98-4069. Membership Approval  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 1998)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 8364-8369]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-4069]
    
    
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    FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD
    
    12 CFR Part 933
    
    [No. 98-05]
    RIN 3069-AA67
    
    
    Membership Approval
    
    AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Board.
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) is proposing 
    to amend its regulation on membership in the Federal Home Loan Banks 
    (Banks) (Membership Regulation) to make certain technical and 
    substantive revisions to the regulation that would improve the 
    operation of the membership application process, as well as further 
    streamline application processing for certain types of applicants for 
    Bank membership.
    
    DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be received in writing on or 
    before March 23, 1998.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to: Elaine L. Baker, Secretary to 
    the Board, 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: Richard Tucker, Deputy Director, 
    Compliance Assistance Division, Office of Policy, (202) 408-2848, or 
    Sharon B. Like, Senior Attorney-Adviser, Office of General Counsel, 
    (202) 408-2930, Federal Housing Finance Board, 1777 F Street, N.W., 
    Washington, D.C. 20006.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    I. Statutory and Regulatory Background
    
        Under the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (Act), the Finance Board is 
    responsible for the supervision and regulation of the 12 Banks, which 
    provide advances and other financial services to their member 
    institutions. See 12 U.S.C. 1422a(a). Institutions may become members 
    of a Bank if they meet certain membership eligibility and minimum stock 
    purchase criteria set forth in the Act and the Finance Board's 
    implementing Membership Regulation. See id. sections 1424, 1426, 
    1430(e)(3); 12 CFR part 933.
        On August 16, 1996, the Finance Board published a final rule 
    amending the Membership Regulation to authorize the 12 Banks, rather 
    than the Finance Board, to approve or deny all applications for Bank 
    membership, subject to certain criteria for determining compliance with 
    the statutory eligibility requirements for Bank membership formerly 
    contained in policy guidelines used by the Finance Board in approving 
    membership applications. See 61 FR 42531 (Aug. 16, 1996) (codified at 
    12 CFR part 933); Federal Home Loan Bank System Membership Application 
    Guidelines, Finance Board Res. No. 93-88 (Nov. 17, 1993) (Guidelines). 
    The final rule also provided for streamlined application processing for 
    certain types of membership applications. See 12 CFR part 933.
        In the course of processing and approving membership applications 
    under the Membership Regulation, the Banks have raised a number of 
    technical and substantive issues with the Regulation whose resolution 
    would improve operation of the membership application process and 
    streamline membership application processing for certain types of 
    institutions. These issues and proposed amendments for addressing these 
    issues are discussed below in the Analysis of Proposed Rule section. 
    The Finance Board requests comment on all aspects of the proposed 
    amendments.
    
    [[Page 8365]]
    
