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Feds take over $20M Irwin pension shortfall

 IBJ Staff
August 23, 2010
Keywords
Banking & Finance, Banking Regulations, Credit Crisis, Irwin Financial
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The federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. will cover nearly all of a $20.5 million shortfall in the pension plan covering more than 1,000 former workers and retirees of Irwin Financial Corp., the failed Columbus, Ind., banking company.

Irwin is the parent of Irwin Union Bank, the only Indiana bank to be seized by government regulators since the financial crisis began in 2008. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in September shut down Irwin and sold most of its operations to Cincinnati-based First Financial Corp.

The PBGC estimates that Irwin’s pension plan is 56 percent funded, with assets of $26.7 million to cover $47.2 million in benefit liabilities. The agency expects to be responsible for $19.1 million of the $20.5 million shortfall.

Banking experts say Irwin was unable to recover from massive losses spurred by a nationwide expansion of its home equity loan business over the past decade. Irwin Union Bank was founded in 1871 and was one of the state’s oldest financial institutions.

Its parent, Irwin Financial, is being liquididated in Indianapolis bankruptcy court.

 

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  • Clawback
    Bob CrompondAugust 23, 2010 10:22 AM
    Perhaps, the government should consider claw backs of officer pay or attach their personal assets to cover this shortfall.

    Management should have fully funded this liability instead before paying themselves.

    Business operators would never fail to pay their water and electric bills but defer funding retirement liabilities at will. It should be a criminal offense to allow pension liability to accrue without adequate funding.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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