plan “blackout” periods, and loans to company executives (other than loans by financial institutions permitted by federal rules or regulations) are restricted. In addition, the legislation accelerates the time frame for disclosures by public companies, as they must immediately disclose any material changes in their financial condition or operations. Directors and executive officers required to report changes in ownership in a company’s securities must now report any such change within two business days of the change.

 

SOX increases responsibilities and codifies certain requirements relating to audit committees of public companies and how they interact with the company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Audit committee members must be independent and are barred from accepting consulting, advisory or other compensatory fees from the company. In addition, companies are required to disclose whether at least one member of the committee is a “financial expert” (as such term is defined by the SEC) and if not, why not. A company’s independent registered public accounting firm is prohibited from performing statutorily mandated audit services for a company if the company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller, chief accounting officer or any person serving in equivalent positions had been employed by such firm and participated in the audit of such company during the one-year period preceding the audit initiation date. SOX also prohibits any officer or director of a company or any other person acting under their direction from taking any action to fraudulently influence, coerce, manipulate or mislead any independent public or certified accountant engaged in the audit of the company’s financial statements for the purpose of rendering the financial statements materially misleading.

 

SOX also has provisions relating to inclusion of certain internal control reports and assessments by management in the annual report to stockholders. The law also requires the company’s registered public accounting firm to provide an attestation report on the company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Group is required to include in its annual report on Form 10-K an internal control report containing management’s assertions regarding the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control structure and procedures over financial reporting. The internal control report must include a statement of management’s responsibility for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Group; of management’s assessment as to the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting based on management’s evaluation of it, as of the end of the Group’s most recent fiscal year, including disclosure of any material weaknesses therein; of the framework used by management as criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting; and a statement that the Group’s independent registered public accounting firm that audited its financial statements has audited the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007.

 

Puerto Rico Banking Act

 

As a Puerto Rico-chartered commercial bank, the Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the OCFI under the Banking Act (the “Banking Act”), which contains provisions governing the incorporation and organization, rights and responsibilities of directors, officers and stockholders as well as the corporate powers, savings, lending, capital and investment requirements and other aspects of the Bank and its affairs. In addition, the OCFI is given extensive rulemaking power and administrative discretion under the Banking Act. The OCFI generally examines the Bank at least once every year.

 

The Banking Act requires that at least 10% of the yearly net income of the Bank be credited annually to a reserve fund. This apportionment shall be done every year until the reserve fund is equal to the total paid-in capital on common and preferred stock. As of December 31, 2007, the Bank’s capital reserve fund, which is presented as “Legal surplus” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, was $40.6 million.

 

The Banking Act also provides that when the expenditures of a bank are greater that the receipts, the excess of the former over the latter shall be charged against the undistributed profits of the bank, and the balance, if any, shall be charged against the reserve fund, as a reduction thereof. If there is no reserve fund sufficient to cover such balance in whole or in part, the outstanding amount shall be charged against the capital account and no dividend shall be declared until said capital has been restored to its original amount and the reserve fund to 20% of the original capital.

The Banking Act further requires every bank to maintain a legal reserve which shall not be less than 20% of its demand liabilities, except government deposits (federal, commonwealth and municipal), which are secured by actual collateral.

 

The Banking Act also requires change of control filings. When any person or entity will own, directly or indirectly, upon consummation of a transfer, 5% or more of the outstanding voting capital stock of a bank, the acquiring parties must inform the OCFI of the details not less than 60 days prior to the date said transfer is to be consummated. The transfer will require the approval of the OCFI if it results in a change of control of the bank. Under the Banking Act, a change of control is presumed if an acquirer who did not own more than 5% of the voting capital stock before the transfer exceeds such percentage after the transfer.

