2010-12320. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCIES:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board); Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); and Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), Treasury.

ACTION:

Joint notice and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, the FDIC, and the OTS (the “agencies”) may not conduct or sponsor, and the 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 Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), of which the agencies are members, has approved the agencies' publication for public comment of a proposal to extend, with revision, the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) for banks, the Thrift Financial Report (TFR) for savings associations, the Report of Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks (FFIEC 002), and the Report of Assets and Liabilities of a Non-U.S. Branch that is Managed or Controlled by a U.S. Branch or Agency of a Foreign (Non-U.S.) Bank (FFIEC 002S), all of which are currently approved collections of information. At the end of the comment period, the comments and recommendations received will be analyzed to determine the extent to which the FFIEC and the agencies should modify the proposed revisions prior to giving final approval. The agencies will then submit the revisions to OMB for review and approval.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before July 20, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to any or all of the agencies. All comments, which should refer to the OMB control number(s), will be shared among the agencies.

OCC: You should direct all written comments to: Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Public Information Room, Mailstop 2-3, Attention: 1557-0081, 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 may personally inspect and photocopy comments at the OCC, 250 E 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.

Board: You may submit comments, which should refer to “Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (FFIEC 031 and 041)” or “Report of Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks (FFIEC 002) and Report of Assets and Liabilities of a Non-U.S. Branch that is Managed or Controlled by a U.S. Branch or Agency of a Foreign (Non-U.S.) Bank (FFIEC 002S),” by any of the following methods:

• Agency Web Site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the http://www.federalreserve.gov/​generalinfo/​foia/​ProposedRegs.cfm.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: [e-mail]. Include reporting form number in the subject line of the message.
• FAX: [phone] or [phone].
• Mail: Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20551.

All public comments are available from the Board's Web site at http://www.federalreserve.gov/​generalinfo/​foia/​ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, unless modified for technical reasons. Accordingly, your comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. Public comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper in Room MP-500 of the Board's Martin Building (20th and C Streets, NW.) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

FDIC: You may submit comments, which should refer to “Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income, 3064-0052,” by any of the following methods:

• Agency Web Site: http://www.fdic.gov/​regulations/​laws/​federal/​propose.html. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the FDIC Web site.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: [e-mail]. Include “Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income, 3064-0052” in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: Gary A. Kuiper, [phone], Counsel, Attn: Comments, Room F-1072, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20429.
• Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand delivered to the guard station at the rear of the 550 17th Street Building (located on F Street) on business days between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Public Inspection: All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.fdic.gov/​regulations/​laws/​federal/​propose.html including any personal information provided. Comments may be inspected at the FDIC Public Information Center, Room E-1002, 3501 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22226, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on business days.

OTS: You may submit comments, identified by “1550-0023 (TFR: Schedule DI Revisions),” by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail address: [e-mail]. Please include “1550-0023 (TFR: Schedule DI Revisions)” in the subject line of the message and include your name and telephone number in the message.
• Fax: [phone].
• Mail: Information Collection Comments, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552, Attention: “1550-0023 (TFR: Schedule DI Revisions).”
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Guard's Desk, East Lobby Entrance, 1700 G Street, NW., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on business days, Attention: Information Collection Comments, Chief Counsel's Office, Attention: “1550-0023 (TFR: Schedule DI Revisions).”

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and OMB Control Number for this information collection. All comments received will be posted without change to the OTS Internet Site at http://www.ots.treas.gov/​pagehtml.cfm?​catNumber=​67&​an=​1,, including any personal information provided.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.ots.treas.gov/​pagehtml.cfm?​catNumber=​67&​an=​1. In addition, you may inspect comments at the Public Reading Room, 1700 G Street, NW., by appointment. To make an appointment for access, call [phone], send an e-mail to [e-mail], or send a facsimile transmission to [phone]. (Prior notice identifying the materials you will be requesting will assist us in serving you.) We schedule appointments on business days between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. In most cases, appointments will be available the next business day following the date we receive a request.

