05-23822. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

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 requested to respond to, and information collection unless the information collection displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OCC is soliciting comment on an information collection titled “Bank Secrecy Act/Money Laundering Risk Assessment.” The OCC also gives notice that it has sent the information collection to OMB for review and approval.

DATES:

Written comments should be submitted by January 9, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

You should direct your comments to:

Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Public Information Room, Mailstop 1-5, Attention: 1557-0231, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219. In addition, comments may be sent by fax to [phone], or by electronic 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].

Additionally, you should send a copy of your comments to OCC Desk Officer, 1557-0231, by mail to U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 725, 17th Street, NW., #10235, Washington, DC 20503, or by fax to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You can request additional information or a copy of the collection from Mary Gottlieb, 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, without change, of the following information collection:

Title: Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money laundering Risk Assessment.

OMB Number: 1557-0231.

Form Number: N/A.

Abstract: The Risk Assessment will enhance the ability of examiners and bank management to identify and evaluate any Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering risks associated with the banks' products, services, customers, and locations. As new products and services are introduced, existing products and services change, and the banks expand through mergers and acquisitions, management's evaluation of money laundering and terrorist financing risks must evolve as well. Absent appropriate controls, such as this risk assessment, these lines of business, products, or entities could elevate Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering risks.

Type of Review: Extension of approval for three years.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.

Number of Respondents: 2,042.

Total Annual Responses: 2,042.

Frequency of Response: Annually.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 21,364.

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: December 2, 2005.

Stuart Feldstein,

Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division.