 

The Banking Act permits Puerto Rico commercial banks to make loans to any one person, firm, partnership or corporation, up to an aggregate amount of 15% of the sum of: (i) the bank’s paid-in capital; (ii) the bank’s reserve fund; (iii) 50% of the bank’s retained earnings; subject to certain limitations; and (iv) any other components that the Commissioner may determine from time to time. If such loans are secured by collateral worth at least 25% more than the amount of the loan, the aggregate maximum amount shall include 33.33% of 50% of the bank’s retained earnings. There are no restrictions under the Banking Act on the amount of loans that are wholly secured by bonds, securities and other evidence of indebtedness of the Government of the United States, or of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or by bonds, not in default, of municipalities or instrumentalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

 

Due to the reclassification of certain mortgage loans purchase transactions as a commercial loan to the seller of the mortgage loans (refer to Note 20), at December 31, 2006 the Group had a lending concentration of $76.8 million outstanding to the financial institution from which it had purchased the mortgage loans. The resulting commercial loan was secured by mortgage loans on family residences located in Puerto Rico and the obligations of the borrower under the commercial loan were also secured by a guarantee from its parent company. The reclassification of the mortgage loans purchase transactions as a commercial loan to the seller resulted in the Group booking a loan exceeding the loan to one borrower limits imposed by Puerto Rico banking laws. To address it, the Group requested a waiver from the OCFI and it was issued on May 4, 2006 allowing the Group to retain the commercial loan on its books until paid in full. By an agreement entered into on July 13, 2007, the borrower under the commercial loan and the Group agreed to the repayment of the outstanding principal balance on the commercial loan. In payment of the outstanding principal balance on the commercial loan, the Group (i) retained certain mortgage loans which were part of the collateral for the commercial loan with an outstanding principal balance of $26.6 million; (ii) received from the borrower mortgage loans meeting the Group’s credit underwriting standards with an outstanding principal balance of $25.9 million; and (iii) cash. The Group does not have any lending credit relationship in excess of its lending limit for loans to a single borrower at December 31, 2007.

 

The Puerto Rico Finance Board is composed of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico; the Presidents of the Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico and the Planning Board; the Puerto Rico Secretaries of Commerce and Economic Development, Treasury and Consumer Affairs; the Commissioner of Insurance; and the President of the Public Corporation for Insurance and Supervision of Puerto Rico Cooperatives. It has the authority to regulate the maximum interest rates and finance charges that may be charged on loans to individuals and unincorporated businesses in the Commonwealth, and promulgates regulations that specify maximum rates on various types of loans to individuals.

 

The current regulations of the Puerto Rico Finance Board provide that the applicable interest rate on loans to individuals and unincorporated businesses (including real estate development loans, but excluding certain other personal and commercial loans secured by mortgages on real estate property) is to be determined by free competition. The Puerto Rico Finance Board also has the authority to regulate maximum finance charges on retail installment sales contracts and for credit card purchases. There is presently no maximum rate for retail installment sales contracts and for credit card purchases.

 

International Banking Center Regulatory Act of Puerto Rico

 

The business and operations of the Bank’s IBE subsidiary are subject to supervision and regulation by the OCFI. Under the IBE Act, no sale, encumbrance, assignment, merger, exchange or transfer of shares, interest or participation in the capital of an IBE may be initiated without the prior approval of the OCFI, if by such transaction

a person would acquire, directly or indirectly, control of 10% or more of any class of stock, interest or participation in the capital of the IBE. The IBE Act and the regulations issued thereunder by the OCFI (the “IBE Regulations”) limit the business activities that may be carried out by an IBE. Such activities are limited in part to persons and assets/liabilities located outside of Puerto Rico. The IBE Act provides further that every IBE must have not less than $300,000 of unencumbered assets or acceptable financial guarantees.

 

Pursuant to the IBE Act and the IBE Regulations, the Bank’s IBE subsidiary has to maintain books and records of all its transactions in the ordinary course of business. It is also required to submit quarterly and annual reports of their financial condition and results of operations to the OCFI, including annual audited financial statements.

 

The IBE Act empowers the OCFI to revoke or suspend, after notice and hearing, a license issued thereunder if, among other things, the IBE fails to comply with the IBE Act, the IBE Regulations or the terms of its license, or if the OCFI finds that the business or affairs of the IBE are conducted in a manner that is not consistent with the public interest.

 

Employees

 

At December 31, 2007, the Group had 518 employees. None of its employees is represented by a collective bargaining group. The Group considers its employee relations to be good.

 

Internet Access to Reports

 

The Group’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any and all amendments to such reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are available free of charge on or through the Group’s internet website at www.orientalfg.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Group electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC.

