Late Friday, Moody's Investors Service cut the deposit rating of NYCB's main banking subsidiary by four notches, to Ba3 from Baa2, putting it three levels below investment grade. The downgrade could trigger contractual obligations from business clients of NYCB who require the bank to maintain an investment grade deposit rating, according to analysts who track the company. But the figures are from the day before Moody's began slashing the bank's ratings, sparking speculation about possible flight of deposits since then. For instance, while Fitch Ratings cut NYCB's credit ratings to junk last week, it kept the bank's long-term uninsured deposits at BBB-, one level above junk. To replace deposits, NYCB could raise brokered deposits, issue new debt or borrow from the Federal Reserve's facilities, but that would all probably come at a higher cost, McGratty said.

---

Persons: NYCB, Moody's, Keith Horowitz, Horowitz, John Pinto, Chris McGratty, NYCB didn't, McGratty Organizations: New York Community Bank, New, Community Bank, Moody's, Citigroup, Fitch, BBB, Federal, CNBC PRO Locations: New, Yonkers , New York, Baa2, Moody's