Exhibit 10.1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE THE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
WASHINGTON, D.C.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKS
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

Written Agreement by and among
 
FOUR OAKS FINCORP, INC.
Four Oaks, North Carolina
 
FOUR OAKS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Four Oaks, North Carolina
 
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND
Richmond, Virginia
 
and
 
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKS
Raleigh, North Carolina
Docket Nos. 11-060-WA/RB-HC
11-060-WA/RB-SM

WHEREAS, in recognition of their common goal to maintain the financial soundness
of Four Oaks Fincorp, Inc., Four Oaks, North Carolina (“Fincorp”), a registered
bank holding company, and its subsidiary bank, Four Oaks Bank & Trust Company,
Four Oaks, North Carolina (the “Bank”), a state-chartered bank that is a member
of the Federal Reserve System, Fincorp, the Bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of
Richmond (the “Reserve Bank”), and the State of North Carolina, Office of the
Commissioner of Banks (the “Commissioner”) have mutually agreed to enter into
this Written Agreement (the “Agreement”); and
 
WHEREAS, on May 19, 2011, the boards of directors of Fincorp and the Bank, at
duly constituted meetings, adopted resolutions authorizing and directing
Ayden R. Lee, Jr., President, CEO, and Chairman of Fincorp and the Bank, to
enter into this Agreement on behalf of Fincorp and the Bank, and consenting to
compliance with each and every applicable provision of this Agreement by Fincorp
and the Bank, and their institution-affiliated parties, as defined in sections
3(u) and 8(b)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (the “FDI
Act”)(12 U.S.C. §§ 1813(u) and 1818(b)(3)).
 
 
 

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NOW, THEREFORE, Fincorp, the Bank, the Reserve Bank, and the Commissioner agree
as follows:
 
Source of Strength
 
1.   The board of directors of Fincorp shall take appropriate steps to fully
utilize Fincorp’s financial and managerial resources, pursuant to section
225.4(a) of Regulation Y of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(the “Board of Governors”) (12 C.F.R. § 225.4(a)), to serve as a source of
strength to the Bank, including, but not limited to, taking steps to ensure that
the Bank complies with this Agreement, and any other supervisory action taken by
the Bank’s federal or state regulator.
 
Board Oversight
 
2.   Within 90 days of this Agreement, the board of directors of the Bank shall
submit to the Reserve Bank and the Commissioner a written plan to strengthen
board oversight of the management and operations of the Bank. The plan shall, at
a minimum, address, consider, and include:
 
(a)   The actions that the board of directors will take to improve the Bank’s
condition and maintain effective control over, and supervision of, the Bank’s
senior management and major operations and activities, including but not limited
to, credit risk management, lending and credit administration, asset quality,
capital, and earnings;
 
(b)   an oversight structure within the credit function that includes clear
lines of responsibility and accountability;
 
 
 

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(c)   the responsibility of the board of directors to monitor management’s
adherence to approved Bank policies and procedures, and to require management to
document exceptions thereto; and
 
(d)   a description of the information and reports that will be regularly
reviewed by the board of directors in its oversight of the operations and
management of the Bank, including information on the Bank’s problem loans,
loan-to-value ratio reports, and commercial real estate (“CRE”) concentrations.
 
Credit Risk Management
 
3.   Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank
and the Commissioner an acceptable written plan to strengthen credit risk
management practices at the Bank. The plan shall, at a minimum, address,
consider, and include:
 
(a)   Timely and accurate identification and quantification of credit risk
within the loan portfolio;
 
(b)   timely recognition of losses;
 
(c)   strategies to reduce the level of problem assets, including loan workout
strategies, and minimize credit losses;
 
(d)   a schedule for reducing and the means by which the Bank will reduce the
level of commercial real estate concentrations, and timeframes for achieving the
reduced levels; and
 
(e)   an assessment of the structure, qualifications, and staffing of the credit
function, along with a plan and timetable to strengthen the same.
 
