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Juan M. Arciniegas

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Mr. Arciniegas works primarily as a derivatives lawyer and covers markets for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, structured finance products and listed futures. He advises on every stage throughout the life cycle of a derivatives transaction, providing assistance to a wide range of market participants engaged in the markets in various capacities. Regulatory matters range from assisting clients on financial reform legislation, registration and membership with the CFTC, NFA, and other financial market utilities, to providing guidance to commercial end-users and sell-side participants on exemptions, cross-border access issues, and matters involving the overlapping jurisdiction of securities and commodities regulation. Transactional matters include the negotiation and implementation of comprehensive documentation for agency-MBS, cleared and OTC derivatives, FX, futures, loan-level hedging arrangements, prime brokerage, repurchase transactions, securities lending, structured finance transactions, and related industry protocols implementing changes in those markets. Mr. Arciniegas has appeared before the CFTC, the Federal Reserve, the SEC, and is a frequent speaker and published author on futures and derivatives topics.

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On May 21, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) released a notice informing lenders of how they may collect loan processing fees for eligible loans issued under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).

Pursuant to the CARES Act and the Interim Rule, issued by the SBA on April 2, 2020, the SBA will pay fees to lenders for processing eligible PPP loans at the following rates, based on the balance of the loan outstanding at the time of full disbursement:

  • 5% for loans under $350,000;
  • 3% for loans between $350,000 and $2 million; and
  • 1% for loans over $2 million.

However, in order to collect the processing fee on a PPP loan, a lender must first report to the SBA that a loan has been fully disbursed using SBA Form 1502.  The SBA will begin accepting these reports on fully disbursed PPP loans on May 22, 2020.  Once the report is received, the SBA will initiate the process of paying the PPP processing fee for which the lender is eligible.Continue Reading SBA Announces Procedure for PPP Lenders to Collect Loan Processing Fees

On April 9, 2020, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (collectively, the “federal banking agencies”) issued an interim rule that permits banks to neutralize the regulatory capital effects of participating in the Federal Reserve’s Paycheck Protection Program Lending Facility (the “PPPL Facility”).
Continue Reading Paycheck Protection Program Loans May Be Excluded from a Bank’s Regulatory Capital Ratios

CalculatorOn April 6, 2020, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (collectively, the “federal banking agencies”) announced the issuance of two interim final rules to provide temporary relief to community banks.  The federal banking agencies acted to implement Section 4012 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which requires the federal banking agencies to temporarily lower the community bank leverage ratio (“CBLR”) to eight percent (8%).
Continue Reading Temporary Regulatory Relief: Community Bank Leverage Ratio Set At 8%

On March 24, 2020, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) issued a statement on its supervisory activities (“Statement”) during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.  As part of that Statement, the Federal Reserve indicated that “to minimize disruption and burden on financial institutions, the Federal Reserve is reducing its focus on examinations and inspections at this time.”  In its effort to minimize the regulatory burdens placed on financial institutions, the Federal Reserve made the following pronouncements:Continue Reading Federal Reserve Suspends Regulatory Examination Activity for Banks with Total Consolidated Assets Under $100 Billion

Over the past two weeks, we have received numerous inquiries from financial institutions on what actions should be taken or considered to address the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic.  While every bank is different and the current situation is evolving each day, we have engaged in numerous discussions with banks on various strategies and considerations that are being reviewed or implemented during this uncertain time.
Continue Reading Coronavirus Update: Strategies and Considerations for Financial Institutions