Fayetteville Policies and Procedures  307.0 

Collateralization Guidelines

Board Policy 305.1,  states, “Any banks holding University funds on deposit shall furnish collateral for any deposits exceeding the maximum FDIC Insurance amount and applicable campus policies shall insure compliance with this requirement.” These procedures provide guidelines for implementing Board Policy 305.1 by the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. The Office of Cash Management is responsible for ensuring compliance with this policy.

1. This procedure applies to all cash funds, unrestricted or restricted, held under the authority of the Chief Financial Officer of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
   
   
2. The total of all deposits in any financial institution by the University  in excess of the FDIC insured amount must be collateralized by:
   
   1. Direct obligations of the United States Government;
   2. Obligations of agencies and instrumentalities created by act of Congress and authorized thereby to issue securities or evidences of indebtedness;
   3. General obligations of the states of the United States and of the political subdivision, municipalities, commonwealths, territories, or insular possessions thereof;
   4. Prerefunded municipal bonds, the principal and interest of which are fully secured by the principal and interest of a direct obligation of the United States Government;
   5. Federal Home Loan Bank Letters of Credit
   In the event of failure of a financial institution, the University shall have the right to offset any deposit losses against securities posted as collateral.
   
   
3. The total fair market value of the pledged securities or Letters of Credit must be at least 105% of the amount of cash fund deposits at the depository bank or financial institution that exceed FDIC coverage. The current market value of the collateral will be the basis for determining value.
   
   
4. All securities pledged must have a rating (by Moody’s or S&P) of Baa, or higher.
   
   
5. The securities must be held by a Federal Reserve Bank, a Federal Home Loan Bank or a banker’s bank that does not have common ownership with the pledging bank or financial institution. The Federal Reserve is the preferred custodian. If the depository bank selects another custodian, the University must be given 30 days notice and has the right of refusal. The custodian institution must be financially sound and not be under any material public enforcement action.
   
   
6. The custodian(s) of collateral pledged for University must provide monthly reports showing the current market value of the collateral to the Chief Financial Officer or their authorized designee.
   
   The financial institution may substitute collateral only if the new collateral is of the same classification and risk rating of the collateral to be replaced. The new collateral must be of equal or greater value than the collateral being replaced. Collateral may only be released according to the terms of the custodial agreement, which shall include language that requires written authorization by the University and verification by the third party custodian.
   
   
7. Any proposed exceptions to this policy must be submitted in writing for review and approval by the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.

Revised September 9, 2024
Reformatted for Web September 15, 2014
Revised June 6, 2014
Revised July, 2002
Revised November 1, 2000
Revised June, 1997
Revised August 1, 1996
January 2, 1990