 

The Group’s corporate governance guidelines, code of business conduct and ethics, and the charters of its audit committee, compensation committee, and corporate governance and nominating committee are available free of charge on the Group’s website at www.orientalfg.com in the investor relations section under the corporate governance link. The Group’s code of business conduct and ethic applies to its directors, officers, employees and agents, including its principal executive, financial and accounting officers.

 

 

In addition to the other information contained elsewhere in this report and the Group’s other filings with the SEC, the following risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating the Group and its subsidiaries. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Group and its subsidiaries. Additional risks and uncertainties, not presently known to us or otherwise, may also impair our business operations. If any of the risks described below or such other risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Puerto Rico’s current economic condition may have an adverse effect on our loan portfolio

 

Beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2007, a number of key economic indicators suggested that the economy of Puerto Rico was slowing down.

 

Construction remained weak during 2007, as the combination of rising interest rates, the Commonwealth’s fiscal situation and decreasing public investment in construction projects affected the sector. During the period from January to November of the calendar year 2007, cement production, a real indicator of construction activity, declined by 11.7% as compared to the same period in 2006. As of September 2007, exports decreased by 11.7%, while imports decreased by 8.9%, a negative trade, which continues since the first negative trade balance of the last decade was registered in November 2006. Tourism activity has also declined during fiscal year 2007. Total hotel registrations for the fiscal year 2007 declined 5.1% as compared to the fiscal year 2006. During 2007, new vehicle sales decreased by 13%, the lowest since 1993. In 2007, average employment declined by 1.27% while the average number of unemployed increased by 3.30%; the unemployment rate increased to 11.2% when compared to the December 2006 unemployment rate of 10.2%.

In general, the Puerto Rico economy continued its trend of decreasing growth, primarily due to weaker manufacturing, softer consumption and decreased government investment in construction. Increases in oil prices and other consumer goods and services, coupled with a 7% sales tax implemented in October 2006 as part of a government program of tax and fiscal reforms, have also contributed to the general economic slowdown.

 

Factors such as the government’s ability to implement meaningful steps to curb operating expenditures, improve managerial and budgetary controls, and eliminate the government’s reliance on operating budget loans from the Government Development Bank of Puerto Rico will be key determinants of future economic stability. Also, the inability to agree on future fiscal year Commonwealth budgets could result in ratings pressure from the rating agencies.

 

These economic concerns and uncertainties in the private and public sectors have had an adverse effect in the credit quality of our loan portfolios as delinquency rates have increased in the short-term and may continue to increase until the economy stabilizes. The reduction in consumer spending may continue to impact growth in our other interest and non-interest revenue sources.

 

A prolonged economic slowdown or a decline in the real estate market could harm the results of our operations

 

The residential mortgage loan origination business has historically been cyclical, enjoying periods of strong growth and profitability followed by periods of lower volumes and industry-wide losses. The market for residential mortgage loan originations is currently in decline, and this trend could also reduce the level of mortgage loans that we may originate in the future and may adversely impact our business. During periods of declining interest rates, such as the one being currently experienced, refinancing activity on mortgage loans has tended to increase. However, due to the general economic slowdown in Puerto Rico and its impact on the value of residential properties, an increase in mortgage refinancing activity has not yet occurred. A recent trend of decreasing values in certain housing segments has been noted. There is a risk that a reduction in housing values could negatively impact our loss levels on the mortgage portfolio. Any sustained period of increased delinquencies, foreclosures or losses could harm our ability to sell loans, the price we receive on the sale of such loans, and the value of our mortgage loan portfolio, all of which could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Financial results are constantly exposed to market risk

 

Market risk refers to the probability of variations in the net interest income or the market value of assets and liabilities due to interest rate volatility. Despite the varied nature of market risks, the primary source of this risk to us is the impact of changes in interest rates on net interest income.

 

Net interest income is the difference between the revenue generated on earning assets and the interest cost of funding those assets. Depending on the duration and repricing characteristics of the assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items, changes in interest rates could either increase or decrease the level of net interest income. For any given period, the pricing structure of the assets and liabilities is matched when an equal amount of such assets and liabilities mature or reprice in that period. Any mismatch of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities is known as a gap position. A positive gap denotes asset sensitivity, which means that an increase in interest rates could have a positive effect on net interest income, while a decrease in interest rates could have a negative effect on net interest income.

