One-Year Post-Employment Restrictions for Senior Examiners, 69633-69641 [05-22814]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 221 / Thursday, November 17, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
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[FR Doc. 05–22778 Filed 11–16–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency
DATES:
12 CFR Parts 4 and 19
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
RIN 1557–AC94
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
12 CFR Parts 263 and 264a
[Docket No. R–1230]
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
12 CFR Parts 308 and 336
RIN 3064–AC92
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Thrift Supervision
12 CFR Parts 507 and 509
[No. 2005–48]
RIN 1550–AB99
One-Year Post-Employment
Restrictions for Senior Examiners
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: Final rule.
AGENCIES:
SUMMARY: The OCC, Board, FDIC and
OTS (the Agencies) have jointly adopted
final rules to implement section 6303(b)
of the Intelligence Reform and
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
(Intelligence Reform Act), which
imposes post-employment restrictions
on senior examiners of depository
institutions and depository institution
holding companies. Under section
6303(b), and the Agencies’ final
implementing rules, a senior examiner
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Effective Date: December 17,
2005.
[Docket No. 05–19]
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employed by an Agency or a Federal
Reserve Bank (Reserve Bank) may not
knowingly accept compensation as an
employee, officer, director, or
consultant from certain depository
institutions or depository institution
holding companies he or she examined,
or from certain related entities, for one
year after the examiner leaves the
employment or service of the Agency or
Reserve Bank. If an examiner violates
the one-year restriction, the statute
requires the appropriate Federal
banking agency to seek an order of
removal and prohibition, a civil money
penalty of up to $250,000, or both.
Section 10(k) will become effective on
December 17, 2005.
Jkt 208001
OCC: Mitchell Plave, Counsel,
Legislative and Regulatory Activities
Division, (202) 874–5090; Stuart
Feldstein, Assistant Director, Legislative
and Regulatory Activities Division,
(202) 874–5090; or Barrett Aldemeyer,
Senior Counsel, Administrative and
Internal Law Division, (202) 874–4460,
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, 250 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20219.
Board: Cary K. Williams, Assistant
General Counsel, (202) 452–3295,
Kieran J. Fallon, Assistant General
Counsel, (202) 452–5270, Andrea
Tokheim, Attorney, (202) 452–2300,
Legal Division; William Spaniel, Deputy
Associate Director, (202) 452–3469, or
Jinai Holmes, Senior Financial Analyst,
(202) 452–2834, Division of Banking
Supervision and Regulation; for users of
Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf
(TDD) only, contact (202) 263–4869.
FDIC: Robert J. Fagan, Ethics Program
Manager, Legal Division, (202) 898–
6808; Stephen P. Gaddie, Special
Assistant to the Deputy Director,
Division of Supervision and Consumer
Protection, (202) 898–6575; Richard
Osterman, Senior Counsel, Legal
Division, (202) 898–7028; and Kymberly
K. Copa, Counsel, Legal Division, (202)
898–8832, Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, 550 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20429.
OTS: Elizabeth Moore, Special
Counsel, Litigation Division, (202) 906–
7039; or Karen Osterloh, Special
Counsel, Regulations and Legislation
Division, (202) 906–6639, Chief
Counsel’s Office, Office of Thrift
Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20552.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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69633
I. Background
Under section 6303(b) of the
Intelligence Reform Act,1 which added
a new section 10(k) to the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act), an
officer or employee of an Agency or
Reserve Bank who acts as a ‘‘senior
examiner’’ for a particular depository
institution may not, within one year
after terminating employment with the
relevant Agency or Reserve Bank,
knowingly accept compensation as an
officer, director, employee or consultant
from that depository institution or any
company (including a bank holding
company or savings and loan holding
company) that controls the depository
institution.2 Section 10(k) imposes a
similar post-employment restriction on
an officer or employee who acts as the
‘‘senior examiner’’ of a particular
depository institution holding company,
but in these circumstances, the postemployment restrictions apply to
relationships with the depository
institution holding company and any
depository institution subsidiary of the
holding company.3 The restrictions in
section 10(k) apply only to examiners
who served as a senior examiner for a
particular depository institution or
holding company for two or more
months during the final twelve months
of their employment at the Agency or
Reserve Bank.
If a senior examiner violates the oneyear post-employment restrictions in
section 10(k), the statute requires the
appropriate Federal banking agency to
initiate proceedings to impose an order
of removal and prohibition or a civil
money penalty, or both, on the former
senior examiner. Congress directed each
Agency to prescribe regulations to
administer and carry out section 10(k),
including rules, regulations or
guidelines to define the scope of
persons who are ‘‘senior examiners.’’
The post-employment restrictions in
section 10(k) are in addition to any
other conflict of interest and ethics rules
and restrictions that may apply to
1 Pub. L. 108–458, 118 Stat. 3638, 3751–53 (Dec.
17, 2004).
2 For purposes of section 10(k), the term
‘‘depository institution’’ includes an uninsured
branch or agency of a foreign bank, if the branch
or agency is located in a state of the United States.
See 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(2)(A). The FDIC has made a
minor technical change to the definition of
‘‘depository institution’’ in its regulation to
recognize that the term may include uninsured
branches or agencies of foreign banks for these
purposes.
3 For purposes of the post-employment restriction
of section 10(k), the term ‘‘depository institution
holding company’’ means a bank holding company
or a savings and loan holding company, and also
includes, among other things, a foreign bank that
has a branch, agency, or commercial lending
company subsidiary in the United States.
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examiners under applicable Federal law
or the internal codes of conduct
established by an Agency or a Reserve
Bank.
II. Proposed Rule and Comments
Received
On August 5, 2005, the Agencies
jointly published proposed rules that
would implement the post-employment
restrictions in section 10(k).4 The
proposed rules defined the term ‘‘senior
examiner,’’ discussed the types of
Agency and Federal Reserve examiners
that would be considered a ‘‘senior
examiner’’ in light of the examination
programs of each Agency, addressed the
nature and scope of the one-year postemployment restriction, and described
the procedures for seeking penalties on
senior examiners who violate section
10(k).
The Agencies received comments on
the proposal from a trade association for
banking institutions and an individual.
The banking trade association endorsed
the proposed rule without suggestions
for change and, in particular, noted that
the proposed definition of ‘‘senior
examiner’’ clearly and appropriately
defined those individuals who would be
subject to the statutory restriction in
accordance with Congress’ intent. The
individual commenter also generally
supported the proposed rules, but asked
that the Agencies clarify the rules’
application in certain respects. For
example, the commenter asked that the
Agencies clarify whether an examiner
who performs periodic, short-term
examinations of a depository institution
or depository institution holding
company would be considered a ‘‘senior
examiner.’’
III. Final Rule
The Agencies have adopted final rules
that are substantively identical to the
proposed rules. The Agencies, however,
have made minor, technical changes to
the rules as discussed below. As
required, the Agencies have consulted
with each other to assure that the final
rules are, to the extent possible,
consistent, comparable and practicable,
taking into account the differences in
the supervisory programs utilized by the
Agencies for the supervision of
depository institutions and depository
institution holding companies.5
A. Definition of ‘‘Senior Examiner’’
The post-employment restrictions in
section 10(k) apply only to an officer or
employee of an Agency or Reserve Bank
who serves as the ‘‘senior examiner’’ (or
4 70
FR 45323 (Aug. 5, 2005).
5 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(4)(B).
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16:07 Nov 16, 2005
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in a functionally equivalent position) of
a particular depository institution or
depository institution holding company
and who, in this capacity, has
‘‘continuing, broad responsibility for the
examination (or inspection) of that
depository institution or depository
institution holding company’’ on behalf
of the relevant Agency or Reserve
Bank.6 The final rules, like the proposed
rules, provide that an officer or
employee of an Agency or a Reserve
Bank will be considered the ‘‘senior
examiner’’ for a particular depository
institution or depository institution
holding company if:
• The individual has been authorized
by the relevant Agency to conduct
examinations or inspections on behalf of
the Agency; 7
• The relevant Agency or Reserve
Bank has assigned the individual
continuing, broad, and lead
responsibility for examining or
inspecting the depository institution or
holding company; and
• The individual’s responsibilities for
the depository institution or holding
company represent a substantial portion
of the individual’s assigned
responsibilities and require the
individual to routinely interact with
officers or employees of the institution,
holding company, or its affiliates.
To be considered a ‘‘senior
examiner,’’ an officer or employee must
meet each of the criteria listed above.
Thus, if a substantial portion of an
examiner’s responsibilities involve
conducting or leading a targeted
examination (such as a review of an
institution’s credit risk management,
information systems or internal audit
functions), but the examiner does not
have broad and lead responsibility for
the Agency’s or Reserve Bank’s overall
examination program with respect to the
institution, the examiner would not be
considered a ‘‘senior examiner’’ with
respect to the institution. Such an
examiner is not likely to develop the
type and degree of relationship with any
one institution that the postemployment restriction was designed to
address. In addition, the final rules
would not cover an examiner who
performs only periodic, short-term
examinations of a depository institution
or depository institution holding
6 Id.
§ 1820(k)(1)(B).
Agencies have modified the proposed rules
to refer to individuals who have been ‘‘authorized’’
to conduct examinations, rather than
‘‘commissioned’’ or ‘‘designated’’ to conduct
examinations, to reflect the fact that some
individuals authorized to conduct examinations of
depository institutions or holding companies may
be credentialed to conduct such examinations, but
not yet formally be ‘‘commissioned’’ to do so.
7 The
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company and who does not have
ongoing, continuing responsibility for
the institution or holding company.
Similarly, an examiner who divides his
or her time across a portfolio of
depository institutions or holding
companies, each of which does not
represent a substantial portion of the
examiner’s responsibilities, also would
not be considered a ‘‘senior examiner.’’
To be a ‘‘senior examiner,’’ the
examiner also must have ‘‘continuing’’
responsibility for the relevant Agency’s
or Reserve Bank’s supervisory program
with respect to the particular depository
institution or depository institution
holding company. The Agencies believe
that an examiner would have
‘‘continuing’’ responsibility for an
institution or holding company only
when the examiner’s responsibilities for
the institution or company were
expected to continue for a sufficient
period of time, for example, for at least
two months, that would enable the
examiner to develop the type and degree
of ‘‘meaningful,’’ ‘‘dedicated’’ and
‘‘sustained’’ relationship with the
institution or company that the statute
was designed to address.8
The Agencies believe that the
definition of ‘‘senior examiner’’
properly applies the post-employment
restrictions in section 10(k) to those
examiners who, by reason of their
position and assigned responsibilities,
have broad responsibility for a
depository institution or depository
institution holding company and are
expected to devote a substantial amount
of their time to that institution or
holding company on a continuing basis.
Because the titles and roles of
examiners vary among the Agencies, the
preamble to the proposed rules
described the types of examiners that
each Agency expected would be
considered a ‘‘senior examiner’’ in light
of the structure and nature of the
Agency’s supervisory program.9 The
trade association commenter found that
these descriptions were very helpful,
and the Agencies believe these
descriptions accurately describe the
types of examiners that may be
considered ‘‘senior examiners’’ under
the Agencies’ current supervisory
programs. To further help examiners
comply with the one-year postemployment restrictions, the Agencies
intend to establish and maintain
appropriate procedures to notify an
examiner in writing if the relevant
Agency believes the examiner’s assigned
responsibilities would cause the
8 150 Cong. Rec. S10356 (daily ed. Oct. 4, 2004)
(statement of Sen. Levin).
