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-Is 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 Proposals

The following information collections, which are being handled under this delegated authority, have received initial Board approval and are hereby published for comment. At the end of the comment period, the proposed information collections, 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 August 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments, which should refer to the OMB control number or agency form number, should be addressed to Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20551, or mailed electronically to regs.comments@federalreserve.gov. Comments addressed to Ms. Johnson also may be delivered to the Board's mail room between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., and to the security control room outside of those hours. Both the mail room and the security control room are accessible from the courtyard entrance on 20th Street between Constitution Avenue and C Street, NW. Comments received may be inspected in room M-P-500 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except as provided in section 261.14 of the Board's Rules Regarding Availability of Information, 12 CFR 261.14(a).

A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk officer for the Board: Alexander T. Hunt, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

A copy of the proposed form and instructions, 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. Mary M. West, 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 Diane Jenkins, (202-452-3544), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

Proposal To Approve Under OMB Delegated Authority the Extension for Three Years, With Revision, of the Following Report

Report title: The Bank Holding Company Report of Insured Depository Institutions' Section 23A Transactions with Affiliates.

Agency form number: FR Y-8.

OMB control number: 7100-0126.

Frequency: Quarterly.

Reporters: Bank holding companies, financial holding companies, foreign banking organizations.

Annual reporting hours: 169,661 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: 7.2 hours.

Number of respondents: 5,891.

Small businesses are not affected.

General description of report: This information collection is authorized by section 5(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1844 (c)) and section 225.5 (b) of Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.5 (b)) and is given confidential treatment pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(4) and (8)).

Abstract: The current FR Y-8 collects information on the movement of funds between a domestic bank holding company and its subsidiaries in order to identify broad categories of intercompany transactions and balances that may affect the financial condition of the subsidiary bank. The report also collects information on income recognized by subsidiary banks from other bank holding company members as well as information on credit extended by subsidiary banks to other bank holding company members. Domestic top-tier bank holding companies with assets of $300 million or more are required to file the FR Y-8 on a semiannual basis (June and December). Also, interim reporting is currently required within ten calendar days of certain large asset transfers.

Current actions: On May 19, 2000, a Federal Register notice (65 FR 31912) was issued for public comment to completely revise the FR Y-8. The Federal Reserve proposed to delete the current information on the FR Y-8 and collect fourteen items of information on Section 23A covered transactions. The Federal Reserve is now amending this Federal Register notice, with regard to the FR Y-8 respondent panel, to include foreign banking organizations that directly own U.S. subsidiary banks. The comment period on the May 19, 2000, notice is extended to August 7, 2000. The Federal Reserve proposes, at the same time, to discontinue the Report of Intercompany Transactions for Foreign Banking Organizations and Their U.S. Bank Subsidiaries (FR Y-8f; OMB. 7100-0127). The majority of the FR Y-8f respondents (foreign banking organizations that own U.S. bank subsidiaries through a domestic bank holding company) are included in the FR Y-8 panel proposed in the May 19 Federal Register notice; this amendment includes the remaining 22 foreign banking organizations (that directly own U.S. banks) in the respondent panel.

Discontinuance of the Following Report Under OMB Delegated Authority

Report title: Report of Intercompany Transactions for Foreign Banking Organizations and their U.S. Bank Subsidiaries.

Agency form number: FR Y-8f.

OMB control number: 7100-0127.

Frequency: Semi-annually, and interim reporting required for certain large asset transfers.

Reporters: Bank holding companies as defined by Section 2(a) of the Bank Holding Company Act with at least $300 million in total consolidated assets that are organized under the laws of a foreign country and principally engaged in banking outside the United States.

Annual reporting hours: 360.

Estimated average hours per response: 3.

Number of respondents: 58. semiannual respondents; 4 interim respondents Small businesses are not affected.

General description of report: This information collection is authorized by section 5(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1844 (c)) and section 225.5 (b) of Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.5 (b)) and is given confidential treatment pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552 (b)(8)).

Abstract: This report provides the Federal Reserve System with information on intercompany transactions between foreign banking organizations and their U.S. bank subsidiaries. It enables the Federal Reserve to monitor and supervise intercompany flows of funds to ensure that U.S. subsidiary banks are not engaging in any unsafe and unsound practices with their foreign owners. This report supplements the Board's global framework for the supervision of the U.S. operations of foreign banks. In addition, it aids in determining whether a foreign banking organization serves as a source of strength to its U.S. subsidiary.

Current Actions: On May 19, 2000, a Federal Register notice (65 FR 31912) was issued for public comment to completely revise The Bank Holding Company Report of Insured Depository Institutions' Section 23A Transactions with Affiliates (FR Y-8), which is filed by domestic top-tier bank holding companies. The Federal Reserve now proposes to have foreign banking organizations that directly own U.S. subsidiary banks also file the revised FR Y-8. The comment period on the May 19, 2000, notice is extended to August 7, 2000. If this change to the reporting panel is adopted, the Federal Reserve will, at the same time, discontinue the FR Y-8f.