03-2028. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection titled, “Bank Activities and Operations—12 CFR 7.”

DATES:

You should submit written comments by March 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

You should direct comments to the Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Public Information Room, Mailstop 1-5, Attention: 1557-0204, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. Due to delays in paper mail in the Washington area, commenters are encouraged to submit comments by fax or e-mail. Comments may be sent by fax to [phone], or by e-mail to [e-mail]. You can inspect and photocopy the comments at the OCC's Public Information Room, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. You can make an appointment to inspect the comments by calling [phone].

A copy of the comments should also be sent to the OMB Desk Officer for the OCC: Joseph F. Lackey, Jr., Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or by e-mail to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You can request additional information from Jessie Dunaway, OCC Clearance Officer, or Camille Dixon, [phone], Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The OCC is proposing to extend OMB approval of the following information collection: Title: Bank Activities and Operations “ 12 CFR 7. OMB Number: 1557-0204. Description: This submission covers an existing regulation and involves no change to the regulation or to the information collection requirements. The OCC requests only that OMB extend its approval of the information collection.

The information collection requirements ensure that national banks conduct their operations in a safe and sound manner and in accordance with applicable Federal banking statutes and regulations. The information is necessary for regulatory and examination purposes.

The information collection requirements in part 7 are as follows:

12 CFR 7.1000(d)(1) (National bank ownership of property—Lease financing of public facilities): National bank lease agreements must provide that the lessee will become the owner of the building or facility upon the expiration of the lease.

12 CFR 7.1014 (Sale of money orders at nonbanking outlets): A national bank may designate bonded agents to sell the bank's money orders at nonbanking outlets. The responsibility of both the bank and its agent should be defined in a written agreement setting forth the duties of both parties and providing for remuneration of the agent.

12 CFR 7.2000(b) (Corporate governance procedures “ Other sources of guidance): A national bank shall designate in its bylaws the body of law selected for its corporate governance procedures.

12 CFR 7.2004 (Honorary directors or advisory boards): Any listing of a national bank's honorary or advisory directors must distinguish between them and the bank's board of directors or indicate their advisory status.

12 CFR 7.2014(b) (Indemnification of institution-affiliated parties “ Administrative proceeding or civil actions not initiated by a Federal agency): A national bank shall designate in its bylaws the body of law selected for making indemnification payments. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit. Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,600. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,600. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 480 hours.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information;

(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and

(e) Estimates of capital or startup costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

Dated: January 23, 2003.

Mark J. Tenhundfeld,

Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division Division.