96-29748. Revision of Financing Corporation Operations Regulation  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 227 (Friday, November 22, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 59311-59315]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-29748]
    
    
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    FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD
    
    12 CFR Part 950
    
    [No. 96-80]
    
    
    Revision of Financing Corporation Operations Regulation
    
    AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Board.
    
    ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) is amending 
    its regulation on Financing Corporation (FICO) operations to comply 
    with new statutory requirements and to eliminate provisions that have 
    been rendered obsolete by statutory changes. The interim final rule is 
    consistent with the goals of the Regulatory Reinvention Initiative of 
    the National Performance Review.
    
    DATES: The interim final rule will become effective on November 22, 
    1996. The Finance Board will accept comments on the interim final rule 
    in writing on or before December 23, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Mail comments to Elaine L. Baker, Executive Secretary, 
    Federal Housing Finance Board, 1777 F Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
    20006. Comments will be available for public inspection at this 
    address.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine M. Freidel, Assistant 
    Director, Financial Management Division, Office of Policy, 202/408-
    2976, or Janice A. Kaye, Attorney-Advisor, Office of General Counsel, 
    202/408-2505, Federal Housing Finance Board, 1777 F Street, N.W., 
    Washington, D.C. 20006.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Statutory and Regulatory Background
    
    A. FICO Obligations
    
        The Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) 
    Recapitalization Act of 1987 amended the Federal Home Loan Bank Act 
    (Bank Act) by adding a new section 21 directing the establishment of 
    FICO. See Public Law 100-86, Title III, section 302, 101 Stat. 585 
    (Aug. 10, 1987), codified at 12 U.S.C. 1441. On August 28, 1987, the 
    Finance Board's predecessor, the former Federal Home Loan Bank Board 
    (FHLBB), chartered FICO to recapitalize the former FSLIC. To raise 
    funds for that purpose, Congress authorized FICO to issue up to $10.825 
    billion in public debt. See 12 U.S.C. 1441(e)(1) (1987) (superseded). 
    From 1987 to 1989, FICO issued $8.17 billion in 30-year obligations, 
    the proceeds of which were used to resolve failed savings associations. 
    Congress terminated FICO's debt issuance authority in 1991, effectively 
    capping FICO's borrowings at the then outstanding $8.17 billion in 
    obligations.\1\
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        \1\ See Pub. L. 102-233, Title I, section 104, 105 Stat. 1762 
    (Dec. 12, 1991), codified at 12 U.S.C. 1441(e)(2). Fifteen percent 
    of the outstanding FICO bond principal matures in the year 2017, 57 
    percent matures in 2018, and the remaining 28 percent matures in 
    2019. See General Accounting Office, Deposit Insurance Funds Report, 
    11 n.5 (Mar. 1995).
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        To assure repayment of the $8.17 billion principal amount of the 
    FICO obligations, section 21(g)(2) of the Bank Act requires FICO to 
    invest in, and hold in a segregated account, certain enumerated 
    securities that will have a principal amount payable at maturity 
    approximately equal to the aggregate amount of principal on the FICO 
    obligations. See 12 U.S.C. 1441(g)(2). Accordingly, the principal on 
    FICO bonds was defeased by using Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) 
    retained earnings to purchase 30-year zero coupon United States 
    Treasury securities that have a face value sufficient to retire the 
    FICO bonds at maturity. These securities currently are held in a 
    segregated account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    
    B. FICO Expenses
    
