Cummings, Ristau & Associates, P.C. is a full service public accounting firm, offering a full line of specialized and personalized services to banks, bank holding companies, credit unions, and other businesses. We provide the following professional services and products to approximately 100 financial institutions in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, in the areas of

• Accounting
• Auditing
• Standard Bank Directors’ Examinations
• Specialized Community Bank Services
• Regulatory Compliance
• Taxation
• Loan Review

Accounting and Auditing

We offer the full range of professional services in this area for financial institutions and other businesses

• Certified Audited Financial Statements, including SEC reporting for those banking organizations whose stock is publicly traded
• Financial Statement Preparation (compilations and reviews)
• Agreed Upon Procedures
• Employee Benefit Plan Audits (in accordance with ERISA)

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Standard Bank Directors' Examinations

We offer a cost-effective alternative for meeting all regulatory and bonding company requirements. What makes our standard product unique?

• Standardized Examination Procedures - specifically developed audit programs and procedures that are cost-effective, yet thorough
• Inclusion of Regulatory Compliance Procedures - includes regulatory compliance testing tailored to your individual bank’s needs
• Continual Communication - we keep in contact throughout the year, allowing us to provide a higher level of service. You won’t be special-billed for phone calls, and we welcome such interaction as part of the total service package

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Specialized Community Banking Services

• External Loan Reviews - cost effective outsourcing alternative to full time personnel
• Outsourcing Internal Audit - cost-effectively performed for numerous banks of all sizes
• Strategic Planning
• Bank Acquisition / Merger Assistance
  • Due diligence procedures for acquisition/merger candidates
  • Transaction Structuring
  • Regulatory Filings
  • Analysis of acquisition/merger issues
• Information Security Program Risk Assessment Documentation and Testing (pursuant to GLBA)
• IT Controls Review and Analysis
• Regulatory Compliance, all areas
• Internal Control Reviews for
  • FDICIA
  • Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Section 404)
• Corporate Profit Planning & Improvement
• Corporate Budgeting and Financial Management
• Regulatory Filings (Call Reports, FR-Y9’s, FR-Y6, etc.)
• Asset/Liability Management Assistance
• Subchapter S Elections and Conversions
• Trust Department Audits and Reviews
• ACH Self-Audits as required by NACHA
• STAR, NYCE, PULSE required audits
• Real Estate Cost Segregation Studies
• Fixed Asset Administration

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Regulatory Compliance

Our regulatory compliance professionals can supplement your internal compliance personnel on an outsourcing basis or handle the entire compliance function. Our services include:

• Complete Compliance Audits
• Special Compliance Audits (HMDA, CRA, Bank Secrecy Act, Flood Insurance, Fair Lending)
• Outsourcing of the Internal Compliance Function
• Monitoring and Design of Policies and Procedures
• Compliance Training

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Tax Services

Our experienced professionals will meet all of your tax needs, and we believe tax planning is our most beneficial service. We will assist you in maximizing after-tax earnings and avoiding unexpected exposure to tax deficiencies. Equally important is our ability to explain complex tax situations in a simple and understandable manner. Our tax preparation and planning services include:

• Preparation of Federal and State Returns
  • Corporations
  • Partnerships
  • LLC’s / LLP’s
  • Estates and Trusts
  • Not-for-Profit Organizations
  • Individuals
• Representation in IRS Discussions / Examinations
• Corporate Tax Planning, Research, and Strategies
• Calculation of Accruals, Including Deferred Taxes

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Loan Review

Another matter often criticized by regulatory authorities, even for those community banks with strong loan portfolios, is the need for some form of loan review methodology.  Many communiuty bankers do not believe such a function is cost effective for smaller banks, as it may necessitate another full-time person or take time away from existing loan personnel.  We have performed numerous external loan reviews for banks wishing to outsource this function and have also assisted several banks in establishing in-house loan review capabilities.

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