Strategic Services
DD&F’s professional Strategic Services staff has industry expertise to provide indispensable support through any project, including conventional mergers and acquisitions, FDIC assisted acquisitions, branch sales and purchases, and new bank charters. Our one-stop approach is unique. Because we offer a broad range of financial consulting services, we are able to work with our clients from start to finish on all phases of a project without the need for them to go elsewhere for expertise. We are annually ranked among the top ten financial advisors in the United States in mergers and acquisitions, and we are one of only a handful of firms that know the “ins and outs” of the FDIC Assisted Acquisition process. Our strategic clients include over 500 financial institutions, individual investors and private companies.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Our managing partners have been active in mergers and acquisitions of financial institutions since 1978 making us one of the premier firms in M&A consulting. We can provide the leadership, direction and expertise to assist your Board and management in planning for the strategic growth of your institution. We provide complete advisory services for the acquisition or sale of banks, thrifts or industrial banks, and branches; as well as the regulatory, operational, project management and technical assistance necessary to facilitate the transaction through closing.
FDIC Assisted Acquisitions
DD&F's FDIC Acquisition assistance is designed to prepare your company to successfully execute an acquisition of a failed bank through the FDIC. With the current environment in the banking industry, well capitalized banks have been presented with an attractive opportunity to expand their footprint at low cost and at low risk through an FDIC Acquisition; however, FDIC transactions have highly compressed timeframes with as little as three to four weeks from FDIC marketing to closing. As a result, an acquiring bank must be prepared to evaluate a potential acquisition and submit a bid on a very short time frame once the failing bank is marketed by the FDIC to potential bidders. Further, if your bank's bid is accepted by the FDIC, you must be prepared to deploy a team to take possession of the acquired bank and open for business in a matter of days.
DD&F has extensive experience in the acquisition process with the FDIC and can guide your management team through a step-by-step process that will provide them with a thorough understanding of the entire process. We have an extensive database of information on FDIC assisted acquisitions, and can provide you with up-to-date information on bidding trends and issues that can give your institution a competitive bidding advantage.
Having assisted with the development of numerous successful bids, we understand what the regulators require and look for in the bid process. Because of compressed time frames, we have also developed a comprehensive project plan to allow your bank team to prepare for immediate execution in the event you win the bid. We provide assistance throughout the entire acquisition process, from preparation of your team for acquisition, through bidding and due diligence, through assistance over the closing weekend, and through post closing.
Due Diligence Services
Financial institutions interested in strategic partnerships or acquisitions can benefit from Due Diligence Services provided at DD&F Consulting Group and Risk Management. Our Due Diligence Services will assist your bank in assessing the risks associated with these transactions. We will provide you with a risk focused valuation to help you determine the risks and make informed decisions about a potential acquisition or strategic partnership. Services include accounting due diligence, loan portfolio valuation, IT and operational analysis. We also work in partnership with attorneys to provide legal guidance.
New Charters
Our approach to new charters is unique in the industry. We offer comprehensive step-by-step assistance in every phase of the new charter process beginning with concept and capitalization through the application and organizational processes to pre-opening tasks and post-opening procedures and evaluations that can continue into the early years of operation. For investors and new management teams, our experience and guidance are invaluable assets that could help you avoid costly mistakes and delays and help you establish sound banking practices. Our resources and expertise can provide the help your new bank needs to gain a competitive edge in the formative years.
Strategic Planning
An effective strategic planning process will allow you to capitalize on potential for improved performance and growth opportunities. Productive planning is dependent on informative analysis, practical goal setting, and most of all, effective follow through. DD&F can assist your bank in making your strategic planning productive by assisting with analysis, serving as a facilitator at planning retreats, and leading your organization through the process to produce an effective strategic plan that creates change in your organization.
Regulatory Assistance
If your bank is interested in expanding its footprint and market, DD&F's regulatory assistance can facilitate your bank's expansionary goals by acting as a liaison between you and the various state and federal regulatory agencies throughout the application process. Our expertise includes preparation of all types of regulatory applications and filings including FDIC assisted transactions, scheduling, and submitting required public notices with timely follow up with regulators on your behalf when additional requests are made. In addition, we provide assistance to your management and board when planning for growth with services that include developing market feasibility studies, strategic business plans, pro forma financial statements, CRA plans, capital plans and goodwill impairment analysis.
Marketing Communications
With today's changing environment and regulatory scrutiny many banks must deal with sensitive strategic marketing and communication issues such as new market entry, name changes, merger/acquisitions, FDIC acquisitions and public regulatory agreements for sub standard regulatory examinations. DD&F can provide guidance to help with these critical issues as well as help you identify and implement the right strategies and tactical plans to maximize your competitive opportunities to attract and retain your core customers.
We can consult with your management team and marketing professionals on all aspects of marketing including writing strategic marketing plans that support your bank's overall strategic goals and objectives, public and media relations, merger and conversion communications, product development and implementation, pricing, database and web marketing, service delivery and customer service training.
They complement what we do on the legal side by providing the expertise our clients need on the financial side. It’s important to our firm to know that we on depend upon them to work closely with us and that they will be good to our clients. We have an excellent partnership with DD&F and whenever possible, we always recommend them to our clients.
Ron Glancz, partner, Venable, LLP Washington, DC