        Pursuant to section 21 of the Bank Act, FICO may incur two 
    categories of expenses: (1) administrative expenses, which include 
    general office and operating expenses, and (2) non-administrative 
    expenses, which include the almost $800 million in interest due each 
    year until maturity of the last FICO obligation, issuance costs, and 
    custodian fees. See id. 1441(b)(7), (f)(2), (g)(5). The FHLBanks pay 
    FICO's administrative expenses in accordance with a statutory formula 
    based on the percentage of FICO stock held by each FHLBank. See id. 
    1441(b)(7).
        There are four statutory sources of funds to pay FICO's non-
    administrative expenses. Under section 21(f)(1) of the Bank Act, FICO 
    has authority to use assessments previously assessed against insured 
    institutions (i.e., FSLIC-insured thrifts) under the special assessment 
    provisions that were in effect prior to enactment of the Financial 
    Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA). See 
    id. 1441(f)(1), 1441(f) (1987 superseded); Public Law 101-73, Title V, 
    section 512(13), 103 Stat. 406 (Aug. 9, 1989). Funds from this source 
    have been exhausted and are no longer available.
        To the extent pre-FIRREA assessments are insufficient to cover 
    FICO's non-administrative expenses, under section 21(f)(2) of the Bank 
    Act, FICO has first priority to impose and collect assessments against 
    each Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF) member that is a savings 
    association. See 12 U.S.C. 1441(f)(2) (1996). FICO's assessment 
    authority is subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the 
    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and must be made in the 
    same manner as assessments are made by the FDIC. Id. To date, FICO's 
    assessments on SAIF member savings associations have been the major or 
    sole source of revenue to pay FICO's non-administrative expenses, i.e., 
    FICO's interest, issuance, and custodial costs.
        Effective January 1, 1997, the Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 
    (Funds Act) amends FICO's assessment authority under section 21(f)(2) 
    of the Bank Act. See Public Law 104-208, Title II, Subtitle G, 110 
    Stat. 3009 (Sept. 30, 1996). Section 2702 of the Funds Act eliminates 
    the provision granting FICO first priority to make assessments and 
    changes FICO's assessment base from all SAIF member savings 
    associations to all depository institutions insured by the FDIC. See 12 
    U.S.C. 1441(f)(2) (1997). Beginning with the first assessment in 1997, 
    FICO has authority, with the approval of the Board of Directors of the 
    FDIC, to assess all insured depository institutions to cover the 
    interest payments due on FICO obligations and FICO's issuance costs and 
    custodian fees. Id. However, until the earlier of
    
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    December 31, 1999 or the date on which the last savings association 
    ceases to exist, the assessment rate FICO imposes on an insured 
    depository institution with respect to any BIF-assessable deposits must 
    be 1/5 of the assessment rate FICO imposes on an insured depository 
    institution with respect to any SAIF-assessable deposits. Id. 
    1441(f)(2)(A). For purposes of the FICO assessment, the term ``BIF-
    assessable deposit'' means a deposit that is subject to assessment for 
    purposes of the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF) under the Federal Deposit 
    Insurance Act (FDI Act), including a deposit that is treated as a BIF-
    insured deposit under section 5(d)(3) of the FDI Act, and the term 
    ``SAIF-assessable deposit'' means a deposit that is subject to 
    assessment for purposes of the SAIF under the FDI Act, including a 
    deposit that is treated as a SAIF-insured deposit under section 5(d)(3) 
    of the FDI Act.\2\ Absent statutory changes or unforeseen fluctuations 
    in the assessment base, FICO anticipates that assessments on insured 
    depository institutions will provide sufficient funds to pay its non-
    administrative expenses.
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        \2\ See id. 1441(f)(4); Funds Act section 2710. Section 5(d)(3) 
    of the FDI Act attributes to BIF or SAIF the deposits of an insured 
    depository institution that has undergone a conversion transaction 
    by which it switched deposit insurance funds. See 12 U.S.C. 
    1815(d)(3).
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        However, if funds available from pre-FIRREA assessments and 
    assessments on all insured depository institutions are insufficient to 
    cover FICO's non-administrative expenses, section 21(f)(3) of the Bank 
    Act authorizes FICO to use FSLIC Resolution Fund (FRF) receivership 
    proceeds that are not required by the Resolution Funding Corporation to 
    fund its principal fund. Id. 1441(f)(3). If the funds available 
    pursuant to the three sources provided by section 21(f) of the Bank Act 
    are insufficient to pay FICO's interest expenses, section 5(d)(2) of 
    the FDI Act provides that the Secretary of the Treasury may order the 
    transfer to FICO of exit fees assessed against insured depository 
    institutions that participated in transactions by which they switched 
    deposit insurance funds. See id. 1815(d)(2)(E), (F).
    
