Banking & Financial Services

Since our firm’s founding in 1920, the banking industry has been at the core of our practice.  Today, Bowles Rice clients include:

• Banks
• Bank holding companies
• The West Virginia Bankers Association
• Community Bankers of West Virginia
• Mortgage companies
• Commercial credit companies
• Insurance agencies
• Trust companies

Bowles Rice currently represents more than 70 regional banks and financial services providers.  Among the services we provide are:

• Expansion activities:  formation of bank holding companies; bank mergers and acquisitions; acquisition of non-banking subsidiaries; and other special projects
• General regulatory matters
• Strategic planning, tax planning, capital planning and recapitalization
• Commercial and consumer lending
• Compliance with securities laws and reorganization
• Government relations
• Financial management
• Employee benefits and executive compensation
• Taxation
• Real estate
• Trusts and estate planning
• Commercial litigation

Bowles Rice has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms as “First Tier” for Banking Law in West Virginia since that publication’s inception.  The Bowles Rice Banking Team includes attorneys who have decades of experience serving the banking and finance industry and who have been recognized in Woodward/White's publication, The Best Lawyers in America^® as well as in Chambers and Partners' publication, America's Leading Business Lawyers.

Financial Services Litigation:

• Successful defense of a nationwide bank against claims brought by a nationwide class of customers alleging the existence of unfair and deceptive banking practices and fees.
• Defense of a major West Virginia bank in class actions alleging unfair and deceptive banking practices.
• Successful representation of a major Virginia bank seeking payment for losses stemming from loans backed by forged collateral under a financial institution bond issued by a major insurance company.
• Successful representation of a lending services provider in a regulatory enforcement action brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
• Representation of a former bank director and officer in litigation brought by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
• Successful representation of banks in lender liability cases filed in state and federal courts.
• Successful representation of a West Virginia bank in RICO and fraud litigation in state court.
• Successful representation of West Virginia banks in cases involving the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
• Successful representation of mortgage broker in state court litigation involving borrowers, lender and real estate appraisers alleging breach of fiduciary duty, unconscionable conduct and fraud in connection with residential loan.
• Defense of mortgage broker in litigation brought by borrowers in federal court against broker, lender and surety alleging violations of federal truth in lending regulations, unconscionable inducement, fraud, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. Obtained dismissal.
• Successful defense of nationally known mortgage broker in state court action against broker, lender and surety, which were accused of unconscionable inducement, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud regarding refinanced mortgage loan and subsequent short sale.
• Defense of debt collector for alleged unlawful debt collection practices in violation of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
• Defense of regional lending institution in lawsuit claiming unconscionable inducement, breach of contract, illegal debt collection practices and fees, breach of fiduciary duty, illegal trustee fees, and forfeiture and inadequate sale price regarding refinanced mortgage loan and subsequent foreclosure.
• Representation of lender in legal actions against developer and guarantors for collection of notes.
• Defense of a major West Virginia bank in an action involving numerous purchasers in a failed land development alleging breach of contract, negligence, joint venture, conspiracy and agency, negligent misrepresentation and punitive damages.
• Successful defense of a large lending servicer in a class action alleging unlawful application of payments in violation of West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
• Successful resolution on behalf of a major West Virginia bank seeking insurance coverage for losses sustained as a result of a bank customer's fraudulent activity.