    II. Analysis of Proposed Rule
    
    A. Definitions Section 933.1
    
    1. Definition of ``Primary Regulator''--Section 933.1(y)
        Section 933.1(y) of the current Membership Regulation defines the 
    term ``primary regulator'' as the chartering authority for federally-
    chartered applicants, the insuring authority for federally-insured 
    applicants that are not federally-chartered, or the appropriate state 
    regulator for all other applicants. See id. Sec. 933.1(y). This 
    definition does not include the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) for state-
    chartered applicants that are members of the Federal Reserve System 
    (FRS). Under Sec. 933.11(a)(3), a Bank is required to obtain as part of 
    the membership application the applicant's most recent available 
    regulatory examination report prepared by its primary regulator or 
    appropriate state regulator. See id. Sec. 933.11(a)(3). Section 
    933.11(b)(1) provides that an applicant must have received a composite 
    regulatory examination rating from its primary regulator or appropriate 
    state regulator within two years preceding the date the Bank receives 
    the application for membership. See id. Sec. 933.11(b)(1).
        One Bank has identified a potential problem with meeting these 
    financial condition requirements where the FRB and a state financial 
    institution regulator alternate examinations of a state-chartered 
    applicant that is an FRS member. When the state financial institution 
    regulator performs the examination, it provides a copy of the 
    regulatory examination report to the FRB. According to the Bank, 
    certain state financial institution regulators in its district cannot 
    or will not release to the Bank copies of the regulatory examination 
    reports they have prepared, nor will the FRB release to the Bank copies 
    of the state regulatory examination reports. Thus, regulatory 
    examination reports prepared under such circumstances are not available 
    in order for the Bank to obtain a regulatory examination rating for the 
    applicant. Nor may the Bank obtain and rely on a copy of the regulatory 
    examination report and rating of the FRB when the FRB has examined the 
    applicant, because the definition of ``primary regulator'' in 
    Sec. 933.1(y) does not include the FRB. Thus, in such situations, the 
    Bank may not be able to obtain any examination report and rating for 
    the applicant and, therefore, the applicant cannot be deemed to satisfy 
    the financial condition requirements of Sec. Sec. 933.11(a)(3) and 
    (b)(1). The presumption of noncompliance with the financial condition 
    requirements would have to be rebutted under Sec. 933.17(d)(1) by 
    preparing a written justification providing substantial evidence 
    acceptable to the Bank that the applicant is in the financial condition 
    required by Sec. 933.6(a)(4), notwithstanding the lack of a regulatory 
    examination rating. See id. Sec. 933.17(d)(1).
        The exclusion of the FRB from the definition of ``primary 
    regulator'' in Sec. 933.1(y) was an oversight. The Banks should be able 
    to rely on regulatory examination reports and examination ratings from 
    the FRB to determine an applicant's financial condition under 
    Sec. 933.11. An applicant should not have to go through the additional 
    burden of establishing its satisfactory financial condition through the 
    rebuttal process if an FRB regulatory examination report and rating are 
    available. Accordingly, the proposed rule revises the definition of 
    ``primary regulator'' in Sec. 933.1(y), as further described below, to 
    include the FRB.
        Another limitation of the current definition of primary regulator 
    in Sec. 933.1(y) is that it requires a Bank to obtain the regulatory 
    examination report and rating only from the ``primary'' regulator 
    listed, even though a regulatory examination report and rating from an 
    alternate regulator also may be available. For example, many potential 
    members are examined by more than one regulator. However, under the 
    regulation, the Bank is required to obtain the regulatory examination 
    report and rating prepared by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
    (FDIC) for a state-chartered, FDIC-insured institution, even though 
    there may be a more recent state regulatory examination report and 
    rating available for such institution. A Bank should not be limited to 
    using only the ``primary'' regulator's regulatory examination report 
    and rating when more current information is available.
        Accordingly, the proposed rule amends Sec. 933.1(y) by changing the 
    term ``primary regulator'' to the broader term ``appropriate 
    regulator,'' and defining it to mean a regulatory entity listed in 
    Sec. 933.8, as applicable. The regulatory entities listed in Sec. 933.8 
    are: for depository institution applicants, the FDIC, FRB, National 
    Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 
    (OCC), Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), or other appropriate state 
    regulator; and for insurance company applicants, an appropriate state 
    regulator accredited by the National Association of Insurance 
    Commissioners. See id. Sec. 933.8. The proposed rule replaces the terms 
    ``primary regulator'' and ``primary regulator or appropriate state 
    regulator'' wherever they appear throughout the Membership Regulation 
    with the term ``appropriate regulator.''
    2. Nonperforming Assets Performance Trend Criterion; Definitions of 
    ``Nonperforming Loans, Leases and Securities;'' ``Performing Loans, 
    Leases and Securities''--Sections 933.11(b)(3)(i)(B); 933.1 (u), (x).
        Section 933.11(b)(3)(i)(B) of the current Membership Regulation 
    provides that if an applicant's most recent composite regulatory 
    examination rating within the past two years was ``2'' or ``3,'' the 
    applicant's nonperforming loans, leases and securities plus foreclosed 
    and repossessed real estate may not have exceeded 10 percent of its 
    performing loans, leases and securities plus foreclosed and repossessed 
    real estate, in the most recent calendar quarter. See id. 
    Sec. 933.11(b)(3)(i)(B). This nonperforming assets performance trend 
    criterion was intended to be the same criterion as that required in the 
    former Finance Board Guidelines, but was described incorrectly in the 
    Membership Regulation.
        The proposed rule revises Sec. 933.11(b)(3)(i)(B) to state the 
    criterion correctly, as follows: the applicant's nonperforming loans 
    and leases plus other real estate owned, did not exceed 10 percent of 
    its total loans and leases plus other real estate owned, in the most 
    recent calendar quarter. The proposed rule makes a conforming change to 
    the definition of ``nonperforming loans, leases and securities'' in 
    Sec. 933.1(u) by deleting the references to securities. The proposed 
    rule also makes a conforming change to Sec. 933.1(x) by replacing the 
    definition of ``performing loans, leases and securities'' with a new 
    definition of ``other real estate owned.''
    3. Definition of ``Consolidation''--Section 933.1(ee)
        Sections 933.24 and 933.25 of the current Membership Regulation set 
    forth certain requirements and procedures in the event of the 
    ``consolidation'' of members with other members or members with 
    nonmembers. See id. Secs. 933.24, 933.25. Questions have been raised as 
    to whether the term ``consolidation'' applies only to transactions 
    falling within the narrow meaning of the term, i.e., combinations where 
    a new company is formed to acquire the net assets of the combining 
    companies. The term ``consolidation'' was not intended to apply solely 
    to such combinations of entities. Accordingly, the proposed rule 
    clarifies this issue by
    