    C. FICO Regulations
    
        The operating authority for FICO initially appeared in part 592 of 
    the FHLBB's regulations. When Congress abolished the FHLBB in 1989, it 
    transferred regulatory and supervisory authority over FICO to the 
    Finance Board. See FIRREA, section 401, 103 Stat. 183, codified at 12 
    U.S.C. 1437 note; FIRREA, Title V. The Finance Board derives its 
    authority over FICO from the provisions of section 21 of the Bank Act. 
    See 12 U.S.C. 1441. Under sections 21 (b)(8) and (c), the FICO 
    Directorate \3\ and FICO's exercise of its statutory powers are subject 
    to such regulations, orders, and directions as the Finance Board may 
    prescribe. Id. 1441(b)(8), (c). In addition, under section 21(j), the 
    Finance Board has authority to prescribe any regulations necessary to 
    carry out the provisions of section 21, including regulations defining 
    terms used in section 21. Id. 1441(j). In September 1989, pursuant to 
    the authority granted by section 21 of the Bank Act, the Finance Board 
    deleted part 592 of the FHLBB's regulations and promulgated the current 
    rules regarding FICO's operating authority at part 950 of its 
    regulations. See 54 FR 38589, 38592-38598 (Sept. 19, 1989), codified at 
    12 CFR part 950.
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        \3\ The FICO Directorate is the managing body of FICO. See id. 
    1441(b)(1).
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        The statutory changes made by the Funds Act require that 
    corresponding amendments be made to the provisions of the FICO 
    operations regulation that concern FICO's assessment authority. In 
    addition, the changes made by the Funds Act, as well as prior statutory 
    changes that terminated FICO's debt issuance authority, see supra, have 
    rendered obsolete many of the existing provisions of part 950. 
    Accordingly, the Finance Board is amending part 950 to comply with new 
    statutory requirements, eliminate provisions that have been rendered 
    obsolete, and clarify the practices and procedures of the Finance Board 
    and FICO.
    
    II. Analysis of the Interim Final Rule
    
    A. Elimination of Obsolete Provisions
    
        The Finance Board has determined that the following provisions of 
    part 950, which relate to or concern issuance of FICO debt obligations, 
    are no longer required and therefore should be eliminated in their 
    entirety: Sec. 950.4 Authority to issue obligations; Sec. 950.6 
    Minority participation in public offerings; Sec. 950.10 Capital 
    assessments of Federal loan banks [sic]; Sec. 950.11 Establishment, 
    maintenance and funding of reserve account; and in Sec. 950.1, 
    definitions of the terms ``deficient bank,'' ``excess amount,'' ``FSLIC 
    Resolution Fund,'' ``Funding Corporation,'' ``net earnings,'' and 
    ``remaining bank.'' Streamlining part 950 by repealing these provisions 
    is consistent with the goals of the Regulatory Reinvention Initiative 
    of the National Performance Review.
    