Additionally, commenters may send a copy of their comments to the OMB desk officer for the agencies by mail to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, or by fax to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information about the revisions discussed in this notice, please contact any of the agency clearance officers whose names appear below. In addition, copies of the Call Report, FFIEC 002, and FFIEC 002S forms can be obtained at the FFIEC's Web site (http://www.ffiec.gov/​ffiec_​report_​forms.htm). Copies of the TFR can be obtained from the OTS's Web site (http://www.ots.treas.gov/​main.cfm?​catNumber=​2&​catParent=​0).

OCC: Mary Gottlieb, OCC Clearance Officer, [phone], Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219.

Board: Michelle E. Shore, Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer, [phone], Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20551. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may call [phone].

FDIC: Gary A. Kuiper, Counsel, [phone], Legal Division, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20429.

OTS: Ira L. Mills, OTS Clearance Officer, at [e-mail], [phone], or facsimile number [phone], Litigation Division, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The agencies are proposing to revise and extend for three years the Call Report, the TFR, the FFIEC 002, and the FFIEC 002S, which are currently approved collections of information.

1. Report Title: Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report).

Form Number: Call Report: FFIEC 031 (for banks with domestic and foreign offices) and FFIEC 041 (for banks with domestic offices only).

Frequency of Response: Quarterly.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

OCC

OMB Number: 1557-0081.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,512 national banks.

Estimated Time per Response: 49.64 burden hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 300,223 burden hours.

Board

OMB Number: 7100-0036.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 843 State member banks.

Estimated Time per Response: 55.04 burden hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 185,595 burden hours.

FDIC

OMB Number: 3064-0052.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,880 insured State nonmember banks.

Estimated Time per Response: 39.68 burden hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 774,554 burden hours.

The estimated time per response for the Call Report is an average that varies by agency because of differences in the composition of the institutions under each agency's supervision (e.g., size distribution of institutions, types of activities in which they are engaged, and existence of foreign offices). The average reporting burden for the Call Report is estimated to range from 16 to 655 hours per quarter, depending on an individual institution's circumstances.

2. Report Title: Thrift Financial Report (TFR).

Form Number: OTS 1313 (for savings associations).

Frequency of Response: Quarterly; Annually.

Affected Public: Business or other for-profit.

OTS

OMB Number: 1550-0023.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 771 savings associations.

Estimated Time per Response: 37.5 burden hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 185,158 burden hours.

3. Report Titles: Report of Assets and Liabilities of U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks; Report of Assets and Liabilities of a Non-U.S. Branch that is Managed or Controlled by a U.S. Branch or Agency of a Foreign (Non-U.S.) Bank.

Form Numbers: FFIEC 002; FFIEC 002S.

Board

OMB Number: 7100-0032.

Frequency of Response: Quarterly.

Affected Public: U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks.

Estimated Number of Respondents: FFIEC 002—240; FFIEC 002S—60.

Estimated Time per Response: FFIEC 002—25.05 hours; FFIEC 002S—6 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: FFIEC 002—24,048 hours; FFIEC 002S—1,440 hours.

General Description of Reports

These information collections are mandatory: 12 U.S.C. 161 (for national banks), 12 U.S.C. 324 (for State member banks), 12 U.S.C. 1817 (for insured State nonmember commercial and savings banks), 12 U.S.C. 1464 (for savings associations), and 12 U.S.C. 3105(c)(2), 1817(a), and 3102(b) (for U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks). Except for selected data items, the Call Report, the TFR, and the FFIEC 002 are not given confidential treatment. The FFIEC 002S is given confidential treatment [5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4)].