 
 

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Lending and Credit Administration
 
4.   Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank
and the Commissioner acceptable revised lending and credit administration
policies and procedures that shall, at a minimum, address, consider, and
include:
 
(a)   Standards for renewing or modifying existing loans, including, but not
limited to, analysis, documentation, and approval requirements;
 
(b)   standards to require timely appraisals and updated financial statements;
 
(c)   a description of required loan documentation and a requirement for the
maintenance of such documentation, updated as appropriate, in the loan file;
 
(d)   controls to monitor compliance with loan documentation requirements and
ensure prompt correction of documentation exceptions;
 
(e)           procedures to ensure the timely and consistent analyses of
borrowers’ and guarantors’ current financial condition, global cash flow,
repayment sources, and performance;
 
(f)            steps to ensure that appraisals and reevaluations are performed
on a timely basis and in compliance with regulatory requirements;
 
(g)   standards for interest-only loans;
 
(h)   standards for the timely movement of loans to non-accrual status; and
 
(i)            enhancements to the loan workout function that are consistent
with relevant supervisory guidance, including the Policy Statement on Prudent
Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts, dated October 30, 2009 (SR 09-7).
 
 
 

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5.   Within 30 days of the approval of the policies and procedures required by
paragraph 4, the Bank shall provide training to all appropriate credit staff on
the requirements of such policies and procedures, as well as all relevant
regulations.
 
Appraisal Program
 
6.   Within 90 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank
and the Commissioner an acceptable written program and procedures for real
estate appraisals that are consistent with the Interagency Statement on
Independent Appraisal and Evaluation Functions dated October 27, 2003 (SR
03-18), and Interagency Appraisal and Evaluation Guidelines, dated October 27,
1994 (SR 94-55), as well as the requirements of Subpart G of Regulation Y of the
Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. Part 225, Subpart G) made applicable to state
member banks by Section 208.50 of Regulation H of the Board of Governors (12
C.F.R. § 208.50). The program and practices shall, at a minimum, provide for:
 
(a)   Policies and procedures to obtain current appraisals or valuations on
problem credits; and
 
(b)   written standards for when reappraisals and reevaluations must be
conducted, including, but not limited to, when loans are renewed or when there
are material changes in market conditions or the condition of the collateral.
 
Loan Grading and Loan Review
 
7.   Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank
and the Commissioner an acceptable written program for the accurate grading of
the Bank’s loan portfolio. The program shall provide for policies, procedures,
and processes for the timely and ongoing grading of loans. The program shall, at
a minimum, address, consider, and include:
 
 
 

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(a)   Standards and criteria for assessing the credit quality of loans,
including a discussion of the factors used to assign appropriate risk grades to
loans;
 
(b)   procedures for the early identification of problem loans;
 
(c)   procedures to re-evaluate the grading of loans in the event of material
changes in the borrower’s performance or the value of the collateral;
 
(d)   procedures to evaluate the grading of all loans assigned less than a pass
grade at least quarterly;
 
(e)   designation of the person(s) responsible for the grading of loans;
 
(f)            controls to ensure staff’s consistent application and adherence
to the loan grading system; and
 
(g)   a mechanism for reporting to senior management and the board of directors,
at least monthly, that at a minimum: summarizes the Bank’s loan grades;
describes trends in asset quality; identifies the loans that are nonperforming,
adversely graded, or identified as needing special attention, describes the
status of those loans, and describes the actions taken, or to be taken, by
management for strengthening of the quality of any such loans.
 
8.   Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank
and the Commissioner an acceptable written program for the effective, ongoing
review of the Bank’s loan portfolio by a qualified independent party or by
qualified staff that is independent of the Bank’s lending function. The program
shall provide for policies and procedures for the timely identification and
categorization of problem loans, and processes to detect weaknesses in the
Bank’s loan approval, monitoring, and grading process. The program shall, at a
minimum, address, consider, and include:
 
(a)   The scope, depth, and frequency of the independent loan review;
 
 
 

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(b)   clearly defined responsibilities for the loan review function; and
 
(c)   an objective and timely assessment of the overall quality of the loan
portfolio and the accuracy of assigned loan grades.
 
9.   The board of directors, or a designated committee thereof, shall evaluate
the loan review report(s) and take appropriate steps to ensure that management
takes prompt action to address findings noted in the report(s).
 