    B. Implementation of New Statutory Requirements
    
        Section 950.8(a) of the interim final rule continues the current 
    requirement that FICO determine the anticipated interest expenses on 
    its obligations at least semiannually.
        In Sec. 950.8(b), the Finance Board has implemented the provisions 
    of the Funds Act that authorize FICO to assess all insured depository 
    institutions, rather than just SAIF members, to cover FICO's non-
    administrative expenses. See supra part I(B). The term ``insured 
    depository institution,'' which replaces the definition of ``SAIF 
    member'' in Sec. 950.1, has the same meaning as in section 3 of the FDI 
    Act, namely, ``any bank or savings association the deposits of which 
    are insured by the [FDIC]  * * *'' See 12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2). For 
    purposes of part 950, the term ``non-administrative expenses'' means 
    custodian fees, issuance costs, and interest on Financing Corporation 
    obligations. Custodian fees include any fees or expenses FICO incurs in 
    connection with the establishment or maintenance of, or the transfer of 
    any security to, or maintenance of any security in, the segregated 
    account established to safeguard the securities that defease the 
    principal amount of the FICO obligations. See supra part I(A). This is 
    the same meaning given to the term ``custodian fees'' in section 
    21(g)(5)(B) of the Bank Act. See 12 U.S.C. 1441(g)(5)(B). Issuance 
    costs include fees and commissions FICO incurs in connection with the 
    issuance or servicing of its obligations. The regulation provides an 
    illustrative list that includes costs the Finance Board has to date 
    determined to be issuance costs.
        Section 950.8(b)(1) authorizes FICO, with the approval of the Board 
    of Directors of the FDIC, to impose against and collect from each 
    insured depository institution an assessment sufficient to pay its non-
    administrative expenses. FICO must make the assessment in the same 
    manner as the FDIC makes assessments under section 7 of the FDI Act. 
    See 12 U.S.C. 1817.
        Subject to the statutory limits on assessment rates with respect to 
    BIF- and SAIF-assessable deposits, see supra part I(B), 
    Sec. 950.8(b)(2) requires FICO to determine at least semiannually and 
    to advise the FDIC and any collection agent of the rate(s) of the 
    assessment it will assess against insured depository institutions in 
    order to pay its non-administrative expenses. In determining the 
    assessment rate(s), FICO must consider historical data regarding 
    assessment collections and current
    
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    information concerning the SAIF and BIF deposit base and the location 
    of insured depository institutions that is available only to the FDIC. 
    Accordingly, the FDIC will provide such accurate, complete, and timely 
    information as FICO may require to carry out its statutory 
    responsibilities to pay its non-administrative expenses by setting the 
    assessment rate(s) and imposing an assessment against all insured 
    depository institutions.
        To facilitate collection of the FICO assessment, 
    Sec. 950.8(b)(3)(i) requires FICO to collect assessments in accordance 
    with section 21(f)(2) of the Act and the provisions of this regulation, 
    and permits assessment collection through a collection agent. 
    Currently, the FDIC collects and processes FICO's assessment pursuant 
    to a memorandum of understanding between FICO and the FDIC. The FDIC 
    handles administrative tasks, such as computing each institution's 
    assessment, issuing invoices notifying institutions of the amount to be 
    paid and the date of payment, and arranging for the collection of the 
    assessment through the payments system. The Finance Board expects the 
    assessment process to continue to operate in a similar fashion. 
    Further, Sec. 950.8(a)(3)(ii) authorizes each FHLBank to establish and 
    maintain a demand deposit account for any insured depository 
    institution located in the FHLBank's district regardless of whether the 
    institution is a FHLBank member.
        Sections 950.8 (c) and (d) of the interim final rule, which concern 
    FICO's authority to receive FRF receivership proceeds and exit fees, 
    see supra part I(B), restate without substantive change the provisions 
    found currently in Secs. 950.12 (b)(2) and (b)(3), respectively.
    
