03-7191. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

SUMMARY:

Background. On June 15, 1984, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delegated to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) its approval authority under the Paperwork Reduction Act, as per 5 CFR 1320.16, to approve of and assign OMB control numbers to collection of information requests and requirements conducted or sponsored by the Board under conditions set forth in 5 CFR 1320 Appendix A.1. Board-approved collections of information are incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of information. Copies of the OMB 83-I's and supporting statements and approved collection of information instruments are placed into OMB's public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Request for Comment on Information Collection Proposal

The following information collection, which is being handled under this delegated authority, has received initial Board approval and is hereby published for comment. At the end of the comment period, the proposed information collection, along with an analysis of comments and recommendations received, will be submitted to the Board for final approval under OMB delegated authority. Comments are invited on the following:

a. whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the Federal Reserve's functions; including whether the information has practical utility;

b. the accuracy of the Federal Reserve's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

c. ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

d. ways to minimize the burden of information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to Ms. Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20551. However, because paper mail in the Washington area and at the Board of Governors is subject to delay, please consider submitting your comments by e-mail to [e-mail], or faxing them to the Office of the Secretary at 202-452-3819 or 202-452-3102. Comments addressed to Ms. Johnson may also be delivered to the Board's mail facility in the West Courtyard between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., located on 21st Street between Constitution Avenue and C Street, N.W. Members of the public may inspect comments in Room MP-500 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays pursuant to 261.12, except as provided in 261.14, of the Board's Rules Regarding Availability of Information, 12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14.

A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk officer for the Board: Joseph Lackey, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission (OMB 83-I), supporting statement, and other documents that will be placed into OMB's public docket files once approved may be requested from the agency clearance officer, whose name appears below. Cindy Ayouch, Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer (202-452-3829), Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact (202-263-4869), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

Proposal to approve under OMB delegated authority the extension for three years, without revision, of the following report:

Report title: Recordkeeping and Disclosure Requirements of Regulation Z

Agency form number: Reg Z

OMB control number: 7100-0199

Frequency: Event-generated

Reporters: State member banks, branches and agencies of foreign banks (other than federal branches, federal agencies, and insured state branches of foreign banks), commercial lending companies owned or controlled by foreign banks, and organizations operating under section 25 or 25A of the Federal Reserve Act.

Annual reporting hours: Open-end credit-initial disclosure 28,463 hours; open-end credit--change in terms notice, 41,250 hours; periodic statement, 125,952 hours; error resolution--credit cards, 22,260 hours; error resolution--other open-end credit, 1,312 hours; credit & charge card accounts-advance disclosure, 29,952 hours; home equity plans--advance disclosure, 13,983 hours; home equity plans--change in terms notice, 354 hours; closed-end credit disclosures, 351,354 hours; advertising, 2,733 hours; and HOEPA pre-closing disclosures, 425 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: Open-end credit—initial disclosure, 1.5 minutes; open-end credit—change in terms notice, 1 minute; periodic statement, 8 hours; error resolution—credit cards, 30 minutes; error resolution—other open-end credit, 30 minutes; credit & charge card accounts—advance disclosure, 8 hours; home equity plans—advance disclosure, 1.5 minutes; home equity plans—change in terms notice, 3 minutes; closed-end credit disclosures, 6.5 minutes; advertising, 25 minutes; and HOEPA pre-closing disclosures, 3 minutes.

Number of respondents: State member banks, 947; branches and agencies of foreign banks (other than federal branches, federal agencies, and insured state branches of foreign banks), 287; commercial lending companies owned or controlled by foreign banks, 3; and organizations operating under section 25 or 25A of the Federal Reserve Act, 75.

Small businesses are affected.

General description of report: This information collection is mandatory (15 U.S.C. 1601, 1604(a)). Since the Federal Reserve does not collect any information, no issue of confidentiality arises. Transaction- or account-specific disclosures and billing error allegations are not publicly available and are confidential between the creditor and the consumer. General disclosures of credit terms that appear in advertisements or take-one applications are available to the public.

Abstract: TILA and Regulation Z require disclosure of the costs and terms of credit to consumers. For open-end credit (revolving credit accounts) creditors are required to disclose information about the initial costs and terms and to provide periodic statements of account activity, notices of changes in terms, and statements of rights concerning billing error procedures. There are special disclosure requirements for credit and charge card applications and solicitations, as well as for home equity plans. For closed-end loans, such as mortgage and installment loans, cost disclosures are required to be provided prior to consummation. Special disclosures are required of certain products, such as reverse mortgages, certain variable rate loans, and certain mortgages with rates and fees above specified thresholds. TILA and Regulation Z also contain rules concerning credit advertising.

Recently, the Federal Reserve reevaluated the methodology used to estimate the paperwork burden associated with consumer regulations. As a result of this change, the estimated burden declined.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, March 20, 2003.

Jennifer J. Johnson,

Secretary of the Board.