Asset Improvement
 
10.         The Bank shall not, directly or indirectly, extend, renew, or
restructure any credit to or for the benefit of any borrower, including any
related interest of the borrower, whose loans or other extensions of credit are
criticized in the report of examination conducted by the Reserve Bank and the
Commissioner that commenced on July 26, 2010 (the “Report of Examination”), or
in any subsequent report of examination, without the prior approval of a
majority of the full board of directors or a designated committee thereof. The
board of directors or its committee shall document in writing the reasons for
the extension of credit, renewal, or restructuring, specifically certifying
that: (i) the Bank’s risk management policies and practices for loan workout
activity are acceptable; (ii) the extension of credit is necessary to improve
and protect the Bank’s interest in the ultimate collection of the credit already
granted and maximize its potential for collection; (iii) the extension of credit
reflects prudent underwriting based on reasonable repayment terms and is
adequately secured; and all necessary loan documentation has been properly and
accurately prepared and filed; (iv) the Bank has performed a comprehensive
credit analysis indicating that the borrower has the willingness and ability to
repay the debt as supported by an adequate workout plan, as necessary; and (v)
the board of directors or its designated committee reasonably believes that the
extension of credit will not impair the Bank’s interest in obtaining repayment
of the already outstanding credit and that the extension of credit or renewal
will be repaid according to its terms. The written certification shall be made a
part of the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors or its committee,
as appropriate, and a copy of the signed certification, together with the credit
analysis and related information that was used in the determination, shall be
retained by the Bank in the borrower’s credit file for subsequent supervisory
review. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “related interest” is defined
as set forth in section 215.2(n) of Regulation O of the Board of Governors (12
C.F.R. § 215.2(n)).
 
 
 

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11.           (a)           Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall
submit to the Reserve Bank and the Commissioner an acceptable written plan
designed to improve the Bank’s position through repayment, amortization,
liquidation, additional collateral, or other means on each loan or other asset
in excess of $750,000, including other real estate owned (“OREO”), that are past
due as to principal or interest more than 90 days as of the date of this
Agreement, are on the Bank’s problem loan list, or were adversely classified in
the Report of Examination.
 
                                (b)          Within 30 days of the date that any
additional loan or other asset in excess of $750,000, including OREO, becomes
past due as to principal or interest for more than 90 days, is on the Bank’s
problem loan list, or is adversely classified in any subsequent report of
examination of the Bank, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank and the
Commissioner an acceptable written plan to improve the Bank’s position on such
loan, relationship, or asset.
 
                                (c)          Within 30 days after the end of
each calendar quarter thereafter, the Bank shall submit a written progress
report to the Reserve Bank and the Commissioner to update each asset improvement
plan, which shall include, at a minimum, the carrying value of the loan or other
asset and changes in the nature and value of supporting collateral, along with a
copy of the Bank’s current problem loan list, a list of all loan renewals and
extensions without full collection of interest in the last quarter, and a past
due/non-accrual report.
 
 
 

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Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
 
12.           (a)           Within 10 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall
eliminate from its books, by charge-off or collection, all assets or portions of
assets classified “loss” in the Report of Examination that have not been
previously collected in full or charged off. The Bank shall, within 30 days from
the receipt of any federal or state report of examination, charge off all assets
classified “loss” unless otherwise approved in writing by the Reserve Bank and
the Commissioner.
 
                                (b)          Within 60 days of this Agreement,
the Bank shall review and revise its ALLL methodology consistent with relevant
supervisory guidance, including the Interagency Policy Statements on the
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, dated July 2, 2001 (SR 01-17 (Sup)) and
December 13, 2006 (SR 06-17), and the findings and recommendations regarding the
ALLL set forth in the Report of Examination, and submit a description of the
revised methodology to the Reserve Bank and the Commissioner. The revised ALLL
methodology shall be designed to maintain an adequate ALLL and shall address,
consider, and include, at a minimum, the reliability of the Bank’s loan grading
system, the volume of criticized loans, concentrations of credit, the current
level of past due and nonperforming loans, past loan loss experience, evaluation
of probable losses in the Bank’s loan portfolio, including adversely classified
loans, and the impact of market conditions on loan and collateral valuations and
collectability.
 
                                (c)          Within 60 days of this Agreement,
the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank and the Commissioner an acceptable
written program for the maintenance of an adequate ALLL. The program shall
include policies and procedures to ensure adherence to the Bank’s revised ALLL
methodology and provide for periodic reviews and updates to the ALLL
methodology, as appropriate. The program shall also provide for a review of the
ALLL by the board of directors on at least a quarterly calendar basis. Any
deficiency found in the ALLL shall be remedied in the quarter it is discovered,
prior to the filing of the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income, by
additional provisions. The board of directors shall maintain written
documentation of its review, including the factors considered and conclusions
reached by the Bank in determining the adequacy of the ALLL. During the term of
this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank and the Commissioner,
within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, a written report
regarding the board of directors’ quarterly review of the ALLL and a description
of any changes to the methodology used in determining the amount of the ALLL for
that quarter.
 