    C. Clarifying Current Regulatory Requirements
    
        The remainder of the interim final rule clarifies and reorganizes 
    provisions that appear in the current FICO operations regulation. The 
    following provisions of the interim final rule restate provisions of 
    the current rule without substantive change: In Sec. 950.1, definitions 
    of the terms ``Act,'' ``Bank or Banks,'' ``Directorate,'' ``FDIC,'' and 
    ``Office of Finance;'' Sec. 950.2 FICO's general operating authority; 
    Sec. 950.3 FICO Directorate's authority to establish investment 
    policies and procedures; Sec. 950.4 book-entry procedure for FICO 
    obligations; and Sec. 950.5 FICO's authority to use the services of 
    FHLBank or Office of Finance officers, employees, or agents to carry 
    out its functions.
        Section 950.6 of the interim final rule, which concerns FICO's 
    budget and expenses, is a revision of Sec. 950.8 of the current rule. 
    To provide increased flexibility, paragraphs (a) and (b) require FICO 
    to submit to the FICO Directorate, and the FICO Directorate to submit 
    in turn to the Finance Board, FICO's budget of proposed expenditures 
    for approval annually rather than by a date certain each year. Since 
    the Finance Board disseminates FICO's approved annual budget to the 
    FHLBanks, the requirement that FICO transmit a copy of its budget to 
    the FHLBanks is deleted. Paragraphs (c) and (d) make clear that FICO 
    may not incur expenditures unless they have been approved by either the 
    Finance Board or the FICO Directorate within limits set by the Finance 
    Board.
        Consistent with current practice, Sec. 950.7 of the interim final 
    rule requires the FHLBanks to pay FICO's administrative expenses. FICO 
    determines the amount of administrative expenses each FHLBank must pay 
    in the manner provided by section 21(b)(7)(B) of the Bank Act. See 12 
    U.S.C. 1441(b)(7)(B). The definition of the term ``administrative 
    expenses'' in Sec. 950.1 is revised to reflect more closely the format 
    of the financial documents provided by FICO to the Finance Board and to 
    make clear that issuance costs are not administrative expenses. See 12 
    U.S.C. 1441(b)(7)(C). Consistent with current practice, the interim 
    final rule replaces the requirement that FICO bill each FHLBank at 
    least semiannually with a requirement that FICO bill the FHLBanks 
    periodically. Paragraph (c) makes clear that FICO must adjust the 
    amount of administrative expenses the FHLBanks must pay in any calendar 
    year, if, in the prior year, administrative expenses have been approved 
    by the Finance Board, paid by the FHLBanks, but not actually incurred 
    by FICO.
        Section 950.9 concerns reports FICO must make to the Finance Board. 
    To reduce the regulatory reporting burden on FICO and to provide 
    increased flexibility, the requirement that FICO submit reports on a 
    quarterly basis, which appears in Sec. 950.14 of the current rule, is 
    deleted. To ensure the current relevance and utility of the information 
    provided in the reports FICO submits to the Finance Board, the laundry 
    list of required information in the current rule is replaced with a 
    requirement that FICO file reports containing such information as the 
    Finance Board may direct.
        To ensure compliance with the Bank Act and Finance Board 
    regulations, Sec. 950.10 of the interim final rule requires the Finance 
    Board to examine FICO's operations at least annually.
    
    III. Notice and Public Participation
    
        The Finance Board finds that the notice and comment procedure 
    required by the Administrative Procedure Act is unnecessary, 
    impracticable, and contrary to the public interest in this instance. 
    See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). The Funds Act directs FICO to impose an 
    assessment on all insured depository institutions on January 1, 1997. 
    See Funds Act section 2702. In order to timely impose this assessment, 
    the FDIC, acting as FICO's collection agent, must promptly undertake a 
    number of administrative tasks, such as computing each institution's 
    assessment, issuing invoices that notify the institution of the amount 
    to be paid and the date of payment, and arranging for the collection of 
    the assessment through the payments system. This rule provides the 
    authority for FICO to proceed with the assessment process. It would not 
    be possible for FICO to carry out its statutory responsibilities if the 
    rule is subject to the notice and comment process. Nevertheless, 
    because the Finance Board believes public comments aid in effective 
    rulemaking, it will accept written comments on the interim final rule 
    on or before December 23, 1996.
    
    IV. Effective Date
    
        For the reasons stated in part III above, the Finance Board for 
    good cause finds that the interim final rule should become effective on 
    November 22, 1996. See 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
    
    V. Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        No collections of information pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction 
    Act of 1995 are contained in this interim final rule. See 44 U.S.C. 
    3501, et seq. Consequently, the Finance Board has not submitted any 
    information to the Office of Management and Budget for review.
    
    VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Finance Board is adopting the changes to part 950 in the form 
    of an interim final rule and not as a proposed rule. Therefore, the 
    provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply. See 5 U.S.C. 
    601(2), 603(a).
    
    List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 950
    
        Federal home loan banks, Securities.
    
        Accordingly, the Federal Housing Finance Board hereby revises title 
    12, chapter IX, subchapter C, part 950 of the Code of Federal 
    Regulations, to read as follows:
    
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    PART 950--OPERATIONS
    
    Sec.
    950.1  Definitions.
    950.2  General authority.
    950.3  Authority to establish investment policies and procedures.
    950.4  Book-entry procedure for Financing Corporation obligations.
    950.5  Bank and Office of Finance employees.
    950.6  Budget and expenses.
    950.7  Administrative expenses.
    950.8  Non-administrative expenses; assessments.
    950.9  Reports to the Finance Board.
    950.10  Review of books and records.
    
        Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1441(b)(8), (c), and (j).
    
    
    Sec. 950.1  Definitions.
    
        For purposes of this part:
        (a) Act means the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. 
    1421, et seq.).
        (b) Administrative expenses:
        (1) Include general office and operating expenses such as telephone 
    and photocopy charges, printing, legal, and professional fees, postage, 
    courier services, and office supplies; and
        (2) Do not include any form of employee compensation, custodian 
    fees, issuance costs, or any interest on (and any redemption premium 
    with respect to) any Financing Corporation obligations.
        (c) Bank or Banks means a Federal Home Loan Bank or the Federal 
    Home Loan Banks.
        (d) BIF-assessable deposit means a deposit that is subject to 
    assessment for purposes of the Bank Insurance Fund under the Federal 
    Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811, et seq.), including a deposit 
    that is treated as a deposit insured by the Bank Insurance Fund under 
    section 5(d)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
        (e) Custodian fees means any fee incurred by the Financing 
    Corporation in connection with the transfer of any security to, or 
    maintenance of any security in, the segregated account established 
    under section 21(g)(2) of the Act, and any other expense incurred by 
    the Financing Corporation in connection with the establishment or 
    maintenance of such account.
        (f) Directorate means the board established under section 21(b) of 
    the Act to manage the Financing Corporation.
        (g) Exit fees means the amounts paid under sections 5(d)(2) (E) and 
    (F) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and regulations promulgated 
    thereunder (12 CFR part 312).
        (h) FDIC means the agency established as the Federal Deposit 
    Insurance Corporation.
        (i) Finance Board means the agency established as the Federal 
    Housing Finance Board.
        (j) Insured depository institution has the same meaning as in 
    section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
        (k) Issuance costs means issuance fees and commissions incurred by 
    the Financing Corporation in connection with the issuance or servicing 
    of Financing Corporation obligations, including legal and accounting 
    expenses, trustee, fiscal, and paying agent charges, securities 
    processing charges, joint collection agent charges, advertising 
    expenses, and costs incurred in connection with preparing and printing 
    offering materials to the extent the Financing Corporation incurs such 
    costs in connection with issuing any obligations.
        (l) Non-administrative expenses means custodian fees, issuance 
    costs, and interest on Financing Corporation obligations.
        (m) Obligations means debentures, bonds, and similar debt 
    securities issued by the Financing Corporation under sections 21 (c)(3) 
    and (e) of the Act.
        (n) Office of Finance means the joint office of the Banks 
    established under part 941 of this chapter.
        (o) Receivership proceeds means the liquidating dividends and 
    payments made on claims received by the Federal Savings and Loan 
    Insurance Corporation Resolution Fund established under section 11A of 
    the Federal Deposit Insurance Act from receiverships, that are not 
    required by the Resolution Funding Corporation to provide funds for the 
    Funding Corporation Principal Fund established under section 21B of the 
    Act.
        (p) SAIF-assessable deposit means a deposit that is subject to 
    assessment for purposes of the Savings Association Insurance Fund under 
    the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, including a deposit that is treated 
    as a deposit insured by the Savings Association Insurance Fund under 
    section 5(d)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
    
    
    Sec. 950.2  General authority.
    