9 See 70 FR 45326–45327 (August 5, 2005).
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examiner to be considered a ‘‘senior
examiner’’ with respect to any
depository institution or depository
institution holding company.
Nonetheless, the post-employment
restrictions in section 10(k) and the final
rules apply directly to senior examiners,
and examiners are responsible for
becoming familiar with and ensuring
their own compliance with the statute.
Accordingly, examiners who have
questions concerning whether they may
be considered a ‘‘senior examiner’’ for
an institution or holding company are
encouraged to contact the appropriate
persons at their respective Agency or
Reserve Bank.
B. One-Year Post-Employment
Restrictions
If an officer or employee of an Agency
or a Reserve Bank serves as the senior
examiner for a depository institution
during two or more months of the
individual’s final twelve months of
employment with the Agency or Reserve
Bank, section 10(k) prohibits the
individual from knowingly accepting
compensation as an employee, officer,
director, or consultant from the
depository institution or any company
that controls the depository institution
(including a bank holding company or
savings and loan holding company) for
one year after leaving the employment
of the Agency or Reserve Bank. Because
the prohibition extends to companies
that control the relevant depository
institution, it would not prohibit the
senior examiner from accepting
employment with a subsidiary or
affiliate of a bank holding company,
savings and loan holding company, or
other company that controls the
depository institution (other than the
depository institution for which the
individual served as a senior
examiner).10
If an officer or employee serves as the
senior examiner for a depository
institution holding company for two or
more months during the last twelve
months of his or her employment with
an Agency or a Reserve Bank, the statute
and final rule prohibit the individual
from becoming employed by, or
otherwise accepting compensation in
the manner described above, from that
holding company or any depository
institution subsidiary of the holding
10 The Agencies note, however, that a former
senior examiner may not evade the postemployment restrictions in section 10(k) by
nominally accepting employment with a company
not directly covered by the post-employment
restrictions, but then functionally serve as an
officer, employee, director, or consultant for a
depository institution or company that the former
senior examiner would have been prohibited from
working for directly.
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16:07 Nov 16, 2005
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company for one year after leaving the
employment of the Agency or Reserve
Bank.
Under section 10(k), a person is
deemed to be a consultant for purposes
of the one-year post-employment
restrictions only if such person ‘‘directly
works on matters for, or on behalf of,’’
the relevant depository institution,
depository institution holding company
or other company.11 The Agencies have
incorporated this rule of construction
into the final rules. We interpret this
provision to mean that a former senior
examiner who joins a consulting or
other firm may not, during the twelvemonth post-employment ‘‘cooling-off’’
period, participate in any work that the
firm is conducting for a depository
institution or company that the former
senior examiner would be prohibited
from doing directly.12 The former senior
examiner would not, however, violate
the post-employment restrictions in
section 10(k) by joining a firm that
performs work for such an institution or
company as long as the former senior
examiner does not personally
participate in any such work.
As provided by section 10(k), the
head of each Agency may waive
application of the statute’s postemployment restrictions to a senior
examiner on a case-by-case basis if the
head of the Agency determines that
‘‘granting the waiver would not affect
the integrity of the supervisory program
of [such Agency].’’ 13 The Agencies
expect to grant waivers only in special
circumstances. If an Agency grants a
waiver to a senior examiner, the postemployment restrictions in section
10(k), and the associated penalties,
would not apply to the senior examiner.
C. Penalties
If a senior examiner violates the postemployment restrictions in section
10(k), the statute requires the
appropriate Agency to seek one of the
following penalties:
• An order (1) removing the
individual from his or her position at,
or prohibiting the individual from
further participation in the affairs of, the
relevant depository institution,
depository institution holding company,
or other company for a period of up to
five years, and (2) prohibiting the
individual from participating in the
conduct of the affairs of any insured
11 12
U.S.C. 1820(k)(3).
course, a former senior examiner who is selfemployed similarly may not accept compensation
for work performed as a consultant in his or her
individual capacity for the relevant depository
institution, depository institution holding company,
or other company.
13 Id. § 1820(k)(5).
12 Of
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69635
depository institution for a period of up
to five years; or
• A civil monetary penalty of not
more than $250,000.14
An Agency also has the discretion to
seek both of these penalties. A former
senior examiner who is subject to a
removal and prohibition order under
section 10(k) is also subject to
paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 8(e) of
the FDI Act, which pertain to the scope
of orders prohibiting a person from
participating in certain banking
activities.15 These provisions, for
example, would prohibit a former senior
examiner, for the duration of a
prohibition order issued under section
10(k), from participating in the affairs of
any bank holding company or
subsidiary of a bank holding company,
savings and loan holding company or
subsidiary of a savings and loan holding
company, foreign bank that operates a
branch, agency or commercial lending
company subsidiary in the United States
or any subsidiary of such a foreign bank,
or certain other entities, such as credit
unions.16 In addition, these provisions
would prohibit the individual, during
the term of the prohibition order, from
accepting employment with any
appropriate Federal financial
institutions regulatory agency (as
defined in 12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(7)(D)), and
certain other Federal agencies. The
penalties that may apply to a senior
examiner under section 10(k) are in
addition to any other administrative,
civil, or criminal penalty that may
apply.
Under section 10(k), to obtain an
order of removal or prohibition, an
Agency must follow the rules and
procedures that apply in similar types of
proceedings against depository
institutions and institution-affiliated
parties. Specifically, section 10(k) states
that removal and prohibition
proceedings must be conducted in
accordance with section 8(e)(4) of the
FDI Act, which provides the individual
the right to an administrative hearing
prior to final Agency action. Section
10(k) further provides that an Agency
seeking to impose a civil monetary
penalty on a former senior examiner
must do so either in accordance with
14 Id. § 1820(k)(6)(A). If the appropriate Federal
banking agency does not assess a civil monetary
penalty against a senior examiner who violates the
post-employment restrictions in section 10(k), the
Attorney General of the United States may bring a
civil action to impose such a penalty against the
senior examiner. Id.
15 Id. § 1820(k)(6)(B).
16 The appropriate Agency may consent to a
change in the application of this restriction as it
applies to a particular institution or other company,
as provided in section 8(e)(7)(B) of the FDI Act (12
U.S.C. 1818(e)(7)(B)).
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section 8(i) of the FDI Act, which also
provides the individual the right to an
administrative hearing prior to final
Agency action, or through a civil action
brought in an appropriate United States
District Court.17
As stated in the preamble to the
proposal, the Agencies do not believe it
is necessary to codify these procedures,
which are adequately set forth in the
statute. Accordingly, the final rules
cross-reference the required statutory
procedures. Proceedings against
examiners for violations of the postemployment restrictions would take
place in accordance with the Agencies’
rules of practice and procedure, and the
Agencies have amended the scope
sections of their respective Rules of
Practice and Procedure to reflect this
fact.
D. Effective Date
The Intelligence Reform Act provides
that the post-employment restrictions
imposed by section 10(k) shall become
effective on December 17, 2005.18
Accordingly, section 10(k) and the final
rules apply only to officers or
employees of an Agency or Reserve
Bank who terminate their employment
with the Agency or Reserve Bank on or
after December 17, 2005. As explained
in the proposal, however, because of the
statute’s twelve-month ‘‘look-back’’
provision, an officer or employee who
leaves an Agency or a Reserve Bank
within one year of December 17, 2005,
may be subject to the post-employment
restrictions in section 10(k) based on his
or her examination responsibilities as
far back as December 17, 2004.
For example, if an Agency examiner
terminates his or her employment with
the relevant Agency on January 1, 2006,
and the individual, while employed by
the Agency, served as the ‘‘senior
examiner’’ for a particular depository
institution from May 1, 2005 to October
1, 2005, the individual is subject to the
post-employment restrictions. Although
the service that caused the individual to
be considered a ‘‘senior examiner’’
occurred prior to December 17, 2005,
such service occurred during the last
twelve months of the individual’s
employment with the Agency and,
accordingly, the examiner may not
become employed by the relevant
depository institution, or any company
that controls the depository institution,
until January 2, 2007. However, if in the
foregoing example the examiner
terminated his or her employment with
the Agency prior to December 17, 2005
17 Id.
§ 1820(k)(6).
section 6303(d) of the Intelligence Reform
18 See
Act.
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16:07 Nov 16, 2005
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(the effective date of the statute), the
employee would not be subject to the
post-employment restrictions in section
10(k).
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Under section 605(b) of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.
605(b) (RFA), each Agency certifies that
the final rules will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Section 10(k)
and the final rules impose postemployment restrictions on certain
senior examiners employed by an
Agency or a Reserve Bank and do not
impose any obligations or restrictions
on banking organizations, including
small banking organizations.
Executive Order 12866
The OCC and OTS have determined
that this final rulemaking is not a
significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
Under section 202 of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C.
1532 (Unfunded Mandates Act), the
OCC and OTS must prepare a budgetary
impact statement before promulgating
any rule likely to result in a Federal
mandate that may result in the
expenditure by State, local, and tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector, of $100 million or more
in any one year. If a budgetary impact
statement is required, section 205 of the
Unfunded Mandates Act also requires
the OCC and OTS to identify and
consider a reasonable number of
regulatory alternatives before
promulgating the rule. The OCC and
OTS have determined that their
respective final rules will not result in
expenditures by state, local, and tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector, of $100 million or more
in any one year. Accordingly, neither
the OCC nor OTS has prepared a
budgetary impact statement or
specifically addressed the regulatory
alternatives considered.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Ch.
3506; 5 CFR 1320 Appendix A.1), the
Agencies reviewed the final rule. No
collections of information pursuant to
the Paperwork Reduction Act are
contained in the final rule.
Plain Language
Section 722 of the Gramm-LeachBliley Act, Public Law 106–102, 113
Stat. 1338, 1471 (Nov. 12, 1999) requires
the Federal banking agencies to use
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plain language in all proposed and final
rules published after January 1, 2000. As
noted above, commenters generally
found the proposed rules were clear and
the final rules are substantively similar
to the proposed rules.
List of Subjects
12 CFR Part 4
Administrative practice and
procedure, Availability and release of
information, Confidential business
information, Contracting outreach
program, Freedom of information,
National banks, Organization and
functions (government agencies),
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Women and minority
businesses.
12 CFR Part 19
Administrative practice and
procedure, Crime, Equal access to
justice, Investigation, National banks,
Penalties, Securities.
12 CFR Part 263
Administrative practice and
procedure, Claims, Crime, Equal access
to justice, Lawyers, Penalties.
12 CFR Part 264a
Conflicts of interest.
12 CFR Part 308
Administrative practice and
procedure, Bank deposit insurance,
Claims, Crime, Equal access to justice,
Investigations, Lawyers, Penalties.
12 CFR Part 336
Conflict of interests.