 
 

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Capital Plan
 
13.           Within 60 days of this Agreement, Fincorp and the Bank shall
submit to the Reserve Bank and the Commissioner an acceptable joint written plan
to maintain sufficient capital at Fincorp on a consolidated basis, and at the
Bank as a separate legal entity on a stand­alone basis. The plan shall, at a
minimum, address, consider, and include:
 
                                (a)           Fincorp’s current and future
capital requirements, including compliance with the Capital Adequacy Guidelines
for Bank Holding Companies: Risk-Based Measure and Tier 1 Leverage Measure,
Appendices A and D of Regulation Y of the Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. Part
225, App. A and D);
 
                                (b)          the Bank’s current and future
capital requirements, including compliance with the Capital Adequacy Guidelines
for State Member Banks: Risk-Based Measure and Tier 1 Leverage Measure,
Appendices A and B of Regulation H of the Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. Part
208, App. A and B);
 
                                (c)          the adequacy of the Bank’s capital,
taking into account the volume of classified assets, concentrations of credit,
the adequacy of the ALLL, current and projected asset growth, projected
earnings, and anticipated and contingency funding needs;
 
                                (d)           the source and timing of
additional funds to fulfill Fincorp’s and the Bank’s future capital
requirements; and
 
                                (e)           the requirements of section
225.4(a) of Regulation Y of the Board of Governors that Fincorp serve as a
source of strength to the Bank.
 
 
 

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14.           Fincorp and the Bank shall notify the Reserve Bank and the
Commissioner, in writing, no more than 30 days after the end of any calendar
quarter in which any of Fincorp’s consolidated capital ratios or the Bank’s
capital ratios (total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, or leverage) fall below the
approved capital plan’s minimum ratios. Together with the notification, Fincorp
and the Bank shall submit an acceptable written plan that details the steps
Fincorp or the Bank, as appropriate, will take to increase Fincorp’s or the
Bank’s capital ratios to or above the approved capital plan’s minimums.
 
Business Plan and Budget
 
15.           During the term of this Agreement, a business plan and budget for
each calendar year subsequent to 2011 shall be submitted to the Reserve Bank and
the Commissioner at least 30 days prior to the beginning of that calendar year.
The plan, at a minimum, shall provide for or describe:
 
                                (a)           a realistic and comprehensive
budget for the year, including income statement and balance sheet projections;
and
 
                                (b)           a description of the operating
assumptions that form the basis for, and adequately support, major projected
income, expense, and balance sheet components.
 
Dividends and Distributions
 
16.           (a)           Fincorp and the Bank shall not declare or pay any
dividends without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank and the
Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation of the Board of
Governors (the “Director”), and, as to the Bank, the Commissioner.
 
                                (b)           Fincorp shall not directly or
indirectly take any other form of payment representing a reduction in capital
from the Bank without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank.
 
 
 

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                                (c)           Fincorp and its nonbank
subsidiaries shall not make any distributions of interest, principal, or other
sums on subordinated debentures or trust preferred securities without the prior
written approval of the Reserve Bank and the Director.
 
                                (d)          All requests for prior written
approval shall be received at least 30 days prior to the proposed dividend
declaration date, proposed distribution on subordinated debentures, and required
notice of deferral on trust preferred securities. All requests shall contain, at
a minimum, current and projected information, as appropriate, on Fincorp’s
capital, earnings, and cash flow; the Bank’s capital, asset quality, earnings,
and ALLL needs; and identification of the sources of funds for the proposed
payment or distribution. For requests to declare or pay dividends, Fincorp and
the Bank, as appropriate, must also demonstrate that the requested declaration
or payment of dividends is consistent with the Board of Governors’ Policy
Statement on the Payment of Cash Dividends by State Member Banks and Bank
Holding Companies, dated November 14, 1985 (Federal Reserve Regulatory Service,
4-877 at page 4-323).
 
Debt and Stock Redemption
 
17.           (a)           Fincorp and its nonbank subsidiaries shall not,
directly or indirectly, incur, increase, or guarantee any debt without the prior
written approval of the Reserve Bank. All requests for prior written approval
shall contain, but not be limited to, a statement regarding the purpose of the
debt, the terms of the debt, and the planned source(s) for debt repayment, and
an analysis of the cash flow resources available to meet such debt repayment.
 