        Subject to the limitations and interpretations in this part and 
    such orders and directions as the Finance Board may prescribe, the 
    Financing Corporation shall have authority to exercise all powers and 
    authorities granted to it by the Act and by its charter and bylaws 
    regardless of whether the powers and authorities are specifically 
    implemented in regulation.
    
    
    Sec. 950.3  Authority to establish investment policies and procedures.
    
        The Directorate shall have authority to establish investment 
    policies and procedures with respect to Financing Corporation funds 
    provided that the investment policies and procedures are consistent 
    with the requirements of section 21(g) of the Act. The Directorate 
    shall promptly notify the Finance Board in writing of any changes to 
    the investment policies and procedures.
    
    
    Sec. 950.4  Book-entry procedure for Financing Corporation obligations.
    
        (a) Authority. Any Federal Reserve Bank shall have authority to 
    apply book-entry procedure to Financing Corporation obligations.
        (b) Procedure. The book-entry procedure for Financing Corporation 
    obligations shall be governed by the book-entry procedure established 
    for Bank securities, codified at part 912 of this chapter. Wherever the 
    term ``Federal Home Loan Bank security(ies)'' appears in part 912, the 
    term shall be construed also to mean ``Financing Corporation 
    obligation(s),'' if appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this 
    section.
    
    
    Sec. 950.5  Bank and Office of Finance employees.
    
        The Financing Corporation shall have authority to utilize the 
    officers, employees, or agents of any Bank or the Office of Finance in 
    such manner as may be necessary to carry out its functions.
    
    
    Sec. 950.6   Budget and expenses.
    
        (a) Directorate approval. The Financing Corporation shall submit 
    annually to the Directorate for approval, a budget of proposed 
    expenditures for the next calendar year that includes administrative 
    and non-administrative expenses.
        (b) Finance Board approval. The Directorate shall submit annually 
    to the Finance Board for approval, the budget of the Financing 
    Corporation's proposed expenditures it approved pursuant to paragraph 
    (a) of this section.
        (c) Spending limitation. The Financing Corporation shall not exceed 
    the amount provided for in the annual budget approved by the Finance 
    Board pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, or as it may be 
    amended by the Directorate within limits set by the Finance Board.
        (d) Amended budgets. Whenever the Financing Corporation projects or 
    anticipates that it will incur expenditures, other than interest on 
    Financing Corporation obligations, that exceed the amount provided for 
    in the
    
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    annual budget approved by the Finance Board or the Directorate pursuant 
    to paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, the Financing Corporation 
    shall submit an amended annual budget to the Directorate for approval, 
    and the Directorate shall submit such amended budget to the Finance 
    Board for approval.
    
    
    Sec. 950.7   Administrative expenses.
    
        (a) Payment by Banks. The Banks shall pay all administrative 
    expenses of the Financing Corporation approved pursuant to Sec. 950.6.
        (b) Amount. The Financing Corporation shall determine the amount of 
    administrative expenses each Bank shall pay in the manner provided by 
    section 21(b)(7)(B) of the Act. The Financing Corporation shall bill 
    each Bank for such amount periodically.
        (c) Adjustments. The Financing Corporation shall adjust the amount 
    of administrative expenses the Banks are required to pay in any 
    calendar year pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, by 
    deducting any funds that remain from the amount paid by the Banks for 
    administrative expenses in the prior calendar year.
    
    
    Sec. 950.8   Non-administrative expenses; assessments.
    