12 CFR Part 507
Ethics, Governmental employees, OTS
employees.
12 CFR Part 509
Administrative practice and
procedure, Penalties.
Department of the Treasury
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency
12 CFR Chapter I
Authority and Issuance
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the OCC amends parts 4 and
19 of title 12 of the Code of Federal
Regulations as follows:
I 1. The title of part 4 is revised to read
as follows:
I
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PART 4—ORGANIZATION AND
FUNCTIONS, AVAILABILITY AND
RELEASE OF INFORMATION,
CONTRACTING OUTREACH
PROGRAM, POST-EMPLOYMENT
RESTRICTIONS FOR SENIOR
EXAMINERS
2. The authority citation for part 4 is
revised to read as follows:
I
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 93a. Subpart A also
issued under 5 U.S.C. 552; Subpart B also
issued under 5 U.S.C. 552; E.O. 12600 (3 CFR
1987 Comp., p. 235). Subpart C also issued
under 5 U.S.C. 301, 552; 12 U.S.C. 161, 481,
482, 484(a), 1442, 1817(a)(3), 1818(u) and (v),
1820(d)(6), 1820(k), 1821(c), 1821(o), 1821(t),
1831m, 1831p-1, 1831o, 1867, 1951 et seq.,
2601 et seq., 2801 et seq., 2901 et seq., 3101
et seq., 3401 et seq.; 15 U.S.C. 77uu(b),
78q(c)(3); 18 U.S.C. 641, 1905, 1906; 29
U.S.C. 1204; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 3601;
44 U.S.C. 3506, 3510. Subpart D also issued
under 12 U.S.C. 1833e.
3. A new subpart E is added to part
4 to read as follows:
I
Subpart E—One-Year Restrictions on
Post-Employment Activities of Senior
Examiners
Sec.
4.72
4.73
4.74
Scope and purpose.
Definitions.
One-year post-employment
restrictions.
4.75 Effective date; waivers.
4.76 Penalties.
§ 4.72
Scope and purpose.
This subpart describes those OCC
examiners who are subject to the postemployment restrictions set forth in
section 10(k) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (FDI Act) (12 U.S.C.
1820(k)) and implements those
restrictions for officers and employees
of the OCC.
§ 4.73
Definitions.
For purposes of this subpart:
Bank holding company means any
company that controls a bank (as
provided in section 2 of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956 (12
U.S.C. 1841 et seq.)).
Consultant. For purposes of this
subpart, a consultant for a national
bank, bank holding company, or other
company shall include only an
individual who works directly on
matters for, or on behalf of, such bank,
bank holding company, or other
company.
Control has the meaning given in
section 2 of the Bank Holding Company
Act (12 U.S.C. 1841(a)). For purposes of
this subpart, a foreign bank shall be
deemed to control any branch or agency
of the foreign bank.
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Depository institution has the
meaning given in section 3 of the FDI
Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)). For purposes of
this subpart, a depository institution
includes an uninsured branch or agency
of a foreign bank, if such branch or
agency is located in any State.
Federal Reserve means the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve
System and the Federal Reserve Banks.
Foreign bank means any foreign bank
or company described in section 8(a) of
the International Banking Act of 1978
(12 U.S.C. 3106(a)).
Insured depository institution has the
meaning given in section 3 of the FDI
Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2)).
National bank means a national
banking association or a Federal branch
or agency of a foreign bank.
Senior examiner. For purposes of this
subpart, an officer or employee of the
OCC is considered to be the ‘‘senior
examiner’’ for a particular national bank
if—
(1) The officer or employee has been
authorized by the OCC to conduct
examinations on behalf of the OCC;
(2) The officer or employee has been
assigned continuing, broad, and lead
responsibility for examining the
national bank; and
(3) The officer’s or employee’s
responsibilities for examining the
national bank—
(i) Represent a substantial portion of
the officer’s or employee’s assigned
responsibilities; and
(ii) Require the officer or employee to
interact routinely with officers or
employees of the national bank or its
affiliates.
§ 4.74 One-year post-employment
restrictions.
An officer or employee of the OCC
who serves as the senior examiner of a
national bank for two or more months
during the last twelve months of such
individual’s employment with the OCC
may not, within one year after leaving
the employment of the OCC, knowingly
accept compensation as an employee,
officer, director or consultant from the
national bank, or any company
(including a bank holding company)
that controls the national bank.
§ 4.75
Effective date; waivers.
The post-employment restrictions set
forth in section 10(k) of the FDI Act and
§ 4.74 do not apply to any officer or
employee of the OCC, or any former
officer or employee of the OCC, if—
(a) The individual ceased to be an
officer or employee of the OCC before
December 17, 2005; or
(b) The Comptroller of the Currency
certifies, in writing and on a case-by-
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69637
case basis, that granting the individual
a waiver of the restrictions would not
affect the integrity of the OCC’s
supervisory program.
§ 4.76
Penalties.
(a) Penalties under section 10(k) of
FDI Act. If a senior examiner of a
national bank, after leaving the
employment of the OCC, accepts
compensation as an employee, officer,
director, or consultant from that bank,
or any company (including a bank
holding company) that controls that
bank, then the examiner shall, in
accordance with section 10(k)(6) of the
FDI Act, be subject to one of the
following penalties—
(1) An order—
(i) Removing the individual from
office or prohibiting the individual from
further participation in the affairs of the
relevant national bank, bank holding
company, or other company that
controls such institution for a period of
up to five years; and
(ii) Prohibiting the individual from
participating in the affairs of any
insured depository institution for a
period of up to five years; or
(2) A civil monetary penalty of not
more than $250,000.
(b) Enforcement by appropriate
Federal banking agency. Violations of
§ 4.74 shall be administered or enforced
by the appropriate Federal banking
agency for the depository institution or
depository institution holding company
that provided compensation to the
former senior examiner. For purposes of
this paragraph, the appropriate Federal
banking agency for a company that is
not a depository institution or
depository institution holding company
shall be the Federal banking agency that
formerly employed the senior examiner.
(c) Scope of prohibition orders. Any
senior examiner who is subject to an
order issued under paragraph (a) of this
section shall, as required by 12 U.S.C.
1820(k)(6)(B), be subject to paragraphs
(6) and (7) of section 8(e) of the FDI Act
(12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(6)–(7)) in the same
manner and to the same extent as a
person subject to an order issued under
section 8(e).
(d) Procedures. The procedures
applicable to actions under paragraph
(a) of this section are provided in
section 10(k)(6) of the FDI Act (12
U.S.C. 1820(k)(6)) and in 12 CFR part
19.
(e) Remedies not exclusive. The OCC
may seek both of the penalties described
in paragraph (a) of this section. In
addition, a senior examiner who accepts
compensation as described in § 4.74
may be subject to other administrative,
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civil or criminal remedies or penalties
as provided in law.
PART 19—RULES OF PRACTICE AND
PROCEDURE
4. The authority citation for part 19
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 554–557; 12
U.S.C. 93(b), 93a, 164, 505, 1817, 1818, 1820,
1831m, 1831o, 1972, 3102, 3108(a), 3909 and
4717; 15 U.S.C. 78(h) and (i), 78o–4(c), 78o–
5, 78q–1, 78s, 78u, 78u–2, 78u–3, and 78w;
28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31 U.S.C. 330 and 5321;
and 42 U.S.C. 4012a.
5. Section 19.1 is amended by
redesignating paragraph (g) as paragraph
(h), removing the word ‘‘and’’ at the end
of the paragraph (f), and adding a new
paragraph (g) to read as follows:
I
§ 19.1
Scope.
*
*
*
*
*
(g) Removal, prohibition, and civil
monetary penalty proceedings under
section 10(k) of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C.
1820(k)) for violations of the postemployment restrictions imposed by
that section; and
*
*
*
*
*
Authority and Issuance
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the Board is amending part
263 and adding a new part 264a to Title
12, Chapter II, of the Code of Federal
Regulations as follows:
I
PART 263—RULES OF PRACTICE FOR
HEARINGS
1. The authority citation for part 263
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504; 12 U.S.C. 248,
324, 504, 505, 1817(j), 1818, 1828(c), 1831o,
1831p–1, 1847(b), 1847(d), 1884(b),
1972(2)(F), 3105, 3107, 3108, 3907, 3909; 15
U.S.C. 21, 78o–4, 78o–5, 78u–2; and 28
U.S.C. 2461 note.
2. Section 263.1 is amended by
redesignating paragraph (g) as paragraph
(h), removing the word ‘‘and’’ at the end
of the paragraph (f), and adding new
paragraph (g) to read as follows:
Scope.
*
*
*
*
(g) Removal, prohibition, and civil
monetary penalty proceedings under
section 10(k) of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C.
1820(k)) for violations of the special
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Jkt 208001
Sec.
264a.1 What is the purpose and scope of
this part?
264a.2 Who is considered a senior
examiner of the Federal Reserve?
264a.3 What special post-employment
restrictions apply to senior examiners?
264a.4 When do these special restrictions
become effective and may they be
waived?
264a.5 What are the penalties for violating
these special post-employment
restrictions?
264a.6 What other definitions and rules of
construction apply for purposes of this
part?
This part identifies those officers and
employees of the Federal Reserve that
are subject to the special postemployment restrictions set forth in
section 10(k) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (FDI Act) and implements
those restrictions as they apply to
officers and employees of the Federal
Reserve.
12 CFR Chapter II
*
PART 264a—POST-EMPLOYMENT
RESTRICTIONS FOR SENIOR
EXAMINERS
§ 264a.1 What is the purpose and scope of
this part?
Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System
§ 263.1
3. New part 264a is added to read as
follows:
I
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1820(k).
Dated: November 14, 2005.
John C. Dugan,
Comptroller of the Currency.
I
post-employment restrictions imposed
by that section; and
*
*
*
*
*
§ 264a.2 Who is considered a senior
examiner of the Federal Reserve?
For purposes of this part, an officer or
employee of the Federal Reserve is
considered to be the ‘‘senior examiner’’
for a particular state member bank, bank
holding company or foreign bank if—
(a) The officer or employee has been
authorized by the Board to conduct
examinations or inspections on behalf of
the Board;
(b) The officer or employee has been
assigned continuing, broad and lead
responsibility for examining or
inspecting the state member bank, bank
holding company or foreign bank; and
(c) The officer’s or employee’s
responsibilities for examining,
inspecting and supervising the state
member bank, bank holding company or
foreign bank—
(1) Represent a substantial portion of
the officer’s or employee’s assigned
responsibilities; and
(2) Require the officer or employee to
interact routinely with officers or
employees of the state member bank,
bank holding company or foreign bank
or its affiliates.
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§ 264a.3 What special post-employment
restrictions apply to senior examiners?
(a) Senior Examiners of State Member
Banks. An officer or employee of the
Federal Reserve who serves as the
senior examiner of a state member bank
for two or more months during the last
twelve months of such individual’s
employment with the Federal Reserve
may not, within one year after leaving
the employment of the Federal Reserve,
knowingly accept compensation as an
employee, officer, director or consultant
from—
(1) The state member bank; or
(2) Any company (including a bank
holding company) that controls the state
member bank.