    [[Page 8366]]
    
    adding a new definition of ``consolidation'' in Sec. 933.1(ee) to 
    include a consolidation, a merger, or a purchase of all of the assets 
    and assumption of all of the liabilities of an entity by another 
    entity.
    
    B. Action on Applications--Section 933.3(c)
    
        Section 933.3(c) of the current Membership Regulation requires a 
    Bank to notify an applicant when its application is deemed by the Bank 
    to be complete. See id. Sec. 933.3(c). Section 933.3(c) also requires a 
    Bank to notify an applicant if the 60-day period for acting on a 
    membership application is stopped, and when the period for acting on 
    the application is resumed. See id. The proposed rule requires the Bank 
    to provide such notices to the applicant in writing. This will ensure 
    that there is a written record of the Banks' actions during the 
    application processing period, which may be relevant in the event of an 
    appeal of a Bank's denial of an application for membership.
    
    C. Automatic Membership for Certain Consolidations--Section 933.4(d)
    
        Sections 933.4 (a) and (b) of the current Membership Regulation 
    provide for automatic Bank membership only for institutions required by 
    law to become Bank members, and for institutions that have undergone 
    certain charter conversions, respectively. See id. Sec. Sec. 933.4 (a), 
    (b). Several Banks have suggested that the regulation also should allow 
    for automatic Bank membership where a member consolidates with a 
    nonmember, the nonmember is the surviving entity, and a significant 
    percentage of the surviving entity's total assets are derived from the 
    assets of the disappearing member. Where the surviving entity has 
    substantially the same assets as the disappearing member, the surviving 
    entity arguably should not have to go through the membership 
    application process. The Finance Board believes this argument has merit 
    where 90 percent or more of the total assets of the surviving entity 
    are derived from the assets of the disappearing member, and where the 
    surviving entity provides written notice to the Bank that it desires to 
    be a member of the Bank. These proposed requirements are set forth in 
    proposed new Sec. 933.4(d).
        The Finance Board specifically requests comment on the arguments 
    for or against this proposal, including whether the 90 percent 
    calculation or some other number or approach is an appropriate method 
    for determining the similarity of the disappearing and surviving 
    entities. One Bank has suggested that the chief executive officer (CEO) 
    of the surviving entity should be required to submit a letter stating 
    that the surviving entity continues to meet the membership eligibility 
    requirements. The Finance Board specifically requests comment on 
    whether such a letter, or a certification from the CEO, should be 
    required.
    
    D. Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses Performance Trend Criterion--
    Section 933.11(b)(3)(i)(C)
    
        Section 933.11(b)(3)(i)(C) of the current Membership Regulation 
    provides that if an applicant's most recent composite regulatory 
    examination rating within the past two years was ``2'' or ``3,'' the 
    applicant's ratio of its allowance for loan and lease losses to 
    nonperforming loans, leases and securities must have been 60 percent or 
    greater during 4 of the 6 most recent calendar quarters. This allowance 
    for loan and lease losses performance trend criterion was intended to 
    be the same criterion as that required in the former Finance Board 
    Guidelines, but was described incorrectly in the Membership Regulation. 
    The proposed rule revises this section to state the criterion 
    correctly, as follows: The applicant's ratio of its allowance for loan 
    and lease losses plus the allocated transfer risk reserve to 
    nonperforming loans and leases was 60 percent or greater during 4 of 
    the 6 most recent calendar quarters.
    
