and benefits. Most recently, the agencies have established standards for safe guarding customer information. If the appropriate federal banking agency determines that an institution fails to meet any standard prescribed by the guidelines, the agency may require the institution to submit to the agency an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard.

Investment Activities

Since the enactment of the FDICIA, all state-chartered FDIC insured banks, including savings banks, have generally been limited in their investment activities to principal and equity investments of the type and in the amount authorized for national banks, notwithstanding state law. The FDICIA and the FDIC permit exceptions to these limitations. For example, state chartered banks, such as NewAlliance Bank may, with FDIC approval, continue to exercise state authority to invest in common or preferred stocks listed on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market and in the shares of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Bank received grandfathered authority from the FDIC to invest in listed stock and/or registered shares. The maximum permissible investment is 100% of Tier 1 Capital, as specified by the FDIC’s regulations, or the maximum amount permitted by Connecticut law, whichever is less. The Bank also received grandfathered authority to purchase preferred stock and registered investment company shares subject to the same limits listed above. In addition, the Bank received permission from the FDIC to purchase and retain up to an additional 60% of its Tier 1 Capital in money market (auction rate) preferred stock and to purchase and retain up to an additional 15% of its Tier 1 Capital in adjustable rate preferred stock. Such grandfathered authority may be terminated upon the FDIC’s determination that such investments pose a safety and soundness risk to the Bank. In addition, the FDIC is authorized to permit such institutions to engage in state authorized activities or investments not permissible for national banks (other than non-subsidiary equity investments) if they meet all applicable capital requirements and it is determined that such activities or investments do not pose a significant risk to the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”). The FDIC has adopted revisions to its regulations governing the procedures for institutions seeking approval to engage in such activities or investments. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the “GLB Act”) specifies that a nonmember bank may control a subsidiary that engages in activities as principal that would only be permitted for a national bank to conduct in a “financial subsidiary” if a bank meets specified conditions and deducts its investment in the subsidiary for regulatory capital purposes.

Interstate Branching

Beginning June 1, 1997, the Interstate Banking Act (the “IBA”) permitted the responsible federal banking agencies to, under certain circumstances, approve acquisition transactions between banks located in different states, regardless of whether the acquisition would be prohibited under the law of the two states. The IBA also permitted a state to “opt in” to the provisions of the IBA before June 1, 1997, and permitted a state to “opt out” of the provisions of the IBA by adopting appropriate legislation before that date. In 1995, Connecticut affirmatively “opted-in” to the provisions of the IBA. Accordingly, beginning June 1, 1997, the IBA permitted a Connecticut-chartered bank to acquire institutions in a state other than Connecticut unless the other state had opted out of the IBA. The IBA also authorizes de novo branching into another state if the host state enacts a law expressly permitting out of state banks to establish such branches within its borders.

Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action

Federal law requires, among other things, that federal bank regulatory authorities take “prompt corrective action” with respect to banks that do not meet minimum capital requirements. For these purposes, the law establishes five capital categories: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized.

The FDIC has adopted regulations to implement the prompt corrective action legislation. An institution is deemed to be “well capitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6% or greater and a leverage ratio of 5% or greater. An institution is “adequately capitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4% or greater, and generally a leverage ratio of 4% or greater. An institution is “undercapitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4%, or generally a leverage ratio of less than 4%. An institution is deemed to be “significantly undercapitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3%, or a leverage ratio of less than 3%. An institution is considered to be “critically undercapitalized” if it has a ratio of tangible equity (as defined in the regulations) to total assets that is equal to or less than 2%. As of December 31, 2004, NewAlliance Bank was “well capitalized”.

“Undercapitalized” banks must adhere to growth, capital distribution (including dividend) and other limitations and are required to submit a capital restoration plan. A bank’s compliance with such a plan is required to be guaranteed by any company that controls the undercapitalized institution in an amount equal to the lesser of 5% of the institution’s total assets when deemed undercapitalized or the amount necessary to achieve the status of adequately capitalized. If an “undercapitalized” bank fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is “significantly undercapitalized.” “Significantly undercapitalized” banks must comply with one or more of a number of additional restrictions, including but not limited to an order by the FDIC to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized, requirements to reduce total assets, cease receipt of deposits from correspondent banks or dismiss directors or officers, and restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, compensation of executive officers and capital distributions by the parent holding company. “Critically