(b) Senior Examiners of Bank Holding
Companies. An officer or employee of
the Federal Reserve who serves as the
senior examiner of a bank holding
company for two or more months during
the last twelve months of such
individual’s employment with the
Federal Reserve may not, within one
year of leaving the employment of the
Federal Reserve, knowingly accept
compensation as an employee, officer,
director or consultant from—
(1) The bank holding company; or
(2) Any depository institution that is
controlled by the bank holding
company.
(c) Senior Examiners of Foreign
Banks. An officer or employee of the
Federal Reserve who serves as the
senior examiner of a foreign bank for
two or more months during the last
twelve months of such individual’s
employment with the Federal Reserve
may not, within one year of leaving the
employment of the Federal Reserve,
knowingly accept compensation as an
employee, officer, director or consultant
from—
(1) The foreign bank; or
(2) Any branch or agency of the
foreign bank located in the United
States; or
(3) Any other depository institution
controlled by the foreign bank.
§ 264a.4 When do these special
restrictions become effective and may they
be waived?
The post-employment restrictions set
forth in section 10(k) of the FDI Act and
§ 264a.3 do not apply to any officer or
employee of the Federal Reserve, or any
former officer or employee of the
Federal Reserve, if—
(a) The individual ceased to be an
officer or employee of the Federal
Reserve before December 17, 2005; or
(b) The Chairman of the Board of
Governors certifies, in writing and on a
case-by-case basis, that granting the
individual a waiver of the restrictions
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would not affect the integrity of the
Federal Reserve’s supervisory program.
§ 264a.5 What are the penalties for
violating these special post-employment
restrictions?
(a) Penalties under section 10(k) of
FDI Act.—A senior examiner of the
Federal Reserve who, after leaving the
employment of the Federal Reserve,
violates the restrictions set forth in
§ 264a.3 shall, in accordance with
section 10(k)(6) of the FDI Act, be
subject to one or both of the following
penalties—
(1) An order—
(i) Removing the individual from
office or prohibiting the individual from
further participation in the affairs of the
relevant state member bank, bank
holding company, foreign bank or other
depository institution or company for a
period of up to five years; and
(ii) Prohibiting the individual from
participating in the affairs of any
insured depository institution for a
period of up to five years; and/or
(2) A civil monetary penalty of not
more than $250,000.
(b) Imposition of penalties. The
penalties described in paragraph (a) of
this section shall be imposed by the
appropriate Federal banking agency as
determined under section 10(k)(6) of the
FDI Act, which may be an agency other
than the Federal Reserve.
(c) Scope of prohibition orders. Any
senior examiner who is subject to an
order issued under paragraph (a) of this
section shall, as required by section
10(k)(6)(B) of the FDI Act, be subject to
paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 8(e) of
the FDI Act in the same manner and to
the same extent as a person subject to
an order issued under section 8(e).
(d) Procedures. The procedures
applicable to actions under paragraph
(a) of this section are provided in
section 10(k)(6) of the FDI Act.
(e) Other penalties. The penalties set
forth in paragraph (a) of this section are
not exclusive, and a senior examiner
who violates the restrictions in § 264a.3
also may be subject to other
administrative, civil or criminal
remedies or penalties as provided in
law.
§ 264a.6 What other definitions and rules
of construction apply for purposes of this
part?
For purposes of this part—
(a) Bank holding company means any
company that controls a bank (as
provided in section 2 of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956 (12
U.S.C. 1841 et seq.)).
(b) A person shall be deemed to act as
a consultant for a bank or other
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16:07 Nov 16, 2005
Jkt 208001
company only if such person works
directly on matters for, or on behalf of,
such bank or other company.
(c) Control has the meaning given in
section 2 of the Bank Holding Company
Act.
(d) Depository institution has the
meaning given in section 3 of the FDI
Act and includes an uninsured branch
or agency of a foreign bank, if such
branch or agency is located in any State.
(e) Federal Reserve means the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System and the Federal Reserve Banks.
(f) Foreign bank means any foreign
bank or company described in section
8(a) of the International Banking Act of
1978 (12 U.S.C. 3106(a)).
(g) Insured depository institution has
the meaning given in section 3 of the
FDI Act.
Dated: November 10, 2005.
By order of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Deputy Secretary of the Board.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
12 CFR Chapter III
Authority and Issuance
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, the FDIC amends chapter III
of title 12 of the Code of Federal
Regulations as follows:
I
PART 308—RULES OF PRACTICE AND
PROCEDURES
1. The authority for part 308
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 554–557; 12
U.S.C. 93(b), 164, 505, 1815(e), 1817, 1818,
1820, 1828, 1829, 1829b, 1831i, 1831m(g)(4),
1831o, 1831p–1, 1832(c), 1884(b), 1972,
3102, 3108(a), 3349, 3909, 4717; 15 U.S.C.
78(h) and (i), 78o–4(c), 78o–5, 78q–1, 78s,
78u, 78u–2, 78u–3, 78w, 6801(b), 6805(b)(1);
28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31 U.S.C. 330, 5321; 42
U.S.C. 4012a; Sec. 3100(s) Pub. L. 104–134,
110 Stat. 1321–358.
2. In § 308.1, redesignate paragraph (g)
as paragraph (h), remove the word
‘‘and’’ at the end of the paragraph (f),
and add a new paragraph (g) to read as
follows:
I
§ 308.1
Scope.
*
*
*
*
*
(g) Proceedings under section 10(k) of
the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1820(k)) to impose
penalties for violations of the postemployment restrictions under that
subsection; and
*
*
*
*
*
PART 336—FDIC EMPLOYEES
3. Subpart C is added to Part 336 to
read as follows:
I
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69639
Subpart C—One-Year Restriction on
Post-Employment Activities of Senior
Examiners
Sec.
336.10 Purpose and scope.
336.11 Definitions.
336.12 One-year post-employment
restriction.
336.13 Penalties.
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1819 and 1820(k).
§ 336.10
Purpose and scope.
This subpart applies to officers or
employees of the FDIC who are subject
to the post-employment restrictions set
forth in section 10(k) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C.
1820(k), and implements those
restrictions as they apply to officers and
employees of the FDIC.
§ 336.11
Definitions.
For purposes of this subpart:
(a) Bank holding company has the
meaning given to such term in section
2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841(a)).
(b) A consultant for an insured
depository institution or other company
shall include only individuals who
work directly on matters for, or on
behalf of, such institution or other
company.
(c) Control has the meaning given to
such term in section 336.3(b), and a
foreign bank shall be deemed to control
any insured branch of the foreign bank.
(d) Depository institution means any
bank or savings association, including a
branch of a foreign bank, if such branch
is located in the United States.
(e) Foreign bank means any bank or
company described in section 8(a) of the
International Banking Act of 1978 (12
U.S.C. 3106(a)).
(f) Savings and loan holding company
has the meaning given to such term in
section 10(a)(1)(D) of the Home Owners’
Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a(a)(1)(D)).
(g) A senior examiner for an insured
depository institution means an officer
or employee of the FDIC—
(1) who has been authorized by the
FDIC to conduct examinations or
inspections of insured depository
institutions on behalf of the FDIC;
(2) who has been assigned continuing,
broad, and lead responsibility for the
examination or inspection of the
institution;
(3) who routinely interacts with
officers or employees of the institution
or its affiliates; and
(4) whose responsibilities with
respect to the institution represent a
substantial portion of the FDIC officer or
employee’s overall responsibilities.
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§ 336.12 One-year post-employment
restriction.
(a) Prohibition. An officer or
employee of the FDIC who serves as a
senior examiner of an insured
depository institution for at least 2
months during the last 12 months of
that individual’s employment with the
FDIC may not, within 1 year after the
termination date of his or her
employment with the FDIC, knowingly
accept compensation as an employee,
officer, director, or consultant from—
(1) The insured depository institution;
or
(2) Any company (including a bank
holding company or savings and loan
holding company) that controls such
institution.
(b) Waivers. The post-employment
restrictions in paragraph (a) of this
section will not apply to a senior
examiner if the FDIC Chairperson
certifies in writing and on a case-by case
basis that a waiver of the restrictions
will not affect the integrity of the FDIC’s
supervisory program.
(c) Effective Date. The postemployment restrictions in paragraph
(a) of this section will not apply to any
officer or employee of the FDIC, or any
former officer or employee of the FDIC,
who ceased to be an officer or employee
of the FDIC before December 17, 2005.
§ 336.13
Penalties.
(a) Penalties under section 10(k) of the
FDI Act. A senior examiner of the FDIC
who violates the post-employment
restrictions set forth in § 336.12 shall be
subject to the following penalties—
(1) An order—
(i) Removing such person from office
or prohibiting such person from further
participation in the affairs of the
relevant insured depository institution
or company (including a bank holding
company or savings and loan holding
company) that controls such institution
for a period of up to five years, and
(ii) Prohibiting any further
participation by such person, in any
manner, in the affairs of any insured
depository institution for a period of up
to five years; or
(2) A civil monetary penalty of not
more than $250,000; or
(3) Both.
(b) Enforcement by appropriate
Federal banking agency of hiring entity.
Violations of § 336.12 shall be enforced
by the appropriate Federal banking
agency of the depository institution,
depository institution holding company,
or other company at which the violation
occurred, as determined under section
10(k)(6), which may be an agency other
than the FDIC.
(c) Scope of prohibition orders. Any
senior examiner who is subject to an
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order issued under paragraph (a)(1) of
this section shall, as required by 12
U.S.C. 1820(k)(6)(B), be subject to
paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 8(e) in
the same manner and to the same extent
as a person subject to an order issued
under section 8(e).
(d) Other penalties. The penalties set
forth in paragraph (a) of this section are
not exclusive, and a senior examiner
who violates the restrictions in § 336.12
may also be subject to other
administrative, civil, or criminal
remedies or penalties as provided by
law.
Dated at Washington, DC, this 8th day of
November, 2005.
By order of the Board of Directors.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
authorized by OTS to conduct
examinations or inspections of savings
associations or savings and loan holding
companies;
(b) The individual has been assigned
continuing, broad and lead
responsibility for the examination or
inspection of that savings association or
savings and loan holding company; and
(c) The individual’s responsibilities
for examining, inspecting, or
supervising that savings association or
savings and loan holding company:
(1) Represent a substantial portion of
the individual’s assigned
responsibilities at OTS; and
(2) Require the individual to interact
on a routine basis with officers and
employees of the savings association,
savings and loan holding company, or
its affiliates.
Department of the Treasury
§ 507.3 What post-employment restrictions
apply to senior examiners?
Office of Thrift Supervision
(a) Prohibition. (1) Senior examiner of
savings association. An individual who
serves as a senior examiner of a savings
association for two or more of the last
12 months of his or her employment
with OTS may not, within one year after
the termination date of his or her
employment with OTS, knowingly
accept compensation as an employee,
officer, director, or consultant from—
(i) The savings association; or
(ii) A savings and loan holding
company, bank holding company, or
any other company that controls the
savings association.