    E. De Novo Insured Depository Institution Applicants--Section 933.14
    
        Section 933.14 of the current Membership Regulation sets forth the 
    requirements for processing and approving membership applications from 
    de novo insured depository institution applicants. See id. Sec. 933.14. 
    Section 933.14(a) provides for streamlined processing for newly-
    chartered applicants that have not yet commenced operations, which are 
    deemed to meet the duly organized, inspection and regulation, financial 
    condition, and character of management eligibility requirements. See 
    id. Sec. 933.14(a)(1). Section 933.14(b) requires newly-chartered 
    applicants that have commenced operations to meet all of the 
    eligibility requirements, subject to certain exceptions provided in 
    paragraph (b). In particular, if such applicants have not yet filed 
    regulatory financial reports for the last six calendar quarters 
    preceding the date the Bank receives the membership application, the 
    applicant need not meet the performance trend criteria in 
    Sec. 933.11(b)(3)(i) (A) through (C) if the applicant has filed 
    regulatory financial reports for at least three calendar quarters of 
    operation. See id. Sec. 933.14(b)(2)(iii)(A).
        A number of Banks have stated that the requirement for having filed 
    three calendar quarters of regulatory financial reports should not be 
    necessary for institutions that have recently commenced operations. The 
    financial condition and character of management of such institutions 
    already will have been recently reviewed and approved by their 
    chartering and insuring regulators (see, e.g., 12 U.S.C. 1816, 12 CFR 
    303.7(d)(ii) (FDIC); 12 U.S.C. 26, 12 CFR 5.20 (OCC)), will have been 
    based on a forward looking business plan, and should not have changed 
    significantly since the commencement of operations. The Banks should 
    not have to duplicate the review performed by the prospective member's 
    appropriate regulator. Further, de novo insured depository institution 
    applicants should be treated similarly to mandatory de novo thrift 
    institutions, which do not have to satisfy any specific Bank membership 
    eligibility requirements since they are required by law to be Bank 
    members.
        The Finance Board believes there is merit in these arguments. 
    Accordingly, proposed Sec. 933.14(a)(1) extends the streamlined 
    application processing currently applicable to newly-chartered insured 
    depository institutions that have not yet commenced operations to 
    newly-chartered insured depository institutions that have commenced 
    operations. Such applicants would be deemed to meet the duly organized, 
    inspection and regulation, financial condition, and character of 
    management eligibility requirements. In order to be considered newly-
    chartered and subject to the streamlined application processing 
    procedures of Sec. 933.14(a)(1), applicants would have to have been 
    chartered within three years prior to the date the Bank receives the 
    application for membership. Three years is consistent with the time 
    period for de novo treatment applied by other financial institution 
    regulators. See, e.g., 12 CFR 543.3(a) (OTS).
        The Finance Board specifically requests comment on the arguments 
    for or against this proposal.
    
    F. Recent Merger or Acquisition Applicants--Section 933.15
    
        Sections 933.9 and 933.10 of the current Membership Regulation 
    require applicants to show satisfaction of the ``makes long-term home 
    mortgage loans'' and ``10 percent residential mortgage loans'' 
    requirements, respectively, based on the applicant's most recent 
    regulatory financial report. See id. Secs. 933.9, 933.10. An applicant
    
