67 FR 239 pgs. 76620-76622 - Transactions Between Member Banks and Their Affiliates
Type: RULEVolume: 67Number: 239Pages: 76620 - 76622
Docket number: [Miscellaneous Interpretations]
FR document: [FR Doc. 02-30636 Filed 12-11-02; 8:45 am]
Agency: Federal Reserve System
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
12 CFR Part 250
[Miscellaneous Interpretations]
Transactions Between Member Banks and Their Affiliates
AGENCY:
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
ACTION:
Final rule.
SUMMARY:
Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act restrict the ability of a member bank to engage in certain transactions with an affiliate. Since its initial passage in 1933, the Board and its staff have issued numerous formal and informal interpretations of section 23A. On October 31, 2002, the Board adopted a new Regulation W, which implements sections 23A and 23B and incorporates most of these interpretations. Accordingly, the Board is rescinding most of its formal interpretations of section 23A and removing these interpretations, as well as most staff opinions relating to section 23A, from the Federal Reserve Regulatory Service. With the adoption of Regulation W, most of the Board's previous section 23A interpretations are outdated or unnecessary, and the Board believes that reliance on the new Regulation W will eliminate confusion and simplify compliance with sections 23A and 23B.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
April 1, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Pamela G. Nardolilli, Senior Counsel (202/452-3289), or Mark E. Van Der Weide, Counsel (202/452-2263), Legal Division; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20551.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act are two of the most important statutory protections against a bank suffering losses because of its transactions with affiliates and, correspondingly, are two of the most effective means of limiting the ability of a bank to transfer to its affiliates the subsidy arising from the bank's access to the Federal safety net. Although sections 23A and 23B each explicitly grant the Board broad authority to issue regulations to administer these sections,1the Board never issued a regulation fully implementing either section. Instead, banks seeking guidance on how to comply with sections 23A and 23B have relied on a series of Board interpretations and informal staff guidance. Some of these Board interpretations are codified in part 250 of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Many of the staff interpretations are publicly available, and the summaries of the interpretations can be found in the Board's loose-leaf service, the Federal Reserve Regulatory Service.
Footnotes:
1 12 U.S.C. 371c(f), 371c-1(e).
On October 31, 2002, the Board adopted Regulation W, which comprehensively implements sections 23A and 23B. In order to avoid confusion and simplify compliance with sections 23A and 23B, the Board is deleting the section 23A interpretations that are codified in part 250 of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations. In addition, the Board is deleting most of the summaries of staff interpretations of section 23A that are published in the Federal Reserve Regulatory Service.
Below is a chart of the interpretations of sections 23A and 23B found in the Federal Reserve Regulatory Service along with an indication of whether each summary will be retained in the Federal Reserve Regulatory Service or removed. For those summaries that will be removed, the chart identifies the provision of Regulation W or an appropriate statute that renders the summary unnecessary or inconsistent with current law. The Board believes that a few existing interpretations of section 23A would provide helpful guidance to banking organizations, but are too fact-specific to include in Regulation W; the summaries of these interpretations will remain in the Federal Reserve Regulatory Service. All new Board interpretations of sections 23A and 23B will be codified under part 223 instead of the Miscellaneous Interpretations found in part 250, and will be available on the Board's public Web site, http://www.federalreserve.gov. Persons desiring older written interpretations will be able to obtain them by filing a request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.
| FRRS No. | Subject | 12 CFR reference |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1118, 12 CFR 250.242 | Definition of Capital Stock and Surplus | § 223.3(d). |
| 3-1120, 1934 Fed. Res. Bull. 391 | Collateral-Paper Eligible for Rediscount or Purchase by Federal Reserve Banks | § 223.14(b)(1). |
| 3-1121, 1935 Fed. Res. Bull. 395 | Collateral-Stock | § 223.14(b)(1)(iv). |