(2) Senior examiner of a savings and
loan holding company. An individual
who serves as a senior examiner of a
savings and loan holding company for
two or more of the last 12 months of his
or her employment with OTS may not,
within one year after the termination
date of his or her employment with
OTS, knowingly accept compensation as
an employee, officer, director, or
consultant from—
(i) The savings and loan holding
company; or
(ii) Any depository institution that is
controlled by the savings and loan
holding company.
(b) Effective date. The postemployment restrictions in paragraph
(a) of this section do not apply to any
senior examiner who terminated his
employment at OTS before December
17, 2005.
(c) Definitions. For the purposes of
this section—
(1) Consultant. An individual acts as
a consultant for a savings association or
other company only if he or she directly
works on matters for, or on behalf of, the
savings association or company.
12 CFR Chapter V
Authority and Issuance
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, OTS is amending chapter V of
title 12 of the Code of Federal
Regulations as follows:
I 1. Add a new part 507 to read as
follows:
I
PART 507—RESTRICTIONS ON POSTEMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES OF SENIOR
EXAMINERS
Sec.
507.1 What does this part do?
507.2 Who is a senior examiner?
507.3 What post-employment restrictions
apply to senior examiners?
507.4 When will OTS waive the postemployment restrictions?
507.5 What are the penalties for violating
the post-employment restrictions?
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1462a, 1463 and
1820(k).
§ 507.1
What does this part do?
This part implements section 10(k) of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
(FDIA), which prohibits senior
examiners from accepting compensation
from certain companies following the
termination of their employment. See 12
U.S.C. 1820(k). Except where otherwise
provided, the terms used in this part
have the meanings given in section 3 of
the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1813).
§ 507.2
Who is a senior examiner?
An individual is a senior examiner for
a particular savings association or
savings and loan holding company if—
(a) The individual is an officer or
employee of OTS (including a special
government employee) who has been
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 221 / Thursday, November 17, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
78u–2; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31 U.S.C. 5321;
42 U.S.C. 4012a.
(2) Control. Control has the same
meaning given in part 574 of this
chapter.
The post-employment restriction in
§ 507.3 of this part will not apply to a
senior examiner if the Director certifies
in writing and on a case-by-case basis
that a waiver of the restriction will not
affect the integrity of OTS’s supervisory
program.
§ 507.5 What are the penalties for violating
the post-employment restrictions?
(a) Penalties. A senior examiner who
violates § 507.3 shall, in accordance
with 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(6), be subject to
one or both of the following penalties:
(1) An order—
(i) Removing the person from office or
prohibiting the person from further
participating in the conduct of the
affairs of the relevant depository
institution, savings and loan holding
company, bank holding company or
other company for up to five years, and
(ii) Prohibiting the person from
participating in the affairs of any
insured depository institution for up to
five years.
(2) A civil money penalty not to
exceed $250,000.
(b) Scope of prohibition orders. Any
senior examiner who is subject to an
order issued under paragraph (a)(1) of
this section shall be subject to 12 U.S.
C. 1818(e)(6) and (7) in the same manner
and to the same extent as a person
subject to an order issued under 12
U.S.C. 1818(e).
(c) Procedures. 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)
describes the procedures that are
applicable to actions under paragraph
(a) of this section and the appropriate
Federal banking agency authorized to
take the action, which may be an agency
other than OTS. Where OTS is the
appropriate Federal banking agency, it
will conduct administrative proceedings
under 12 CFR part 509.
(d) Other penalties. The penalties
under this section are not exclusive. A
senior examiner who violates the
restriction in § 507.3 may also be subject
to other administrative, civil, or
criminal remedy or penalty as provided
by law.
PART 509—RULES OF PRACTICE AND
PROCEDURES IN ADJUDICATORY
PROCEEDINGS
2. The authority citation for part 509
is revised to read as follows:
I
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 554–557; 12
U.S.C. 1464, 1467, 1467a, 1468, 1817(j), 1818,
1820(k), 3349. 4717; 15 U.S.C. 78(l); 78o–5,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:07 Nov 16, 2005
Jkt 208001
3. In § 509.1, redesignate paragraph (g)
as paragraph (h); remove the word
‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (f); and
add a new paragraph (g) to read as
follows:
I
§ 507.4 When will OTS waive the postemployment restrictions?
§ 509.1
Scope.
*
*
*
*
*
(g) Proceedings under section 10(k) of
the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1820(k)) to impose
penalties on senior examiners for
violation of post-employment
prohibitions; and
*
*
*
*
*
Dated: November 7, 2005.
Office of Thrift Supervision.
John M. Reich,
Director.
[FR Doc. 05–22814 Filed 11–16–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–33–P; 6210–01–P; 6714–01–P;
6720–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency
12 CFR Part 8
[Docket No. 05–20]
RIN 1557–AC96
Assessment of Fees
Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, Treasury.
ACTION: Interim final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Office of the Comptroller
of the Currency (OCC) is issuing this
interim final rule, with a request for
comment, to amend its regulation at 12
CFR Part 8 concerning the timing of
payments of OCC assessments. The
interim final rule replaces the current
process of assessment collection, which
requires national banks to make the
initial calculation of the amount due to
the OCC. Under the revised assessment
of fees process established by this
interim rule, the OCC, rather than each
national bank, will calculate the
semiannual assessment fee based on the
most recent Consolidated Reports of
Condition and Income (Call Report).
The fee will be due by March 31 and
September 30 of each year, two months
later than under the current process.
Thus, payments that would have been
due on January 31, 2006, will instead be
due on March 31, 2006. The OCC will
notify each national bank of the amount
of its semiannual assessment and will
automatically deduct that amount from
each bank’s designated bank account on
the payment due date. The interim rule
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69641
changes the assessment collection
process only; it does not make any
changes to the method for calculating
assessments due from national banks.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule is
effective December 19, 2005.
Comment Date: Comments must be
received by December 19, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
directed to:
You should include OCC and Docket
Number—in your comment. You may
submit comments by any of the
following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• OCC Web site: https://
www.occ.treas.gov. Click on ‘‘Contact
the OCC,’’ scroll down and click on
‘‘Comments on Proposed Regulations.’’
• E-mail address:
regs.comments@occ.treas.gov.
• Fax: (202) 874–4448.
• Mail: Office of the Comptroller of
the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., Mail
Stop 1–5, Washington, DC 20219.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: 250 E
Street, SW., Attn: Public Information
Room, Mail Stop 1–5, Washington, DC
20219.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name (OCC)
and docket number or Regulatory
Information Number (RIN) for this
interim final rule. In general, OCC will
enter all comments received into the
docket without change, including any
business or personal information that
you provide. You may review comments
and other related materials by any of the
following methods:
• Viewing Comments Personally: You
may personally inspect and photocopy
comments at the OCC’s Public
Information Room, 250 E Street, SW.,
Washington, DC. You can make an
appointment to inspect comments by
calling (202) 874–5043.
• Viewing Comments Electronically:
You may request e-mail or CD–ROM
copies of comments that the OCC has
received by contacting the OCC’s Public
Information Room at
regs.comments@occ.treas.gov.
• Docket: You may also request
available background documents and
project summaries using the methods
described above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean
Campbell, Senior Attorney, or Mitchell
Plave, Counsel, Legislative and
Regulatory Activities Division, (202)
874–5090; or Bruce W. Halper, Team
Leader—Revenue, Financial
Management, (202) 874–2199, Office of
the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219.
E:\FR\FM\17NOR1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 221 (Thursday, November 17, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69633-69641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22814]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
12 CFR Parts 4 and 19
[Docket No. 05-19]
RIN 1557-AC94
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
12 CFR Parts 263 and 264a
[Docket No. R-1230]
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
12 CFR Parts 308 and 336
RIN 3064-AC92
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Thrift Supervision
12 CFR Parts 507 and 509
[No. 2005-48]
RIN 1550-AB99
One-Year Post-Employment Restrictions for Senior Examiners
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: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The OCC, Board, FDIC and OTS (the Agencies) have jointly
adopted final rules to implement section 6303(b) of the Intelligence
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Intelligence Reform Act),
which imposes post-employment restrictions on senior examiners of
depository institutions and depository institution holding companies.
Under section 6303(b), and the Agencies' final implementing rules, a
senior examiner employed by an Agency or a Federal Reserve Bank
(Reserve Bank) may not knowingly accept compensation as an employee,
officer, director, or consultant from certain depository institutions
or depository institution holding companies he or she examined, or from
certain related entities, for one year after the examiner leaves the
employment or service of the Agency or Reserve Bank. If an examiner
violates the one-year restriction, the statute requires the appropriate
Federal banking agency to seek an order of removal and prohibition, a
civil money penalty of up to $250,000, or both. Section 10(k) will
become effective on December 17, 2005.
DATES: Effective Date: December 17, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
OCC: Mitchell Plave, Counsel, Legislative and Regulatory Activities
Division, (202) 874-5090; Stuart Feldstein, Assistant Director,
Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, (202) 874-5090; or
Barrett Aldemeyer, Senior Counsel, Administrative and Internal Law
Division, (202) 874-4460, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency,
250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219.
Board: Cary K. Williams, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 452-3295,
Kieran J. Fallon, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 452-5270, Andrea
Tokheim, Attorney, (202) 452-2300, Legal Division; William Spaniel,
Deputy Associate Director, (202) 452-3469, or Jinai Holmes, Senior
Financial Analyst, (202) 452-2834, Division of Banking Supervision and
Regulation; for users of Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDD)
only, contact (202) 263-4869.
FDIC: Robert J. Fagan, Ethics Program Manager, Legal Division,
(202) 898-6808; Stephen P. Gaddie, Special Assistant to the Deputy
Director, Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection, (202) 898-
6575; Richard Osterman, Senior Counsel, Legal Division, (202) 898-7028;
and Kymberly K. Copa, Counsel, Legal Division, (202) 898-8832, Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC
20429.
OTS: Elizabeth Moore, Special Counsel, Litigation Division, (202)
906-7039; or Karen Osterloh, Special Counsel, Regulations and
Legislation Division, (202) 906-6639, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of
Thrift Supervision, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Under section 6303(b) of the Intelligence Reform Act,\1\ which
added a new section 10(k) to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI
Act), an officer or employee of an Agency or Reserve Bank who acts as a
``senior examiner'' for a particular depository institution may not,
within one year after terminating employment with the relevant Agency
or Reserve Bank, knowingly accept compensation as an officer, director,
employee or consultant from that depository institution or any company
(including a bank holding company or savings and loan holding company)
that controls the depository institution.\2\ Section 10(k) imposes a
similar post-employment restriction on an officer or employee who acts
as the ``senior examiner'' of a particular depository institution
holding company, but in these circumstances, the post-employment
restrictions apply to relationships with the depository institution
holding company and any depository institution subsidiary of the
holding company.\3\ The restrictions in section 10(k) apply only to
examiners who served as a senior examiner for a particular depository
institution or holding company for two or more months during the final
twelve months of their employment at the Agency or Reserve Bank.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pub. L. 108-458, 118 Stat. 3638, 3751-53 (Dec. 17, 2004).