    [[Page 8367]]
    
    that recently has merged with or acquired another institution prior to 
    applying for Bank membership must show satisfaction of these 
    eligibility requirements based on the most recent regulatory financial 
    report filed by the consolidated entity. See id. However, a newly 
    consolidated entity may not be able to show compliance with these 
    requirements as it may be several months before the next quarterly 
    regulatory financial report is due to be filed with the appropriate 
    regulator.
        One Bank has suggested that in order to allow the applicant to be 
    approved for membership immediately, the applicant should be allowed to 
    provide the most recent regulatory financial report filed prior to the 
    merger or acquisition by each of the institutions that entered into the 
    merger or acquisition. The Bank then would consolidate the relevant 
    data from both reports for purposes of determining compliance with 
    Secs. 933.9 and 933.10. The Finance Board believes this suggestion has 
    merit, provided that in the case of showing satisfaction of the 10 
    percent residential mortgage loans requirement, the Bank obtains a 
    certification from the applicant that there has been no material 
    decrease in the ratio of consolidated residential mortgage loans to 
    consolidated total assets derived from the reports since the reports 
    were filed with the appropriate regulator. These proposed requirements 
    are set forth in proposed new Secs. 933.15 (a) and (b).
    
    III. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The proposed rule implements statutory requirements binding on all 
    Banks and on all applicants for Bank membership, regardless of their 
    size. The Finance Board is not at liberty to make adjustments to those 
    requirements to accommodate small entities. The proposed rule does not 
    impose any additional regulatory requirements that will have a 
    disproportionate impact on small entities. Therefore, in accordance 
    with section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, see 5 U.S.C. 
    605(b), the Finance Board hereby certifies that this proposed rule, if 
    promulgated as a final rule, will not have a significant economic 
    impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    
    IV. Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        The current information collection has been approved by the Office 
    of Management and Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB control number 3069-
    0004. The Finance Board has submitted to the OMB an analysis of the 
    proposed changes to the collection of information contained in 
    Secs. 933.15 (a) and (b) of the proposed rule, described more fully in 
    part II. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. The Banks and, where 
    appropriate, the Finance Board, will use the proposed changes to the 
    information collection to determine whether a recent merger or 
    acquisition applicant meets certain membership eligibility 
    requirements. See 12 U.S.C. 1424(a)(1)(C), (a)(2)(A); 12 CFR 933.9, 
    933.10. Only applicants meeting such requirements may become Bank 
    members. See id.; id. Responses are required to obtain or retain a 
    benefit. See 12 U.S.C. 1424. The Finance Board and the Banks will 
    maintain the confidentiality of information obtained from respondents 
    pursuant to the proposed changes to the collection of information as 
    required by applicable statute, regulation, and agency policy. Books or 
    records relating to this proposed collection of information must be 
    retained as provided in the regulation.
        Likely respondents and/or recordkeepers will be the Finance Board, 
    Banks, and financial institutions that have recently undergone a merger 
    or acquisition and are eligible to become Bank members under the Act, 
    see id. section 1424(a)(1), including any building and loan 
    association, savings and loan association, cooperative bank, homestead 
    association, insurance company, savings bank, or insured depository 
    institution. Potential respondents are not required to respond to the 
    proposed changes to the collection of information unless the regulation 
    collecting the information displays a currently valid control number 
    assigned by the OMB. See 44 U.S.C. 3512(a).
        The proposed changes to the information collection will not impose 
    any additional costs on the Finance Board or the Banks. The estimated 
    annual reporting and recordkeeping hour burden on respondents is:
        a. Number of respondents--15.
        b. Total annual responses--15; Percentage of these responses 
    collected electronically--0%.
         c. Total annual hours requested--60.
        d. Current OMB inventory--59,152.
        e. Difference--(59,092).
        The estimated annual reporting and recordkeeping cost burden on 
    respondents is:
        a. Total annualized capital/startup costs--$0.
        b. Total annual costs (O&M)--$0.
        c. Total annualized cost requested--$1,800.
        d. Current OMB inventory--$1,684,000.
        e. Difference--($1,682,200).
        Comments concerning the accuracy of the burden estimates and 
    suggestions for reducing the burden may be submitted to the Finance 
    Board in writing at the address listed above.
        The Finance Board has submitted the proposed collection of 
    information to the OMB for review in accordance with the Paperwork 
    Reduction Act of 1995. See id. section 3501 et seq. Comments regarding 
    the proposed changes to the collection of information may be submitted 
    in writing to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the 
    Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for Federal 
    Housing Finance Board, Washington, D.C. 20503, by April 20, 1998.
    