Abstracts

Call Report and TFR: Institutions submit Call Report and TFR data to the agencies each quarter for the agencies' use in monitoring the condition, performance, and risk profile of individual institutions and the industry as a whole. Call Report and TFR data provide the most current statistical data available for evaluating institutions' corporate applications, for identifying areas of focus for both on-site and off-site examinations, and for monetary and other public policy purposes. The agencies use Call Report and TFR data in evaluating interstate merger and acquisition applications to determine, as required by law, whether the resulting institution would control more than ten percent of the total amount of deposits of insured depository institutions in the United States. Call Report and TFR data are also used to calculate all institutions' deposit insurance and Financing Corporation assessments, national banks' semiannual assessment fees, and the OTS's assessments on savings associations.

FFIEC 002 and FFIEC 002S: On a quarterly basis, all U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks are required to file the FFIEC 002, which is a detailed report of condition with a variety of supporting schedules. This information is used to fulfill the supervisory and regulatory requirements of the International Banking Act of 1978. The data are also used to augment the bank credit, loan, and deposit information needed for monetary policy and other public policy purposes. The FFIEC 002S is a supplement to the FFIEC 002 that collects information on assets and liabilities of any non-U.S. branch that is managed or controlled by a U.S. branch or agency of the foreign bank. Managed or controlled means that a majority of the responsibility for business decisions (including but not limited to decisions with regard to lending or asset management or funding or liability management) or the responsibility for recordkeeping in respect of assets or liabilities for that foreign branch resides at the U.S. branch or agency. A separate FFIEC 002S must be completed for each managed or controlled non-U.S. branch. The FFIEC 002S must be filed quarterly along with the U.S. branch or agency's FFIEC 002. The data from both reports are used for: (1) Monitoring deposit and credit transactions of U.S. residents; (2) monitoring the impact of policy changes; (3) analyzing structural issues concerning foreign bank activity in U.S. markets; (4) understanding flows of banking funds and indebtedness of developing countries in connection with data collected by the International Monetary Fund and the Bank for International Settlements that are used in economic analysis; and (5) assisting in the supervision of U.S. offices of foreign banks. The Federal Reserve System collects and processes these reports on behalf of the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC.

Current Actions

In October 2008, the FDIC Board of Directors adopted the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP) following a determination of systemic risk by the Secretary of the Treasury (after consultation with the President) that was supported by recommendations from the FDIC and the Board. The TLGP is part of an ongoing and coordinated effort by the FDIC, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Board to address unprecedented disruptions in the financial markets and preserve confidence in the American economy.

To facilitate the FDIC's administration of the TLGP, the FDIC Board approved an interim rule on October 23, 2008,^[1] and a final rule on November 21, 2008.^[2] The TLGP comprises two distinct components: the Debt Guarantee Program (DGP), pursuant to which the FDIC guarantees certain senior unsecured debt issued by entities participating in the TLGP, and the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) program, pursuant to which the FDIC guarantees all funds held at participating insured depository institutions (beyond the maximum deposit insurance limit) in qualifying noninterest-bearing transaction accounts. The November 2008 final rule included certain qualifying NOW accounts, among other accounts, as a type of noninterest-bearing transaction account guaranteed by the FDIC pursuant to the TAG program.

The TAG program originally was set to expire on December 31, 2009. The FDIC Board recognized that the TAG program was contributing significantly to improvements in the financial sector, and also noted that many parts of the country were still suffering from the effects of economic turmoil. As a result, on August 26, 2009, following a public notice and comment period, the FDIC Board extended the TAG program through June 30, 2010, with certain modifications to the program.^[3]

The TAG program continues to provide essential support to the banking industry, particularly as community banks remain distressed. Nearly 6,400 insured depository institutions, representing approximately 80 percent of the industry, continue to participate in the TAG program and benefit from the guarantee provided by the FDIC. These institutions held an estimated $340 billion of deposits in accounts currently subject to the FDIC's guarantee as of the end of 2009. Of these, $266 billion represented amounts above the insured deposit limit and guaranteed by the FDIC through its TAG program.