\2\ For purposes of section 10(k), the term ``depository
institution'' includes an uninsured branch or agency of a foreign
bank, if the branch or agency is located in a state of the United
States. See 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(2)(A). The FDIC has made a minor
technical change to the definition of ``depository institution'' in
its regulation to recognize that the term may include uninsured
branches or agencies of foreign banks for these purposes.
\3\ For purposes of the post-employment restriction of section
10(k), the term ``depository institution holding company'' means a
bank holding company or a savings and loan holding company, and also
includes, among other things, a foreign bank that has a branch,
agency, or commercial lending company subsidiary in the United
States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
If a senior examiner violates the one-year post-employment
restrictions in section 10(k), the statute requires the appropriate
Federal banking agency to initiate proceedings to impose an order of
removal and prohibition or a civil money penalty, or both, on the
former senior examiner. Congress directed each Agency to prescribe
regulations to administer and carry out section 10(k), including rules,
regulations or guidelines to define the scope of persons who are
``senior examiners.'' The post-employment restrictions in section 10(k)
are in addition to any other conflict of interest and ethics rules and
restrictions that may apply to
[[Page 69634]]
examiners under applicable Federal law or the internal codes of conduct
established by an Agency or a Reserve Bank.
II. Proposed Rule and Comments Received
On August 5, 2005, the Agencies jointly published proposed rules
that would implement the post-employment restrictions in section
10(k).\4\ The proposed rules defined the term ``senior examiner,''
discussed the types of Agency and Federal Reserve examiners that would
be considered a ``senior examiner'' in light of the examination
programs of each Agency, addressed the nature and scope of the one-year
post-employment restriction, and described the procedures for seeking
penalties on senior examiners who violate section 10(k).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 70 FR 45323 (Aug. 5, 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Agencies received comments on the proposal from a trade
association for banking institutions and an individual. The banking
trade association endorsed the proposed rule without suggestions for
change and, in particular, noted that the proposed definition of
``senior examiner'' clearly and appropriately defined those individuals
who would be subject to the statutory restriction in accordance with
Congress' intent. The individual commenter also generally supported the
proposed rules, but asked that the Agencies clarify the rules'
application in certain respects. For example, the commenter asked that
the Agencies clarify whether an examiner who performs periodic, short-
term examinations of a depository institution or depository institution
holding company would be considered a ``senior examiner.''
III. Final Rule
The Agencies have adopted final rules that are substantively
identical to the proposed rules. The Agencies, however, have made
minor, technical changes to the rules as discussed below. As required,
the Agencies have consulted with each other to assure that the final
rules are, to the extent possible, consistent, comparable and
practicable, taking into account the differences in the supervisory
programs utilized by the Agencies for the supervision of depository
institutions and depository institution holding companies.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(4)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Definition of ``Senior Examiner''
The post-employment restrictions in section 10(k) apply only to an
officer or employee of an Agency or Reserve Bank who serves as the
``senior examiner'' (or in a functionally equivalent position) of a
particular depository institution or depository institution holding
company and who, in this capacity, has ``continuing, broad
responsibility for the examination (or inspection) of that depository
institution or depository institution holding company'' on behalf of
the relevant Agency or Reserve Bank.\6\ The final rules, like the
proposed rules, provide that an officer or employee of an Agency or a
Reserve Bank will be considered the ``senior examiner'' for a
particular depository institution or depository institution holding
company if:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Id. Sec. 1820(k)(1)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The individual has been authorized by the relevant Agency
to conduct examinations or inspections on behalf of the Agency; \7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ The Agencies have modified the proposed rules to refer to
individuals who have been ``authorized'' to conduct examinations,
rather than ``commissioned'' or ``designated'' to conduct
examinations, to reflect the fact that some individuals authorized
to conduct examinations of depository institutions or holding
companies may be credentialed to conduct such examinations, but not
yet formally be ``commissioned'' to do so.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The relevant Agency or Reserve Bank has assigned the
individual continuing, broad, and lead responsibility for examining or
inspecting the depository institution or holding company; and
The individual's responsibilities for the depository
institution or holding company represent a substantial portion of the
individual's assigned responsibilities and require the individual to
routinely interact with officers or employees of the institution,
holding company, or its affiliates.
To be considered a ``senior examiner,'' an officer or employee must
meet each of the criteria listed above. Thus, if a substantial portion
of an examiner's responsibilities involve conducting or leading a
targeted examination (such as a review of an institution's credit risk
management, information systems or internal audit functions), but the
examiner does not have broad and lead responsibility for the Agency's
or Reserve Bank's overall examination program with respect to the
institution, the examiner would not be considered a ``senior examiner''
with respect to the institution. Such an examiner is not likely to
develop the type and degree of relationship with any one institution
that the post-employment restriction was designed to address. In
addition, the final rules would not cover an examiner who performs only
periodic, short-term examinations of a depository institution or
depository institution holding company and who does not have ongoing,
continuing responsibility for the institution or holding company.
Similarly, an examiner who divides his or her time across a portfolio
of depository institutions or holding companies, each of which does not
represent a substantial portion of the examiner's responsibilities,
also would not be considered a ``senior examiner.''
To be a ``senior examiner,'' the examiner also must have
``continuing'' responsibility for the relevant Agency's or Reserve
Bank's supervisory program with respect to the particular depository
institution or depository institution holding company. The Agencies
believe that an examiner would have ``continuing'' responsibility for
an institution or holding company only when the examiner's
responsibilities for the institution or company were expected to
continue for a sufficient period of time, for example, for at least two
months, that would enable the examiner to develop the type and degree
of ``meaningful,'' ``dedicated'' and ``sustained'' relationship with
the institution or company that the statute was designed to address.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ 150 Cong. Rec. S10356 (daily ed. Oct. 4, 2004) (statement of
Sen. Levin).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Agencies believe that the definition of ``senior examiner''
properly applies the post-employment restrictions in section 10(k) to
those examiners who, by reason of their position and assigned
responsibilities, have broad responsibility for a depository
institution or depository institution holding company and are expected
to devote a substantial amount of their time to that institution or
holding company on a continuing basis.
Because the titles and roles of examiners vary among the Agencies,
the preamble to the proposed rules described the types of examiners
that each Agency expected would be considered a ``senior examiner'' in
light of the structure and nature of the Agency's supervisory
program.\9\ The trade association commenter found that these
descriptions were very helpful, and the Agencies believe these
descriptions accurately describe the types of examiners that may be
considered ``senior examiners'' under the Agencies' current supervisory
programs. To further help examiners comply with the one-year post-
employment restrictions, the Agencies intend to establish and maintain
appropriate procedures to notify an examiner in writing if the relevant
Agency believes the examiner's assigned responsibilities would cause
the
[[Page 69635]]
examiner to be considered a ``senior examiner'' with respect to any
depository institution or depository institution holding company.
Nonetheless, the post-employment restrictions in section 10(k) and the
final rules apply directly to senior examiners, and examiners are
responsible for becoming familiar with and ensuring their own
compliance with the statute. Accordingly, examiners who have questions
concerning whether they may be considered a ``senior examiner'' for an
institution or holding company are encouraged to contact the
appropriate persons at their respective Agency or Reserve Bank.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See 70 FR 45326-45327 (August 5, 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. One-Year Post-Employment Restrictions
If an officer or employee of an Agency or a Reserve Bank serves as
the senior examiner for a depository institution during two or more
months of the individual's final twelve months of employment with the
Agency or Reserve Bank, section 10(k) prohibits the individual from
knowingly accepting compensation as an employee, officer, director, or
consultant from the depository institution or any company that controls
the depository institution (including a bank holding company or savings
and loan holding company) for one year after leaving the employment of
the Agency or Reserve Bank. Because the prohibition extends to
companies that control the relevant depository institution, it would
not prohibit the senior examiner from accepting employment with a
subsidiary or affiliate of a bank holding company, savings and loan
holding company, or other company that controls the depository
institution (other than the depository institution for which the
individual served as a senior examiner).\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ The Agencies note, however, that a former senior examiner
may not evade the post-employment restrictions in section 10(k) by
nominally accepting employment with a company not directly covered
by the post-employment restrictions, but then functionally serve as
an officer, employee, director, or consultant for a depository
institution or company that the former senior examiner would have
been prohibited from working for directly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
If an officer or employee serves as the senior examiner for a
depository institution holding company for two or more months during
the last twelve months of his or her employment with an Agency or a
Reserve Bank, the statute and final rule prohibit the individual from
becoming employed by, or otherwise accepting compensation in the manner
described above, from that holding company or any depository
institution subsidiary of the holding company for one year after
leaving the employment of the Agency or Reserve Bank.
Under section 10(k), a person is deemed to be a consultant for
purposes of the one-year post-employment restrictions only if such
person ``directly works on matters for, or on behalf of,'' the relevant
depository institution, depository institution holding company or other
company.\11\ The Agencies have incorporated this rule of construction
into the final rules. We interpret this provision to mean that a former
senior examiner who joins a consulting or other firm may not, during
the twelve-month post-employment ``cooling-off'' period, participate in
any work that the firm is conducting for a depository institution or
company that the former senior examiner would be prohibited from doing
directly.\12\ The former senior examiner would not, however, violate
the post-employment restrictions in section 10(k) by joining a firm
that performs work for such an institution or company as long as the
former senior examiner does not personally participate in any such
work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(3).
\12\ Of course, a former senior examiner who is self-employed
similarly may not accept compensation for work performed as a
consultant in his or her individual capacity for the relevant
depository institution, depository institution holding company, or
other company.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As provided by section 10(k), the head of each Agency may waive
application of the statute's post-employment restrictions to a senior
examiner on a case-by-case basis if the head of the Agency determines
that ``granting the waiver would not affect the integrity of the
supervisory program of [such Agency].'' \13\ The Agencies expect to
grant waivers only in special circumstances. If an Agency grants a
waiver to a senior examiner, the post-employment restrictions in
section 10(k), and the associated penalties, would not apply to the
senior examiner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ Id. Sec. 1820(k)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Penalties
If a senior examiner violates the post-employment restrictions in
section 10(k), the statute requires the appropriate Agency to seek one
of the following penalties:
An order (1) removing the individual from his or her
position at, or prohibiting the individual from further participation
in the affairs of, the relevant depository institution, depository
institution holding company, or other company for a period of up to
five years, and (2) prohibiting the individual from participating in
the conduct of the affairs of any insured depository institution for a
period of up to five years; or
A civil monetary penalty of not more than $250,000.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ Id. Sec. 1820(k)(6)(A). If the appropriate Federal banking
agency does not assess a civil monetary penalty against a senior
examiner who violates the post-employment restrictions in section
10(k), the Attorney General of the United States may bring a civil
action to impose such a penalty against the senior examiner. Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Agency also has the discretion to seek both of these penalties. A
former senior examiner who is subject to a removal and prohibition
order under section 10(k) is also subject to paragraphs (6) and (7) of
section 8(e) of the FDI Act, which pertain to the scope of orders
prohibiting a person from participating in certain banking
activities.\15\ These provisions, for example, would prohibit a former
senior examiner, for the duration of a prohibition order issued under
section 10(k), from participating in the affairs of any bank holding
company or subsidiary of a bank holding company, savings and loan
holding company or subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company,
foreign bank that operates a branch, agency or commercial lending
company subsidiary in the United States or any subsidiary of such a
foreign bank, or certain other entities, such as credit unions.\16\ In
addition, these provisions would prohibit the individual, during the
term of the prohibition order, from accepting employment with any
appropriate Federal financial institutions regulatory agency (as
defined in 12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(7)(D)), and certain other Federal
agencies. The penalties that may apply to a senior examiner under
section 10(k) are in addition to any other administrative, civil, or
criminal penalty that may apply.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ Id. Sec. 1820(k)(6)(B).