| 3-1125, 1936 Fed. Res. Bull. 324 | Exemptions-Indebtedness for Unpaid Balances Due on Purchased Assets | No exemption available. |
| 3-1126, S-285, 10/24/41 | Exemptions-Relationships Arising Out of Bona Fide Debt Previously Contracted | § 223.2(b)(5). |
| 3-1127, 12 CFR 250.240 | Exemptions-Loan to Bank Operations Subsidiary | §§ 223.2(b) (2). |
| 3-1128, 12 CFR 250.241 | Exemptions-Transactions Subject to Review Under the Bank Merger Act | § 223.42(j). |
| 3-1128.1, 12 CFR 250.245 | Exemptions-Loans and Extensions of Credit by Member Bank to Third Party | § 223.16(c)(3). |
| 3-1128.2, 12 CFR 250.246 | Exemptions-Purchase of Security by Insured Depository Institution from an Affiliate | § 223.42(f). |
| 3-1130, 1934 Fed. Res. Bull. 391 | Extension of Credit-Loan on Note Bearing Endorsement by Affiliate | Retained. |
| 3-1131, 1951 Fed. Res. Bull. 960 | Extension of Credit-Purchase of Affiliate's Notes | § 223.3(o)(4). |
| 3-1132, 12 CFR 250.160(b) | Extension of Credit-Federal Funds Transaction | § 223.3(o). |
| 3-1133, 12 CFR 250.250 | Extension of Credit-Purchase of Mortgage Note or Participation from Nonbank Affiliates | § 223.42(k). |
| 3-1135, 1933 Fed. Res. Bull. 501 | Loans Investments Made Before June 16, 1933 | See Preamble For Grandfathering. |
| 3-1136, 1934 Fed. Res. Bull. 391 | Limitations on Amount-Loans Secured by Paper Eligible for Rediscount by Federal Reserve Bank | § 223.14(b)(1)(C). |
| 3-1137, 12 CFR 250.247 | Market Terms Requirement-Derivatives | § 223.33. |
| 3-1137.1, 12 CFR 250.248 | Market Terms Requirement-Intraday Extensions of Credit by Insured Depository Institutions to Their Affiliates | § 223.42(l). |
| 3-1140 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Cotrustee or Coexecutor of Corporation | § 223.2(b). |
| 3-1141 | Affiliates to Which Applicable | Retained. |
| 3-1142 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Small Business Subsidiary of Bank Holding Company | § 223.2(a)(2). |
| 3-1143 | Affiliate to Which Applicable-Joint Venture in Which Subsidiary Has 50% Interest | § 223.2(b)(1)(iii). |
| 3-1144 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Corporation with Stock Held as Collateral | § 223.3(p)(1)(ii). |
| 3-1145 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Corporation Owned by Affiliate Edge Corporation | § 223.3(p)(1)(ii). |
| 3-1146 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Trust | Retained. |
| 3-1146.1 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Foreign Affiliate of Domestic Bank Holding Company | § 223.2(a)(2). |
| 3-1146.2 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Less Than 25 Percent Control | § 223.2(a)(3). |
| 3-1146.3 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Agricultural Credit Corporation | § 223.2(b)(1)(iii). |
| 3-1146.4 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Bank Subsidiaries of Bank Holding Company | § 223.2(b)(1). |
| 3-1146.5 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Purchaser of Subsidiary Banks | § 223.16. |
| 3-1146.6 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Common Shareholders | Retained. |
| 3-1146.61 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Partnership Association | Retained. |
| 3-1146.7 | Affiliates to Which Applicable-Foreign Exchange Fund | Retained. |
| 3-1150 | Bank-Savings Loan | 12 U.S.C. 1468. |
| 3-1151 | Bank-Bank Whose Deposits Are Insured by the FDIC | 12 U.S.C. 1828(j). |
| 3-1152 | Bank-Foreign Bank | 12 U.S.C. 371c(b)(5) § 223.18. |
| 3-1152.1 | Bank-Domestic Branch of a Foreign Bank | 12 U.S.C.371c(b)(5) § 223.3(k). |
| 3-1152.2 | Bank-National Bank Subsidiary | 12 U.S.C. 371c(b)(5). |
| 3-1155 | Collateral-Automobile Rental Contracts | § 223.14(b)(1)(iv). |
| 3-1156 | Collateral-Stock | § 223.24. |
| 3-1157 | Collateral-"Secured by" | § 223.14. |
| 3-1158 | Collateral-Stock in Wholly Owned Subsidiary | § 223.14. |
| 3-1160 | Collateral-FHA Mortgages | § 223.3(y). |
| 3-1161 | Collateral-U.S. Government Securities | § 223.14. |
| 3-1162 | Collateral-Stock Valuation | Retained |
| 3-1163 | Collateral-Stock Valuation | Retained. |
| 3-1164 | Collateral-Stock Valuation | Retained. |
| 3-1164.1 | Collateral-Stock of a Subsidiary Bank | § 223.14(c)(2). |
| 3-1164.2 | Collateral-Real Estate | § 223.14(b)(l)(iv). |
| 3-1164.3 | Collateral-Mortgage Servicing Rights | § 223.14(c)(4). |
| 3-1167 | Covered Transactions-Purchase of Affiliate's Securities | § 223.3(h)(2). |
| 3-1167.1 | Covered Transactions-Purchase of Assets | Retained. |
| 3-1167.2 | Covered Transactions-Purchase of Assets | § 223.42(k). |
| 3-1167.3 | Covered Transactions-Acceptance of Securities | Retained. |
