WASHINGTON-The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Board decided last week to maintain the assessment rates charged to insured banks and savings associations for the first half of 2005. Though the Bank Insurance Fund reserve ratio may decline by mid-year next year from 1.33% to 1.31%, it will still be well above the Designated Reserve Ratio of 1.25%. Additionally, the FDIC Board said it expects the Savings Association Insurance Fund to remain relatively stable in the same time frame; the SAIF reserve ratio held steady at 1.34% as of Sept. 30, 2004 from June 30.