\16\ The appropriate Agency may consent to a change in the
application of this restriction as it applies to a particular
institution or other company, as provided in section 8(e)(7)(B) of
the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(7)(B)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under section 10(k), to obtain an order of removal or prohibition,
an Agency must follow the rules and procedures that apply in similar
types of proceedings against depository institutions and institution-
affiliated parties. Specifically, section 10(k) states that removal and
prohibition proceedings must be conducted in accordance with section
8(e)(4) of the FDI Act, which provides the individual the right to an
administrative hearing prior to final Agency action. Section 10(k)
further provides that an Agency seeking to impose a civil monetary
penalty on a former senior examiner must do so either in accordance
with
[[Page 69636]]
section 8(i) of the FDI Act, which also provides the individual the
right to an administrative hearing prior to final Agency action, or
through a civil action brought in an appropriate United States District
Court.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ Id. Sec. 1820(k)(6).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As stated in the preamble to the proposal, the Agencies do not
believe it is necessary to codify these procedures, which are
adequately set forth in the statute. Accordingly, the final rules
cross-reference the required statutory procedures. Proceedings against
examiners for violations of the post-employment restrictions would take
place in accordance with the Agencies' rules of practice and procedure,
and the Agencies have amended the scope sections of their respective
Rules of Practice and Procedure to reflect this fact.
D. Effective Date
The Intelligence Reform Act provides that the post-employment
restrictions imposed by section 10(k) shall become effective on
December 17, 2005.\18\ Accordingly, section 10(k) and the final rules
apply only to officers or employees of an Agency or Reserve Bank who
terminate their employment with the Agency or Reserve Bank on or after
December 17, 2005. As explained in the proposal, however, because of
the statute's twelve-month ``look-back'' provision, an officer or
employee who leaves an Agency or a Reserve Bank within one year of
December 17, 2005, may be subject to the post-employment restrictions
in section 10(k) based on his or her examination responsibilities as
far back as December 17, 2004.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ See section 6303(d) of the Intelligence Reform Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For example, if an Agency examiner terminates his or her employment
with the relevant Agency on January 1, 2006, and the individual, while
employed by the Agency, served as the ``senior examiner'' for a
particular depository institution from May 1, 2005 to October 1, 2005,
the individual is subject to the post-employment restrictions. Although
the service that caused the individual to be considered a ``senior
examiner'' occurred prior to December 17, 2005, such service occurred
during the last twelve months of the individual's employment with the
Agency and, accordingly, the examiner may not become employed by the
relevant depository institution, or any company that controls the
depository institution, until January 2, 2007. However, if in the
foregoing example the examiner terminated his or her employment with
the Agency prior to December 17, 2005 (the effective date of the
statute), the employee would not be subject to the post-employment
restrictions in section 10(k).
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Under section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.
605(b) (RFA), each Agency certifies that the final rules will not have
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. Section 10(k) and the final rules impose post-employment
restrictions on certain senior examiners employed by an Agency or a
Reserve Bank and do not impose any obligations or restrictions on
banking organizations, including small banking organizations.
Executive Order 12866
The OCC and OTS have determined that this final rulemaking is not a
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
Under section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2
U.S.C. 1532 (Unfunded Mandates Act), the OCC and OTS must prepare a
budgetary impact statement before promulgating any rule likely to
result in a Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by
State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector, of $100 million or more in any one year. If a budgetary
impact statement is required, section 205 of the Unfunded Mandates Act
also requires the OCC and OTS to identify and consider a reasonable
number of regulatory alternatives before promulgating the rule. The OCC
and OTS have determined that their respective final rules will not
result in expenditures by state, local, and tribal governments, in the
aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any one
year. Accordingly, neither the OCC nor OTS has prepared a budgetary
impact statement or specifically addressed the regulatory alternatives
considered.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
Ch. 3506; 5 CFR 1320 Appendix A.1), the Agencies reviewed the final
rule. No collections of information pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction
Act are contained in the final rule.
Plain Language
Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Public Law 106-102, 113
Stat. 1338, 1471 (Nov. 12, 1999) requires the Federal banking agencies
to use plain language in all proposed and final rules published after
January 1, 2000. As noted above, commenters generally found the
proposed rules were clear and the final rules are substantively similar
to the proposed rules.
List of Subjects
12 CFR Part 4
Administrative practice and procedure, Availability and release of
information, Confidential business information, Contracting outreach
program, Freedom of information, National banks, Organization and
functions (government agencies), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Women and minority businesses.
12 CFR Part 19
Administrative practice and procedure, Crime, Equal access to
justice, Investigation, National banks, Penalties, Securities.
12 CFR Part 263
Administrative practice and procedure, Claims, Crime, Equal access
to justice, Lawyers, Penalties.
12 CFR Part 264a
Conflicts of interest.
12 CFR Part 308
Administrative practice and procedure, Bank deposit insurance,
Claims, Crime, Equal access to justice, Investigations, Lawyers,
Penalties.
12 CFR Part 336
Conflict of interests.
12 CFR Part 507
Ethics, Governmental employees, OTS employees.
12 CFR Part 509
Administrative practice and procedure, Penalties.
Department of the Treasury
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
12 CFR Chapter I
Authority and Issuance
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the OCC amends parts 4 and
19 of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
0
1. The title of part 4 is revised to read as follows:
[[Page 69637]]
PART 4--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS, AVAILABILITY AND RELEASE OF
INFORMATION, CONTRACTING OUTREACH PROGRAM, POST-EMPLOYMENT
RESTRICTIONS FOR SENIOR EXAMINERS
0
2. The authority citation for part 4 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 93a. Subpart A also issued under 5 U.S.C.
552; Subpart B also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552; E.O. 12600 (3 CFR
1987 Comp., p. 235). Subpart C also issued under 5 U.S.C. 301, 552;
12 U.S.C. 161, 481, 482, 484(a), 1442, 1817(a)(3), 1818(u) and (v),
1820(d)(6), 1820(k), 1821(c), 1821(o), 1821(t), 1831m, 1831p-1,
1831o, 1867, 1951 et seq., 2601 et seq., 2801 et seq., 2901 et seq.,
3101 et seq., 3401 et seq.; 15 U.S.C. 77uu(b), 78q(c)(3); 18 U.S.C.
641, 1905, 1906; 29 U.S.C. 1204; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 3601; 44
U.S.C. 3506, 3510. Subpart D also issued under 12 U.S.C. 1833e.
0
3. A new subpart E is added to part 4 to read as follows:
Subpart E--One-Year Restrictions on Post-Employment Activities of
Senior Examiners
Sec.
4.72 Scope and purpose.
4.73 Definitions.
4.74 One-year post-employment restrictions.
4.75 Effective date; waivers.
4.76 Penalties.
Sec. 4.72 Scope and purpose.
This subpart describes those OCC examiners who are subject to the
post-employment restrictions set forth in section 10(k) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act) (12 U.S.C. 1820(k)) and implements
those restrictions for officers and employees of the OCC.
Sec. 4.73 Definitions.
For purposes of this subpart:
Bank holding company means any company that controls a bank (as
provided in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12
U.S.C. 1841 et seq.)).
Consultant. For purposes of this subpart, a consultant for a
national bank, bank holding company, or other company shall include
only an individual who works directly on matters for, or on behalf of,
such bank, bank holding company, or other company.
Control has the meaning given in section 2 of the Bank Holding
Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1841(a)). For purposes of this subpart, a
foreign bank shall be deemed to control any branch or agency of the
foreign bank.
Depository institution has the meaning given in section 3 of the
FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)). For purposes of this subpart, a depository
institution includes an uninsured branch or agency of a foreign bank,
if such branch or agency is located in any State.
Federal Reserve means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System and the Federal Reserve Banks.
Foreign bank means any foreign bank or company described in section
8(a) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3106(a)).
Insured depository institution has the meaning given in section 3
of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2)).
National bank means a national banking association or a Federal
branch or agency of a foreign bank.
Senior examiner. For purposes of this subpart, an officer or
employee of the OCC is considered to be the ``senior examiner'' for a
particular national bank if--
(1) The officer or employee has been authorized by the OCC to
conduct examinations on behalf of the OCC;
(2) The officer or employee has been assigned continuing, broad,
and lead responsibility for examining the national bank; and
(3) The officer's or employee's responsibilities for examining the
national bank--
(i) Represent a substantial portion of the officer's or employee's
assigned responsibilities; and
(ii) Require the officer or employee to interact routinely with
officers or employees of the national bank or its affiliates.
Sec. 4.74 One-year post-employment restrictions.
An officer or employee of the OCC who serves as the senior examiner
of a national bank for two or more months during the last twelve months
of such individual's employment with the OCC may not, within one year
after leaving the employment of the OCC, knowingly accept compensation
as an employee, officer, director or consultant from the national bank,
or any company (including a bank holding company) that controls the
national bank.
Sec. 4.75 Effective date; waivers.
The post-employment restrictions set forth in section 10(k) of the
FDI Act and Sec. 4.74 do not apply to any officer or employee of the
OCC, or any former officer or employee of the OCC, if--
(a) The individual ceased to be an officer or employee of the OCC
before December 17, 2005; or
(b) The Comptroller of the Currency certifies, in writing and on a
case-by-case basis, that granting the individual a waiver of the
restrictions would not affect the integrity of the OCC's supervisory
program.
Sec. 4.76 Penalties.
(a) Penalties under section 10(k) of FDI Act. If a senior examiner
of a national bank, after leaving the employment of the OCC, accepts
compensation as an employee, officer, director, or consultant from that
bank, or any company (including a bank holding company) that controls
that bank, then the examiner shall, in accordance with section 10(k)(6)
of the FDI Act, be subject to one of the following penalties--
(1) An order--
(i) Removing the individual from office or prohibiting the
individual from further participation in the affairs of the relevant
national bank, bank holding company, or other company that controls
such institution for a period of up to five years; and
(ii) Prohibiting the individual from participating in the affairs
of any insured depository institution for a period of up to five years;
or
(2) A civil monetary penalty of not more than $250,000.
(b) Enforcement by appropriate Federal banking agency. Violations
of Sec. 4.74 shall be administered or enforced by the appropriate
Federal banking agency for the depository institution or depository
institution holding company that provided compensation to the former
senior examiner. For purposes of this paragraph, the appropriate
Federal banking agency for a company that is not a depository
institution or depository institution holding company shall be the
Federal banking agency that formerly employed the senior examiner.
(c) Scope of prohibition orders. Any senior examiner who is subject
to an order issued under paragraph (a) of this section shall, as
required by 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(6)(B), be subject to paragraphs (6) and
(7) of section 8(e) of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(6)-(7)) in the
same manner and to the same extent as a person subject to an order
issued under section 8(e).