 

We are subject to interest rate risk because of the following factors:

 

 

 

In limiting interest rate risk to an acceptable level, management may alter the mix of floating and fixed rate assets and liabilities, change pricing schedules, adjust maturities through sales and purchases of investment securities, and enter into derivative contracts, among other alternatives. We may suffer losses or experience lower spreads than anticipated in initial projections as management implement strategies to reduce future interest rate exposure.

 

A continuing decline in the real estate market in the U.S. mainland and ongoing disruptions in the capital markets may harm our investment securities and wholesale funding portfolios

 

The housing market in the U.S. is undergoing a correction of historic proportions. After a period of several years of booming housing markets, fueled by liberal credit conditions and rapidly rising property values, the sector has been in the midst of a substantial dislocation since early 2007. The general level of property values in the U.S., as measured by several indices widely followed by the market, has declined. These declines are the result of ongoing market adjustments that are aligning property values with income levels and home inventories. The supply of homes in the market has increased substantially, and additional property value decreases may be required to clear the overhang of excess inventory in the U.S. market. Declining property values could impact the credit quality and fair value of our non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations and structured credit investments included as part of our investment securities portfolio.

 

Our business could be adversely affected if we cannot maintain access to stable funding sources

 

Our business requires continuous access to various funding sources. While we are able to fund our operations through deposits as well as through advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and other alternative sources, our business is significantly dependent upon other wholesale funding sources, such as repurchase agreements.

 

While we expect to have continued access to credit from the foregoing sources of funds, there can be no assurance that such financing sources will continue to be available or will be available on favorable terms. In the event that such sources of funds are reduced or eliminated and we are not able to replace them on a cost-effective basis, we may be forced to curtail or cease our loan origination business and treasury activities, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

 

Our decisions regarding credit risk and the allowance for loan losses may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations

 

Making loans is an essential element of our business and there is a risk that our loans will not be repaid. The default risk is affected by a number of factors, including:

 

 

 

We strive to maintain an appropriate allowance for loan losses to provide for probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio. We periodically determine the amount of the allowance based on consideration of several factors such as default frequency, internal risk ratings, expected future cash collections, loss recovery rates and general economic factors, among others, as are the size and diversity of individual credits. Our methodology for measuring the adequacy of the allowance relies on several key elements which include a specific allowance for identified problem loans, a general systematic allowance, and an unallocated allowance.

 

We recorded a provision for loan losses of $6.6 million in 2007 based on our overall evaluation of the risks of our loan portfolio. Although we believe that our allowance for loan losses is currently sufficient given the constant monitoring of the risk inherent in our loan portfolio, there is no precise method of predicting loan losses and therefore we always face the risk that charge-offs in future periods will exceed our allowance for loan losses and that additional increases in the allowance for loan losses will be required. In addition, the FDIC as well as the OCFI may require us to establish additional reserves. Additions to the allowance for loan losses would result in a decrease in our net earnings and capital and could hinder our ability to pay dividends.

 

We are subject to default and other risks in connection with our mortgage loan originations

 

From the time that we fund the mortgage loans we originate to the time we sell them, we are generally at risk for any mortgage loan defaults. Once we sell the mortgage loans, the risk of loss from mortgage loan defaults and foreclosures passes to the purchaser or insurer of the mortgage loans. However, in the ordinary course of business, we make representations and warranties to the purchasers and insurers of mortgage loans relating to the validity of such loans. If there is a breach of any of these representations or warranties, we may be required to repurchase the mortgage loan and bear any subsequent loss on the mortgage loan. In addition, we incur higher liquidity risk with respect to the non-conforming mortgage loans originated by us, because of the lack of a favorable secondary market in which to sell them.

 

We are at risk because most of our business is conducted in a geographically concentrated area

 

Because most of our business activities are conducted in Puerto Rico, and a substantial portion of our credit exposure is in Puerto Rico, we are at risk from adverse economic, political or business developments including a downturn in real estate values and natural hazards that affect Puerto Rico. If Puerto Rico’s economy experiences an overall decline as a result of these adverse developments or natural hazards, the rates of delinquencies, foreclosures, bankruptcies and losses on loan portfolios would probably increase substantially. This would cause our profitability to decrease.