    List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 933
    
        Credit, Federal home loan banks, Reporting and recordkeeping 
    requirements.
        Accordingly, the Finance Board hereby proposes to amend title 12, 
    chapter IX, part 933, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:
    
    PART 933--MEMBERS OF THE BANKS
    
        1. The authority citation for part 933 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1422, 1422a, 1422b, 1423, 1424, 1426, 1430, 
    1442.
    
        2. Part 933 is amended by removing the term ``primary regulator or 
    appropriate state regulator'' wherever it appears and adding the term 
    ``appropriate regulator'' in its place in the following locations:
        a. Sec. 933.1(l);
        b. Sec. 933.1(z);
        c. Sec. 933.2(c)(2);
        d. Sec. 933.11(a)(3);
        e. Sec. 933.11(a)(4);
        f. Sec. 933.11(b)(1);
        g. Sec. 933.12(a);
        h. Sec. 933.17(e)(1) introductory text;
        i. Sec. 933.17(e)(1)(i);
        j. Sec. 933.17(e)(2)(i); and
        k. Sec. 933.17(e)(3)(i).
    
    
    Sec. 933.11  [Amended]
    
        3. Section 933.11(b)(3)(i) introductory text is amended by removing 
    the term ``primary regulatory or appropriate state regulator'' and 
    adding the term ``appropriate regulator'' in its place.
    
    
    Secs. 933.11 and 933.17  [Amended]
    
        4. Sections 933.11(a)(4) and 933.17(e)(1)(i) are amended by 
    removing the phrase ``, whichever is applicable,'' wherever it appears.
        5. Part 933 is amended by removing the term ``primary regulator'' 
    wherever it appears and adding the term ``appropriate regulator'' in 
    its place in the following locations:
    
    [[Page 8368]]
    
        a. Sec. 933.1(aa);
        b. Sec. 933.9;
        c. Sec. 933.10;
        d. Sec. 933.11(a)(1);
        e. Sec. 933.11(b)(2);
        f. Sec. 933.11(b)(3)(i) introductory text;
        g. Sec. 933.16; and
        h. Sec. 933.17(f)(1).
        6. Section 933.1 is amended by revising paragraphs (u), (x), and 
    (y), and adding paragraph (ee) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 933.1  Definitions.
    
    * * * * *
        (u) Nonperforming loans and leases means the sum of the following, 
    reported on a regulatory financial report: Loans and leases that have 
    been past due for 90 days (60 days in the case of credit union 
    applicants) or longer but are still accruing; loans and leases on a 
    nonaccrual basis; and restructured loans and leases (not already 
    reported as nonperforming).
    * * * * *
        (x) Other real estate owned means all other real estate owned 
    (i.e., foreclosed and repossessed real estate), reported on a 
    regulatory financial report, and does not include direct and indirect 
    investments in real estate ventures.
        (y) Appropriate regulator means a regulatory entity listed in 
    Sec. 933.8, as applicable.
    * * * * *
        (ee) Consolidation includes a consolidation, a merger, or a 
    purchase of all of the assets and assumption of all of the liabilities 
    of an entity by another entity.
        7. Section 933.3 is amended by revising the fourth and fifth 
    sentences of paragraph (c) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 933.3  Decision on application.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * * The Bank shall notify an applicant in writing when its 
    application is deemed by the Bank to be complete. The Bank also shall 
    notify an applicant in writing if the 60-day clock is stopped, and when 
    the clock is resumed. * * *
    * * * * *
        8. Section 933.4 is amended by adding paragraph (d) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 933.4  Automatic membership.
    
    * * * * *
        (d) Automatic membership for certain consolidations. If a member 
    institution and nonmember institution are consolidated and the 
    consolidated institution will operate under the charter of the 
    nonmember institution, on the effective date of the consolidation, the 
    consolidated institution automatically shall become a member of the 
    Bank of which the disappearing institution was a member immediately 
    prior to the effective date of the consolidation, provided that:
        (1) 90 percent or more of the total assets of the consolidated 
    institution are derived from the assets of the disappearing member 
    institution; and
        (2) The consolidated institution provides written notice to such 
    Bank that it desires to be a member of the Bank.
        9. Section 933.11 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(3)(i)(B) 
    and (b)(3)(i)(C) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 933.11  Financial condition requirement for applicants other than 
    insurance companies.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * *
        (3) * * *
        (i) * * *
        (B) Nonperforming assets. The applicant's nonperforming loans and 
    leases plus other real estate owned, did not exceed 10 percent of its 
    total loans and leases plus other real estate owned, in the most recent 
    calendar quarter; and
        (C) Allowance for loan and lease losses. The applicant's ratio of 
    its allowance for loan and lease losses plus the allocated transfer 
    risk reserve to nonperforming loans and leases was 60 percent or 
    greater during 4 of the 6 most recent calendar quarters.
    * * * * *
        10. Section 933.14 is amended by removing the heading for paragraph 
    (a), revising paragraph (a)(1), and removing and reserving paragraph 
    (b), to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 933.14  De novo insured depository institution applicants.
    