        (a) Interest expenses. The Financing Corporation shall determine 
    anticipated interest expenses on its obligations at least semiannually.
        (b) Assessments on insured depository institutions. (1) Authority. 
    To provide sufficient funds to pay the non-administrative expenses of 
    the Financing Corporation approved under Sec. 950.6, the Financing 
    Corporation shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors of the 
    FDIC, assess against each insured depository institution an assessment 
    in the same manner as assessments are made by the FDIC under section 7 
    of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
        (2) Assessment rate--(i) Determination. The Financing Corporation 
    at least semiannually shall determine the rate or rates of the 
    assessment it will assess against insured depository institutions 
    pursuant to section 21(f)(2) of the Act and paragraph (b)(1) of this 
    section.
        (ii) Limitation. Until the earlier of December 31, 1999, or the 
    date as of which the last savings association ceases to exist, the rate 
    of the assessment imposed on an insured depository institution with 
    respect to any BIF-assessable deposit shall be a rate equal to \1/5\ of 
    the rate of the assessment imposed on an insured depository institution 
    with respect to any SAIF-assessable deposit.
        (iii) Notice. The Financing Corporation shall notify the FDIC and 
    the collection agent, if any, of its determination under paragraph 
    (b)(2)(i) of this section.
        (3) Collecting assessments--(i) Collection agent. The Financing 
    Corporation shall have authority to collect assessments made under 
    section 21(f)(2) of the Act and paragraph (b)(1) of this section 
    through a collection agent of its choosing.
        (ii) Accounts. Each Bank shall permit any insured depository 
    institution whose principal place of business is in its district to 
    establish and maintain at least one demand deposit account to 
    facilitate collection of the assessments made under section 21(f)(2) of 
    the Act and paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
        (c) Receivership proceeds--(1) Authority. To the extent the amounts 
    collected under paragraph (b) of this section are insufficient to pay 
    the non-administrative expenses of the Financing Corporation approved 
    under Sec. 950.6, the Financing Corporation shall have authority to 
    require the FDIC to transfer receivership proceeds to the Financing 
    Corporation in accordance with section 21(f)(3) of the Act.
        (2) Procedure. The Directorate shall request in writing that the 
    FDIC transfer the receivership proceeds to the Financing Corporation. 
    Such request shall specify the estimated amount of funds required to 
    pay the non-administrative expenses of the Financing Corporation 
    approved under Sec. 950.6.
        (d) Exit fees--(1) Authority. To the extent the amounts provided 
    under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section are insufficient to pay 
    the interest due on Financing Corporation obligations, the Financing 
    Corporation shall have authority to request that the Secretary of the 
    Treasury order the transfer of exit fees to the Financing Corporation 
    in accordance with section 5(d)(2)(E) of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
    Act.
        (2) Procedure. The Directorate shall request in writing that the 
    Secretary of the Treasury order that exit fees be transferred to the 
    Financing Corporation. Such request shall specify the estimated amount 
    of funds required to pay the interest due on Financing Corporation 
    obligations.
    
    
    Sec. 950.9   Reports to the Finance Board.
    
        The Financing Corporation shall file such reports as the Finance 
    Board shall direct.
    
    
    Sec. 950.10   Review of books and records.
    
        The Finance Board shall examine the Financing Corporation at least 
    annually to determine whether the Financing Corporation is performing 
    its functions in accordance with the requirements of section 21 of the 
    Act and this part.
    
        By the Board of Directors of the Federal Housing Finance Board.
    Bruce A. Morrison,
    Chairperson.
    [FR Doc. 96-29748 Filed 11-21-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6725-01-U
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
11/22/1996
Published:
11/22/1996
Department:
Federal Housing Finance Board
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Interim final rule with request for comments.
Document Number:
96-29748
Dates:
The interim final rule will become effective on November 22, 1996. The Finance Board will accept comments on the interim final rule in writing on or before December 23, 1996.
Pages:
59311-59315 (5 pages)
Docket Numbers:
No. 96-80
PDF File:
96-29748.pdf
CFR: (12)
12 CFR 950.8(b)(2)
12 CFR 950.8(b)(3)(i)
12 CFR 950.1
12 CFR 950.2
12 CFR 950.3
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