2023-03-31

OFI Bulletin 01-2023 Directors’ Examination Requirements

The Office of Financial Institutions requires state-chartered financial institutions to submit annual Directors’ Examination Reports by April 30, or within 120 days for non-December year-ends. Audit committees may satisfy this mandate using one of four external audit options, each specifying precise documentation submissions including audited financial statements, management letters, and subsidiary balance sheets. Institutions must align their selected audits with the revised Rule’s coverage criteria and file complete copies of the required forms to maintain compliance.

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OFI BULLETIN BL-01-2023 March 31, 2023 [B,T] TO: THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS & AUDIT COMMITTEE FROM: JOHN DUCREST, COMMISSIONER SUBJECT: DIRECTORS’ EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS The annual Directors’ Examination Report (“Report”) for your institution must be completed and submitted to this Office under the provisions of the March 20, 2002, Directors’ Examination Rule (“Rule”). State-chartered financial institutions that have a December 31 year-end must file a Report on or before April 30. Institutions with a year-end date other than December 31 must submit the Report within 120 days from the end of the reporting period. The Rule allows Audit Committees to secure one of the following four external audit options in fulfilling the following Directors’ Examination requirements: an opinion audit, a “balance sheet only” audit, an attestation report on the internal controls over financial reporting, or a selected procedures engagement. Listed below are the reporting requirements for each of these options. I. AN OPINION AUDIT performed by an independent CPA: A. “Stand Alone” Financial Institutions (Institutions with no parent companies) Institutions that obtain opinion audits on an “institution only” basis from independent CPAs must submit one copy of the following information:

  1. The Report cover sheet identifying the name and address of the institution as well as the period covered,
  2. A complete copy of the audited financial statements (including all footnotes),
  3. A copy of any management or comment letters issued by the CPAs, and
  4. The institution’s response to the management letter. B. Financial Institution Subsidiaries of Holding Companies. Holding companies that obtain opinion audits from independent CPA’s on a “consolidated” basis must submit one copy of the following, provided the audit meets the subsidiary audit coverage criteria in Section (I) of the Rule: OFFICE OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Directors’ Examination Requirements BL-01-2023 March 31, 2023 Page 2 of 3

  1. The Report cover sheet identifying the name and address of the institution, as well as the period covered,
  2. A complete copy of the audited consolidated financial statements (including all footnotes),
  3. An “institution-only” balance sheet for each subsidiary institution that must submit a Report,
  4. An “institution-only” income statement for each subsidiary institution that must submit a Report, Note: Institutions may satisfy #3 and #4 by submitting (1) “institution-only” balance sheet and income statements prepared by the institution or CPA, (2) audited financial statements that include “institution-only” balance sheet and income statements in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements, prepared by the CPA, or (3) consolidating worksheets breaking out all entities in the consolidated group before eliminating entries, prepared by the CPA.
  5. A copy of any management or comment letters issued by the CPA, and
  6. The institution’s response to the portions of the management letter that pertain to the institution required to submit a Report. II. “Balance Sheet Only” Audits and “Attestation on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting Engagements” Institutions that obtain either a “Balance Sheet Only” opinion audit or an “Attestation on the Internal Controls over Financial Reporting” Report from an independent CPA must submit one copy of the following within the filing deadlines stated above:
  7. The Report cover sheet identifying the name and address of the institution, as well as the period covered,
  8. A complete copy of the audited balance sheet (including all footnotes) or the attestation report issued in connection with the examination of internal controls over financial reporting,
  9. A copy of any management or comment letters issued by the CPA, and
  10. The institution’s response to the management letter. III. “Selected Procedures Report” Audit committees that secure audit programs less in scope than the options shown above should contact Compliance Examiner Deputy Chief at (225) 925-4639, or by email cwhite@ofi.la.gov, to obtain the seven-page forms and instructions for completing the selected audit procedures required under the revised Rule.

Directors’ Examination Requirements BL-01-2023 March 31, 2023 Page 3 of 3 The above information will also be posted on OFI’s website www.ofi.la.gov. If you have any questions, please contact e-mail Compliance Examiner Deputy Chief Chris White at (225) 925-4639, or by email cwhite@ofi.la.gov. This Bulletin will also be posted on OFI’s website www.ofi.la.gov. If you have any questions, please contact Chief Examiner Jonathan D. Finley at 225-922-0637 or jfinley@ofi.la.gov.