        (a)(1) Duly organized, subject to inspection and regulation, 
    financial condition and character of management requirements. An 
    insured depository institution applicant that is chartered within three 
    years prior to the date the Bank receives the applicant's application 
    for membership in the Bank, is deemed to meet the requirements of 
    Secs. 933.7, 933.8, 933.11 and 933.12.
    * * * * *
        11. Section 933.15 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (a) and 
    (b) as paragraphs (c) and (d), respectively, further redesignating 
    newly designated paragraphs (c)(i) and (c)(ii) as paragraphs (c)(1) and 
    (c)(2), respectively, revising ``primary regulator'' to read 
    ``appropriate regulator'' in newly designated paragraphs (c)(1) and 
    (c)(2), and adding new paragraphs (a) and (b), to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 933.15  Recent merger or acquisition applicants.
    
    * * * * *
        (a) Makes long-term home mortgage loans requirement--Regulatory 
    financial reports. For purposes of Sec. 933.9, an applicant that, as a 
    result of a merger or acquisition preceding the date the Bank receives 
    its application for membership, has not yet filed a regulatory 
    financial report for the combined entity with its appropriate 
    regulator, shall provide the most recent regulatory financial report 
    filed with the appropriate regulator prior to the merger or acquisition 
    by each of the institutions that entered into the merger or 
    acquisition, and the Bank shall consolidate the long-term home mortgage 
    loans data in such reports for purposes of determining the applicant's 
    compliance with Sec. 933.9.
        (b) 10 percent requirement for insured depository institution 
    applicants--Regulatory financial reports. For purposes of Sec. 933.10, 
    an applicant that, as a result of a merger or acquisition preceding the 
    date the Bank receives its application for membership, has not yet 
    filed a regulatory financial report for the combined entity with its 
    appropriate regulator, shall provide the most recent regulatory 
    financial report filed with the appropriate regulator prior to the 
    merger or acquisition by each of the institutions that entered into the 
    merger or acquisition, and the Bank shall consolidate the residential 
    mortgage loans and total assets data in such reports for purposes of 
    determining the applicant's compliance with Sec. 933.10, provided the 
    Bank obtains a certification from the applicant that there has been no 
    material decrease in the ratio of consolidated residential mortgage 
    loans to consolidated total assets derived from such reports since the 
    reports were filed with the appropriate regulator.
    * * * * *
        12. Section 933.25 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 933.25  Consolidations involving nonmembers.
    
        (a) Termination of membership. Except as provided in Sec. 933.4(d), 
    if a member is consolidated into an institution that is not a member, 
    its membership in the Bank terminates upon cancellation of its charter.
    * * * * *
        Dated: February 12, 1998.
    
    
    [[Page 8369]]
    
    
        By the Board of Directors of the Federal Housing Finance Board.
    Bruce A. Morrison,
    Chairman.
    [FR Doc. 98-4069 Filed 2-18-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6725-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/19/1998
Department:
Federal Housing Finance Board
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
98-4069
Dates:
Comments on this proposed rule must be received in writing on or before March 23, 1998.
Pages:
8364-8369 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
No. 98-05
RINs:
3069-AA67: Technical Amendments to Membership Regulation
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/3069-AA67/technical-amendments-to-membership-regulation
PDF File:
98-4069.pdf
CFR: (12)
12 CFR 933.11(b)(3)(i)
12 CFR 933.1(u)
12 CFR 933.1(y)
12 CFR 933.11(b)(3)(i)(B)
12 CFR 933.1
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