| 3-1167.4 | Covered Transactions-Issuance of Guarantee | Retained. |
| 3-1167.5 | Covered Transactions-Purchase of Leases | § 223.42(k) Subpart F. |
| 3-1170 | Exemptions-Indebtedness for Unpaid Balances Due on Purchased Assets | § 223.3(h). |
| 3-1171 | Exemptions-Corporation Holding Premises of Bank | § 223.2(b)(2). |
| 3-1172 | Exemptions-Investment in Agricultural Credit Corporation | § 223.2. |
| 3-1173 | Exemptions-Sale of Assets on Credit | § 223.3(h)(1). |
| 3-1174 | Exemptions-Trust | § 223.2. |
| 3-1175 | Exemptions-Loans to Subsidiary Bank Premises | § 223.2(b)(2). |
| 3-1176 | Exemptions-Corporation Holding Premises of Bank | § 223.2(b)(2). |
| 3-1177 | Exemptions-Bank Operations Subsidiary | § 223.2(b)(1). |
| 3-1177.1 | Exemptions-Bank Controlled by Same Company | §§ 223.41(b) 223.3(k) (v). |
| 3-1177.2 | Exemptions-Bank Premises Subsidiary | § 223.2(a)(3) (b)(2). |
| 3-1177.3 | Exemptions-Privately Issued Collateralized Mortgage Obligations | Retained. |
| 3-1177.4 | Exemptions-Bank Controlled by Same Company That Is Not Bank Holding Company | § 223.41(b). |
| 3-1180 | Extension of Credit-Nonrecourse Acquisition of Promissory Note | § 223.3(o)(4). |
| 3-1181 | Extension of Credit-Transaction with Bank Holding Company | §§ 223.3(o) 223.42(h). |
| 3-1182 | Extension of Credit-Guaranteed Debt of Holding Company | § 225.3(o). |
| 3-1183 | Extension of Credit-Participation in Assets Pool | Deleted. |
| 3-1184 | Extension of Credit-Purchase of Mortgage Note or Participation from Nonbank Affiliate | § 223.42(k). |
| 3-1185 | Extension of Credit-GNMA Certificate of Guarantee | Retained. |
| 3-1186 | Extension of Credit-Paid Letter of Credit | § 223.3(o). |
| 3-1187 | Extension of Credit-Equipment Lease Agreement | Retained. |
| 3-1188 | Extension of Credit-Participation in Mortgage Loan Pool | § 223.42(k). |
| 3-1189 | Extension of Credit-Finance Company Loan Participation | § 223.42(k). |
| 3-1189.1 | Extension of Credit-Transactions Involving Funding, Letters of Credit Bankers Acceptance | §§ 223.3(h)(1) 223.3(h)(5). |
| 3-1189.2 | Extension of Credit-Contingency, Negotiating or Accepting Letters of Credit | § 223.3(h). |
| 3-1195 | Limitations on Amount-Loans Investments Made Before June 16, 1933 | See Preamble Grandfathering. |
| 3-1196 | Limitations on Amount-Loan Secured by Paper Eligible for Rediscount or Purchase by Federal Reserve Bank | § 223.14(b)(i)(C). |
| 3-1197 | Limitations on Amount-Capital Stock | § 223.3(h)(2). |
| 3-1198 | Limitations on Amount-Stockholder Ownership Capital Expenditures | §§ 223.3(h) 223.7(c) |
| 3-1199 | Limitations on Amount-Valuation of Transactions | § 223.24(b). |
| 3-1199.5 | Low-Quality Asset-Open-End Credit Card Account | Retained. |
| 3-1199.51 | Low-Quality Assets-Renewal of a Loan | § 223.15(b). |
Regulatory Flexibility Act
In accordance with section 3(a) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 603(a)), the Board is not required to publish a regulatory flexibility analysis with this rulemaking.
Administrative Procedure Act
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, the Board is issuing this deletion of the Board and staff's existing section 23A interpretations as a final rule. Most of the interpretations in question are staff opinions, which were not subject to public comment pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(2)(A). The deletion of the Board interpretations from the Code of Federal Regulations is part of the implementation of Regulation W, which the Board issued for public notice and comment on May 11, 2001, and thus further public comment on the deletions is unnecessary. A review of the public comments on Regulation W can be found in the preamble to Regulation W, 67 FR (2002).
Paperwork Reduction Act
The Board has determined that the removal of the interpretations from the Code of Federal Regulations will not involve a collection of information pursuant to the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ).
List of Subjects in 12 CFR part 250
Federal Reserve System.
For reasons set out in the preamble, the Board amends 12 CFR part 250 as follows:
PART 250-MISCELLANEOUS INTERPRETATIONS
1. The authority citation for part 250 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
12 U.S.C. 78, 248(i), 371c(f) and 371c-1(e).
§ 250.160 [Amended]
2. In § 250.160, remove paragraph (b).
§§ 250.240, 250.248 and § 250.250 [Removed]
3. Sections 250.240, 250.241, 250.242, 250.243, 250.244, 250.245, 250.246, 250.247, 250.248, and 250.250 are removed.
By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, November 27, 2002.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 02-30636 Filed 12-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P