2013-07098. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request: Examination Questionnaire

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 comment on the renewal of an 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning renewal of its information collection titled, “Examination Questionnaire.”

DATES:

Comments must be submitted by May 28, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Because paper mail in the Washington, DC area and at the OCC is subject to delay, commenters are encouraged to submit comments by email if possible. Comments may be sent to: Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Attention: 1557-0199, 400 7th Street SW., Suite 3E-218, Mail Stop 9W-11, Washington, DC 20219. In addition, comments may be sent by fax to [phone] or by electronic mail to [e-mail]. You may personally inspect and photocopy comments at the OCC, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219. For security reasons, the OCC requires that visitors make an appointment to inspect comments. You may do so by calling [phone]. Upon arrival, visitors will be required to present valid government-issued photo identification and to submit to security screening in order to inspect and photocopy comments.

All comments received, including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not enclose any information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You may request additional information or a copy of the collection and supporting documentation submitted to OMB by contacting: Johnny Vilela or Mary H. Gottlieb, [phone], Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) to include agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, the OCC is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document. The OCC is proposing to extend the approval for the following information collection:

Title: Examination Questionnaire.

OMB Control No.: 1557-0199.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has revised its Examination Survey and updated the estimated burden hours to adjust for the current number of national banks and thrifts in the OCC's supervisory system. Completed Examination Surveys provide the OCC with the information needed to properly evaluate the content and conduct of OCC examinations. Completed Examination Surveys also help measure the OCC's performance and progress in improving the supervisory experience and agency communications. The OCC will use the information to identify problems or trends that may impair the effectiveness of the examination process, to identify ways to improve its service to the banking industry, and to analyze staff and training needs. A survey is provided to each bank or thrift at the conclusion of their supervisory cycle. Bankers will now be able to complete this survey using a secure web-based data collection tool.

The OCC is conducting an Exit Survey of banks and thrifts after they exit the OCC's supervisory and examination system. Completed Exit Surveys will help OCC understand the underlying reasons why banks and thrifts decide to leave the system. The OCC will use this information to improve relationships with America's banks and thrifts and identify problems that may impair the effectiveness of the examination and supervisory process. A survey is provided to each bank or thrift after they exit the OCC's supervisory system. Bankers will be able to complete this survey using a secure web-based data collection tool.

Burden Estimates (Examination Survey):

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,307.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent per Year: 0.54.

Estimated Number of Responses: 706.

Estimated time per response: 10 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 118 hours.

Burden Estimates (Exit Survey):

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent per Year: 0.25.

Estimated Number of Responses: 12.

Estimated time per response: 5 minutes.

Estimated Annual Burden: 1 hour.

Comments: All comments will be considered in formulating the subsequent submission and 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 OCC, including whether the information has practical utility;

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

(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 start-up costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

Dated: March 21, 2013.

Michele Meyer,

Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division.