 

Competition with other financial institutions could adversely affect our profitability

 

We face substantial competition in originating loans and in attracting deposits. The competition in originating loans comes principally from other U.S., Puerto Rico and foreign banks, mortgage banking companies, consumer finance companies, credit unions, insurance companies, and other institutional lenders and purchasers of loans. We will encounter greater competition as we expand our operations. Increased competition may require us to increase the rates we pay on deposits or lower the rates we offer on loans which could adversely affect our profitability.

 

The Group operates in a highly regulated environment and may be adversely affected by changes in federal and local laws and regulations

 

The Group is subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by federal and Puerto Rico banking authorities. Any change in applicable federal or Puerto Rico laws or regulations could have a substantial impact on its operations. Additional laws and regulations may be enacted or adopted in the future that could significantly affect the Group’s powers, authority and operations, which could have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial condition and results of operations. Further, regulators, in the performance of their supervisory and enforcement duties, have significant discretion and power to prevent or remedy unsafe and unsound practices or

violations of laws by banks and bank holding companies. The exercise of this regulatory discretion and power may have a negative impact on the Group.

 

Competition in attracting talented people could adversely affect our operations

 

We depend on our ability to attract and retain key personnel and we rely heavily on our management team. The inability to recruit and retain key personnel or the unexpected loss of key managers may adversely affect our operations. Our success to date has been influenced strongly by our ability to attract and retain senior management experienced in banking and financial services. Retention of senior managers and appropriate succession planning will continue to be critical to the successful implementation of our strategies.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

The Group leases its main offices located at 997 San Roberto Street, Oriental Center, Professional Offices Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The executive office, treasury, trust division, brokerage, investment banking, mortgage banking, commercial banking, insurance services, and back-office support departments are maintained at such location.

 

The Bank owns seven branch premises and leases seventeen branch commercial offices throughout Puerto Rico. The Bank’s management believes that each of its facilities is well maintained and suitable for its purpose and can readily obtain appropriate additional space as may be required at competitive rates by extending expiring leases or finding alternative space.

 

At December 31, 2007, the aggregate future rental commitments under the terms of the leases, exclusive of taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses payable by the Group, was $23.3 million.

 

The Group’s investment in premises and equipment, exclusive of leasehold improvements, at December 31, 2007, was $12.4 million.

 

 

On August 14, 1998, as a result of a review of its accounts in connection with the admission by a former Group officer of having embezzled funds and manipulated bank accounts and records, the Group became aware of certain irregularities. The Group notified the appropriate regulatory authorities and commenced an intensive investigation with the assistance of forensic accountants, fraud experts, and legal counsel. The investigation determined losses of $9.6 million, resulting from dishonest and fraudulent acts and omissions involving several former Group employees. These losses were submitted to the Group’s fidelity insurance policy (the “Policy”) issued by Federal Insurance Company, Inc. (“FIC”), a stock insurance corporation organized under the laws of the State of Indiana. In the opinion of the Group’s management, its legal counsel and experts, the losses determined by the investigation were covered by the Policy. However, FIC denied all claims for such losses. On August 11, 2000, the Group filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico against FIC for breach of insurance contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing and damages, seeking payment of the Group’s $9.6 million insurance claim loss and the payment of consequential damages of no less than $13.0 million resulting from FIC’s bad faith, capricious, arbitrary, fraudulent and without cause denial of the Group’s claims. The losses resulting from such dishonest and fraudulent acts and omissions were expensed in prior years. On October 3, 2005, a jury rendered a verdict of $7.5 million in favor of the Group and against FIC (“2005 Verdict”). The jury granted the Group $453,219 for fraud and loss documentation in connection with its Accounts Receivable Returned Checks Account and $7,078,640.60 regarding its bad faith claim. However, the jury could not reach a decision on the Group’s claim for $3.4 million in connection with fraud in its Cash Accounts, thus forcing a new trial on this issue. The jury denied the Group’s claim for $5.6 million in connection with fraud in the Mortgage Loans Account. The court decided not to enter a final judgment for the aforementioned awards until a new trial regarding the Cash

Accounts claim be held. On August 14, 2007, a jury rendered a verdict in favor of FIC and against the Group, regarding its Cash Accounts (“2007 Verdict”).