                                (b)           Fincorp shall not, directly or
indirectly, purchase or redeem any shares of its stock without the prior written
approval of the Reserve Bank.
 
 
 

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Compliance with Laws and Regulations
 
18.           (a)           The Bank shall take all necessary steps to correct
all violations of law or regulation cited in the Report of Examination.
 
                                (b)           In appointing any new director or
senior executive officer, or changing the responsibilities of any senior
executive officer so that the officer would assume a different senior executive
officer position, Fincorp and the Bank shall comply with the notice provisions
of section 32 of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. § 1831i) and Subpart H of Regulation Y
of the Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. §§ 225.71 et seq.).
 
                               (c)           Fincorp and the Bank shall comply
with the restrictions on indemnification and severance payments of section 18(k)
of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. § 1828(k)) and Part 359 of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation’s regulations (12 C.F.R. Part 359).
 
Progress Reports
 
19.           Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter following
the date of this Agreement, the boards of directors of Fincorp and the Bank
shall submit to the Reserve Bank and the Commissioner joint written progress
reports detailing the form and manner of all actions taken to secure compliance
with this Agreement and the results thereof.
 
Approval and Implementation of Plans, Programs, Policies, and Procedures
 
20.           (a)           The Bank and, as applicable, Fincorp, shall submit
written plans, programs, policies, and procedures that are acceptable to the
Reserve Bank and the Commissioner within the applicable time periods set forth
in paragraphs 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11(a), 11(b), 12(c), 13, and 14 of this Agreement.
 
 
 

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                                (b)          Within 10 days of approval by the
Reserve Bank, the Bank and, as applicable, Fincorp, shall adopt the approved
plans, programs, policies, and procedures. Upon adoption, the Bank and, as
applicable, Fincorp, shall promptly implement the approved plans, programs,
policies, and procedures, and thereafter fully comply with them.
 
                                (c)           During the term of this Agreement,
the approved plans, programs, policies, and procedures shall not be amended or
rescinded without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank and the
Commissioner.
 
Communications
 
21.          All communications regarding this Agreement shall be sent to:
 
                                (a)           Ms. Joan T. Garton
Vice President
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
P.O. Box 27622
Richmond, Virginia 27622
 
                                (b)           Joseph A. Smith, Jr.

Commissioner
North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks
4309 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4309
 
                                (c)           Mr. Ayden R. Lee, Jr.
President, CEO and Chairman
Four Oaks Fincorp, Inc.
Four Oaks Bank & Trust Company
P. O. Box 309
Four Oaks, North Carolina 27524-0309

Miscellaneous
 
22.           Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the Reserve Bank
and the Commissioner may, in their sole discretion, grant written extensions of
time to Fincorp and the Bank to comply with any provision of this Agreement.
 
 
 

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23.           The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon Fincorp and
the Bank and their institution-affiliated parties, in their capacities as such,
and their successors and assigns.
 
24.           Each provision of this Agreement shall remain effective and
enforceable until stayed, modified, terminated, or suspended in writing by the
Reserve Bank and the Commissioner.
 
25.           The provisions of this Agreement shall not bar, estop, or
otherwise prevent the Board of Governors, the Reserve Bank, the Commissioner or
any other federal or state agency from taking any other action affecting Fincorp
and the Bank, or any of their current or former institution-affiliated parties
and their successors and assigns.
 
26.           Pursuant to section 50 of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. § 1831aa), this
Agreement is enforceable by the Board of Governors under section 8 of the FDI
Act (12 U.S.C. § 1818), and by the Commissioner pursuant to the provisions of N.
C. Gen. Stat. 53-107.1 (2005).
 
 
 
 
 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of
the 24th day of May, 2011.

FOUR OAKS FINCORP, INC.   FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND                      
        By:
/s/ Ayden R. Lee, Jr.
  By:
/s/ Joan T. Garton
  Ayden R. Lee, Jr.    
Joan T. Garton
  Chairman    
Vice President
                              FOUR OAKS BANK & TRUST COMPANY   STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA       OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKS                              
By:
/s/ Ayden R. Lee, Jr.
  By:
/s/ Joseph A. Smith, Jr.
  Ayden R. Lee, Jr.    
Joseph A. Smith, Jr.
  Chairman    
Commissioner