To provide additional stability for participating insured depository institutions and enhance the likelihood of a continuing and sustainable economic recovery in the financial sector, on April 13, 2010, the FDIC Board adopted an interim rule (with a request for comment) extending the TAG program for six months through December 31, 2010, with the possibility of an additional 12-month extension, through December 31, 2011, without further rulemaking upon a determination by the FDIC Board that continuing economic difficulties warrant such an extension.^[4] Although the April 2010 interim rule proposes no increase in fees for continued participation in the TAG program, it modifies the basis upon which a participating institution's assessment is calculated to reflect a change from quarter-end reporting to average daily balance reporting for TAG-related accounts. In addition, in order to align NOW accounts covered by the TAG program with current market rates and to ensure that the program is not used inappropriately by institutions to attract interest-rate-sensitive deposits to fund risky activities, the April 2010 interim rule reduces the interest rate on NOW accounts eligible for the FDIC's guarantee from a maximum of 0.50 percent to a maximum of 0.25 percent. Because the April 2010 interim rule modifies the existing regulatory requirements placed on institutions participating in the TAG program, the rule provides an irrevocable, one-time opportunity for currently participating institutions to opt out of the extended TAG program.

At present, institutions participating in the TAG program report the amount and number of qualifying noninterest-bearing transaction accounts of more than $250,000 as of the quarter-end report date in Call Report Schedule RC-O, Memorandum items 4.a and 4.b; TFR Schedule DI, items DI570 and DI575; and FFIEC 002 Schedule O, Memorandum items 4.a and 4.b. By the very nature of these transaction accounts, the account balances are volatile, fluctuating greatly on any given day due to the operational nature of the deposits, such as for payrolls, and withdrawals made by typical business customers. Therefore, in response to the April 2010 interim rule's modification of the basis upon which a participating institution's assessment is calculated from quarter-end reporting to average daily balance reporting for TAG program-related accounts, the agencies are proposing to change the basis for reporting in the items identified above. Accordingly, the agencies are proposing that the total dollar amount of TAG program-qualifying accounts and the total number of such accounts would be reported as an average daily balance rather than as a quarter-end amount beginning with the September 30, 2010, report date for the Call Report, the TFR, and the FFIEC 002. The amounts to be reported as daily averages would be the total dollar amount of the noninterest-bearing transactions accounts, as defined in the April 2010 interim rule, of more than $250,000 for each calendar day during the quarter divided by the number of calendar days in the quarter. For days that an office of the reporting institution is closed (e.g., Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays), the amounts outstanding from the previous business day would be used. The total number of accounts to be reported would be calculated on the same basis. Thus, all insured depository institutions that do not opt out of the extension of the TAG program must establish procedures to gather the necessary daily data beginning July 1, 2010.

Request for Comment

Public comment is requested on all aspects of this joint notice. Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the proposed revisions to the collections of information that are the subject of this notice are necessary for the proper performance of the agencies' functions, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b) The accuracy of the agencies' estimates of the burden of the information collections as they are proposed to be revised, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Ways to minimize the burden of information collections 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.

Comments submitted in response to this joint notice will be shared among the agencies and will be summarized or included in the agencies' requests for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.

Dated: May 15, 2010.

Michele Meyer,

Assistant Director, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Dated: May 14, 2010.

Jennifer J. Johnson,

Secretary of the Board.

Dated at Washington, DC this 7th day of May 2010.

Robert E. Feldman,

Executive Secretary, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Dated: May 14, 2010.

Ira L. Mills,

Paperwork Clearance Officer, Office of Chief Counsel, Office of Thrift Supervision.

Footnotes

1.  73 FR 64179, October 29, 2008. The FDIC amended the interim rule effective November 4, 2008. 73 FR 66160, November 7, 2008.

2.  73 FR 72244, November 26, 2008.

3.  74 FR 45093, September 1, 2009.

4.  75 FR 20257, April 19, 2010.