 

Judgment pursuant to the aforementioned 2005 and 2007 verdicts was entered on August 15, 2007. FIC filed a motion to set aside the 2005 Verdict which OFG opposed. The Group filed a motion to set aside the 2007 Verdict which FIC opposed. In addition, the Group filed Motion to Correct Judgment, Bill of Costs and Motion for Imposition of Attorneys and Experts Costs so as to recover pre and post judgment interest, costs, fees and expenses related to the prosecution of its claims.

 

The Group has not recognized any income on these claims since the post-trial motions have not been ruled upon yet and appellate rights have not been exhausted. Thus, the amount to be collected cannot be determined at this time.

 

In addition, the Group and its subsidiaries are defendants in a number of legal proceedings incidental to their business. The Group is vigorously contesting such claims. Based upon a review by legal counsel and the development of these matters to date, Management is of the opinion that the ultimate aggregate liability, if any, resulting from these claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

The Group’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “OFG”. Information concerning the range of high and low sales prices for the Group’s common stock for each quarter in the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, as well as cash dividends declared for such periods are contained in Table 7 (“Capital, Dividends and Stock Data”) and under the “Stockholders’ Equity” caption in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”).

 

Information concerning legal or regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends by the Group and the Bank is contained under the caption “Dividend Restrictions” in Item 1 of this report.

 

As of December 31, 2007, the Group had approximately 6,760 holders of record of its common stock, including all directors and officers of the Group, and beneficial owners whose shares are held in “street” name by securities broker-dealers or other nominees.

 

The Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 1994, as amended, generally imposes a withholding tax on the amount of any dividends paid by Puerto Rico corporations to individuals, whether residents of Puerto Rico or not, trusts, estates, and special partnerships at a special 10% withholding tax rate. Prior to the first dividend distribution for the taxable year, such shareholders may elect to be taxed on the dividends at the regular rates, in which case the special 10% tax will not be withheld from such year’s distributions. Dividends distributed by Puerto Rico corporations to foreign corporations or partnerships not engaged in trade or business in Puerto Rico are also generally subject to withholding tax at a 10% rate.

 

United States citizens who are non-residents of Puerto Rico will not be subject to Puerto Rico tax on dividends if the individual’s gross income from sources within Puerto Rico during the taxable year does not exceed $1,300 if single, or $3,000 if married, and form AS 2732 of the Puerto Rico Treasury Department “Withholding Tax Exemption Certificate for the Purpose of Section 1147” is filed with the withholding agent. U.S. income tax law permits a credit against the U.S. income tax liability, subject to certain limitations, for certain foreign income taxes paid or deemed paid with respect to foreign source income, including that arising from dividends from foreign corporations, such as the Group.

Effective April 25, 2007, the Board formally adopted the 2007 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”), which provides for equity-based compensation incentives through the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and dividend equivalents, as well as equity-based performance awards. The Omnibus Plan replaced and superseded the Oriental Financial Group Inc. 1996, 1998 and 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plans (the “Stock Option Plans”). All outstanding stock options under the Stock Option Plans continue in full force and effect, subject to their original terms and conditions.

 

The following table shows certain information pertaining to the Omnibus Plan as of December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

On December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) published Statement 123(R) requiring that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in financial statements based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. Statement 123(R) covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including share options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights, and employee share purchase plans. Statement 123(R) replaced FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and superseded APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” The Group implemented Statement 123(R) as of July 1, 2005. The implementation of this statement had no effect on the consolidated financial results of the Group as of July 1, 2005.

 

On June 30, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Group’s Board of Directors approved the acceleration of the vesting of all unvested options to purchase shares of common stock of OFG that were held by employees, officers and directors as of June 30, 2005. As a result, options to purchase 1,219,333 shares became exercisable. The purpose of the accelerated vesting was to enable the Group to avoid recognizing in its income statement compensation expense associated with these options in future periods, upon adoption of FASB Statement No. 123(R).

 

Subsequent to the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Group recorded approximately $86,000, $15,000 and $11,000 related to compensation expense for options issued during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the six-month period ended December 31, 2005, respectively.

 

Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers

 

During 2007, the Group repurchased 458,826 shares of its common stock, at an average price of $9.23, for a total of $4.2 million. There were no repurchases during the quarter ended December 31, 2007. On July 27, 2007, the Group’s Board approved a new stock repurchase program pursuant to which the Group is authorized to purchase in the open market up to $15.0 million of its outstanding share of common stock. The shares of common stock so repurchased are to be held by the Group as treasury shares. The new program substituted the previous program approved on August 30, 2005.

 

For more information, please refer to Notes 1 and 13 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference from portions of the 2007 annual report to shareholders filed as Exhibit 13.0. The following ratios of the Group should be read in conjunction with the portions of such report filed as Exhibit 13.0. Selected financial data are presented for the last five fiscal years.

The ratios shown below demonstrate the Group’s ability to generate sufficient earnings to pay the fixed charges or expenses of its debt and preferred stock dividends. The Group’s consolidated ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends were computed by dividing earnings by combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, as specified below, using two different assumptions, one excluding interest on deposits and the second including interest on deposits:

 

 

 

 

For purposes of computing the consolidated ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends, earnings consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations plus fixed charges and amortization of capitalized interest, less interest capitalized. Fixed charges consist of interest expensed and capitalized, amortization of debt issuance costs, and the Group’s estimate of the interest component of rental expense. The term “preferred stock dividends” is the amount of pre-tax earnings that is required to pay dividends on the Group’s outstanding preferred stock. As of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, and June 30, 2005 and 2004, the Group had noncumulative preferred stock issued and outstanding amounting to $68.0 million as follows: (1) Series A amounting to $33.5 million or 1,340,000 shares at a $25 liquidation value; and (2) Series B amounting to $34.5 million or 1,380,000 shares at a $25 liquidation value.

 

 

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference from portions of the 2007 annual report to shareholders filed as Exhibit 13.0 under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

 

The information regarding the market risk of the Group is incorporated herein by reference from portions of the 2007 annual report to shareholders filed as Exhibit 13.0, under the caption “Risk Management”.

 

 

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference from portions of the 2007 annual report to shareholders filed as Exhibit 13.0. The consolidated financial statements of this report set forth the list of all reports required by this item, and they are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

The Group’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As of December 31, 2007, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Group’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Group’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon such evaluation, management concluded that the Group’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective in recording,

processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Group in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

The Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting is incorporated herein by reference from portions of the 2007 annual report to shareholders filed as Exhibit 13.0.

 

 

As disclosed on our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, on Part II Section 9B, the Group entered into a Technology Outsourcing Agreement made as of January 26, 2007, (the “Agreement”) with Metavante Corporation (“Metavante”), for certain technology-related services and software licenses offered by Metavante. The Agreement provides for: (i) the transfer of the Group’s data processing and other information technology services to Metavante’s systems; (ii) technology upgrades, enhancements and software modifications; and (iii) the full integration of certain interfaces between the Group and Metavante, so that the Group is able to receive Metavante’s services in a live operating environment.

 

Pursuant to this agreement, during the quarter ended December 31, 2007, the Group completed the conversion of its core banking system. As part of the changes resulting from this conversion, under the Group’s agreement with Metavante, during the quarter ended December 31, 2007, several information technology general controls surrounding the core banking system were changed. Pursuant to such agreement, Metavante is responsible for establishing and maintaining an information security program designed to ensure on its premises the security and confidentiality of all data and information of any kind or nature submitted by the Group to Metavante, or received by Metavante on behalf of the Group, in connection with Metavante’s services. Metavante is also responsible for maintaining a disaster recovery and continuity plan in connection with the services provided to the Group. In addition, information technology related controls and some manual application controls also changed to accommodate changes in the processes affected by the new core banking system implementation.

 

Management assessed the changes in controls following the conversion of the core banking system in our conclusions over internal control over financial reporting detailed on the Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting incorporated by reference on this Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Except for the above items, there have not been any other changes in the Group’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in rules 13a — 15(f) and 15d — 15 (f) under the Exchange Act) during the last quarter of the year ended December 31, 2007, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Group’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

Items 10 through 14 will be provided by incorporating the information required under such items by reference from the Group’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

 

 

(a)(1) — Financial Statements

 

The list of financial statements required by this item is set forth in the financial data index incorporated by reference from portions of the 2007 annual report to shareholders filed as Exhibit 13.0.

(a)(2) — Financial Statement Schedules

 

No schedules are presented because the information is not applicable or is included in the consolidated financial statements or in the notes thereto described in (a)(1) above.

 

(a)(3) — Exhibits

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

ORIENTAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC.

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the date indicated.