(d) Procedures. The procedures applicable to actions under
paragraph (a) of this section are provided in section 10(k)(6) of the
FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(6)) and in 12 CFR part 19.
(e) Remedies not exclusive. The OCC may seek both of the penalties
described in paragraph (a) of this section. In addition, a senior
examiner who accepts compensation as described in Sec. 4.74 may be
subject to other administrative,
[[Page 69638]]
civil or criminal remedies or penalties as provided in law.
PART 19--RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
0
4. The authority citation for part 19 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 554-557; 12 U.S.C. 93(b), 93a, 164,
505, 1817, 1818, 1820, 1831m, 1831o, 1972, 3102, 3108(a), 3909 and
4717; 15 U.S.C. 78(h) and (i), 78o-4(c), 78o-5, 78q-1, 78s, 78u,
78u-2, 78u-3, and 78w; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31 U.S.C. 330 and 5321;
and 42 U.S.C. 4012a.
0
5. Section 19.1 is amended by redesignating paragraph (g) as paragraph
(h), removing the word ``and'' at the end of the paragraph (f), and
adding a new paragraph (g) to read as follows:
Sec. 19.1 Scope.
* * * * *
(g) Removal, prohibition, and civil monetary penalty proceedings
under section 10(k) of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1820(k)) for violations
of the post-employment restrictions imposed by that section; and
* * * * *
Dated: November 14, 2005.
John C. Dugan,
Comptroller of the Currency.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
12 CFR Chapter II
Authority and Issuance
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board is amending part
263 and adding a new part 264a to Title 12, Chapter II, of the Code of
Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 263--RULES OF PRACTICE FOR HEARINGS
0
1. The authority citation for part 263 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504; 12 U.S.C. 248, 324, 504, 505, 1817(j),
1818, 1828(c), 1831o, 1831p-1, 1847(b), 1847(d), 1884(b),
1972(2)(F), 3105, 3107, 3108, 3907, 3909; 15 U.S.C. 21, 78o-4, 78o-
5, 78u-2; and 28 U.S.C. 2461 note.
0
2. Section 263.1 is amended by redesignating paragraph (g) as paragraph
(h), removing the word ``and'' at the end of the paragraph (f), and
adding new paragraph (g) to read as follows:
Sec. 263.1 Scope.
* * * * *
(g) Removal, prohibition, and civil monetary penalty proceedings
under section 10(k) of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1820(k)) for violations
of the special post-employment restrictions imposed by that section;
and
* * * * *
0
3. New part 264a is added to read as follows:
PART 264a--POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS FOR SENIOR EXAMINERS
Sec.
264a.1 What is the purpose and scope of this part?
264a.2 Who is considered a senior examiner of the Federal Reserve?
264a.3 What special post-employment restrictions apply to senior
examiners?
264a.4 When do these special restrictions become effective and may
they be waived?
264a.5 What are the penalties for violating these special post-
employment restrictions?
264a.6 What other definitions and rules of construction apply for
purposes of this part?
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1820(k).
Sec. 264a.1 What is the purpose and scope of this part?
This part identifies those officers and employees of the Federal
Reserve that are subject to the special post-employment restrictions
set forth in section 10(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI
Act) and implements those restrictions as they apply to officers and
employees of the Federal Reserve.
Sec. 264a.2 Who is considered a senior examiner of the Federal
Reserve?
For purposes of this part, an officer or employee of the Federal
Reserve is considered to be the ``senior examiner'' for a particular
state member bank, bank holding company or foreign bank if--
(a) The officer or employee has been authorized by the Board to
conduct examinations or inspections on behalf of the Board;
(b) The officer or employee has been assigned continuing, broad and
lead responsibility for examining or inspecting the state member bank,
bank holding company or foreign bank; and
(c) The officer's or employee's responsibilities for examining,
inspecting and supervising the state member bank, bank holding company
or foreign bank--
(1) Represent a substantial portion of the officer's or employee's
assigned responsibilities; and
(2) Require the officer or employee to interact routinely with
officers or employees of the state member bank, bank holding company or
foreign bank or its affiliates.
Sec. 264a.3 What special post-employment restrictions apply to senior
examiners?
(a) Senior Examiners of State Member Banks. An officer or employee
of the Federal Reserve who serves as the senior examiner of a state
member bank for two or more months during the last twelve months of
such individual's employment with the Federal Reserve may not, within
one year after leaving the employment of the Federal Reserve, knowingly
accept compensation as an employee, officer, director or consultant
from--
(1) The state member bank; or
(2) Any company (including a bank holding company) that controls
the state member bank.
(b) Senior Examiners of Bank Holding Companies. An officer or
employee of the Federal Reserve who serves as the senior examiner of a
bank holding company for two or more months during the last twelve
months of such individual's employment with the Federal Reserve may
not, within one year of leaving the employment of the Federal Reserve,
knowingly accept compensation as an employee, officer, director or
consultant from--
(1) The bank holding company; or
(2) Any depository institution that is controlled by the bank
holding company.
(c) Senior Examiners of Foreign Banks. An officer or employee of
the Federal Reserve who serves as the senior examiner of a foreign bank
for two or more months during the last twelve months of such
individual's employment with the Federal Reserve may not, within one
year of leaving the employment of the Federal Reserve, knowingly accept
compensation as an employee, officer, director or consultant from--
(1) The foreign bank; or
(2) Any branch or agency of the foreign bank located in the United
States; or
(3) Any other depository institution controlled by the foreign
bank.
Sec. 264a.4 When do these special restrictions become effective and
may they be waived?
The post-employment restrictions set forth in section 10(k) of the
FDI Act and Sec. 264a.3 do not apply to any officer or employee of the
Federal Reserve, or any former officer or employee of the Federal
Reserve, if--
(a) The individual ceased to be an officer or employee of the
Federal Reserve before December 17, 2005; or
(b) The Chairman of the Board of Governors certifies, in writing
and on a case-by-case basis, that granting the individual a waiver of
the restrictions
[[Page 69639]]
would not affect the integrity of the Federal Reserve's supervisory
program.
Sec. 264a.5 What are the penalties for violating these special post-
employment restrictions?
(a) Penalties under section 10(k) of FDI Act.--A senior examiner of
the Federal Reserve who, after leaving the employment of the Federal
Reserve, violates the restrictions set forth in Sec. 264a.3 shall, in
accordance with section 10(k)(6) of the FDI Act, be subject to one or
both of the following penalties--
(1) An order--
(i) Removing the individual from office or prohibiting the
individual from further participation in the affairs of the relevant
state member bank, bank holding company, foreign bank or other
depository institution or company for a period of up to five years; and
(ii) Prohibiting the individual from participating in the affairs
of any insured depository institution for a period of up to five years;
and/or
(2) A civil monetary penalty of not more than $250,000.
(b) Imposition of penalties. The penalties described in paragraph
(a) of this section shall be imposed by the appropriate Federal banking
agency as determined under section 10(k)(6) of the FDI Act, which may
be an agency other than the Federal Reserve.
(c) Scope of prohibition orders. Any senior examiner who is subject
to an order issued under paragraph (a) of this section shall, as
required by section 10(k)(6)(B) of the FDI Act, be subject to
paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 8(e) of the FDI Act in the same
manner and to the same extent as a person subject to an order issued
under section 8(e).
(d) Procedures. The procedures applicable to actions under
paragraph (a) of this section are provided in section 10(k)(6) of the
FDI Act.
(e) Other penalties. The penalties set forth in paragraph (a) of
this section are not exclusive, and a senior examiner who violates the
restrictions in Sec. 264a.3 also may be subject to other
administrative, civil or criminal remedies or penalties as provided in
law.
Sec. 264a.6 What other definitions and rules of construction apply
for purposes of this part?
For purposes of this part--
(a) Bank holding company means any company that controls a bank (as
provided in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12
U.S.C. 1841 et seq.)).
(b) A person shall be deemed to act as a consultant for a bank or
other company only if such person works directly on matters for, or on
behalf of, such bank or other company.
(c) Control has the meaning given in section 2 of the Bank Holding
Company Act.
(d) Depository institution has the meaning given in section 3 of
the FDI Act and includes an uninsured branch or agency of a foreign
bank, if such branch or agency is located in any State.
(e) Federal Reserve means the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Banks.
(f) Foreign bank means any foreign bank or company described in
section 8(a) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C.
3106(a)).
(g) Insured depository institution has the meaning given in section
3 of the FDI Act.
Dated: November 10, 2005.
By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Deputy Secretary of the Board.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
12 CFR Chapter III
Authority and Issuance
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the FDIC amends chapter III
of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 308--RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES
0
1. The authority for part 308 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 554-557; 12 U.S.C. 93(b), 164, 505,
1815(e), 1817, 1818, 1820, 1828, 1829, 1829b, 1831i, 1831m(g)(4),
1831o, 1831p-1, 1832(c), 1884(b), 1972, 3102, 3108(a), 3349, 3909,
4717; 15 U.S.C. 78(h) and (i), 78o-4(c), 78o-5, 78q-1, 78s, 78u,
78u-2, 78u-3, 78w, 6801(b), 6805(b)(1); 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31
U.S.C. 330, 5321; 42 U.S.C. 4012a; Sec. 3100(s) Pub. L. 104-134, 110
Stat. 1321-358.
0
2. In Sec. 308.1, redesignate paragraph (g) as paragraph (h), remove
the word ``and'' at the end of the paragraph (f), and add a new
paragraph (g) to read as follows:
Sec. 308.1 Scope.
* * * * *
(g) Proceedings under section 10(k) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1820(k))
to impose penalties for violations of the post-employment restrictions
under that subsection; and
* * * * *
PART 336--FDIC EMPLOYEES
0
3. Subpart C is added to Part 336 to read as follows:
Subpart C--One-Year Restriction on Post-Employment Activities of
Senior Examiners
Sec.
336.10 Purpose and scope.
336.11 Definitions.
336.12 One-year post-employment restriction.
336.13 Penalties.
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1819 and 1820(k).
Sec. 336.10 Purpose and scope.
This subpart applies to officers or employees of the FDIC who are
subject to the post-employment restrictions set forth in section 10(k)
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1820(k), and implements
those restrictions as they apply to officers and employees of the FDIC.
Sec. 336.11 Definitions.
For purposes of this subpart:
(a) Bank holding company has the meaning given to such term in
section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841(a)).
(b) A consultant for an insured depository institution or other
company shall include only individuals who work directly on matters
for, or on behalf of, such institution or other company.
(c) Control has the meaning given to such term in section 336.3(b),
and a foreign bank shall be deemed to control any insured branch of the
foreign bank.
(d) Depository institution means any bank or savings association,
including a branch of a foreign bank, if such branch is located in the
United States.
(e) Foreign bank means any bank or company described in section
8(a) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3106(a)).
(f) Savings and loan holding company has the meaning given to such
term in section 10(a)(1)(D) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C.
1467a(a)(1)(D)).
(g) A senior examiner for an insured depository institution means
an officer or employee of the FDIC--
(1) who has been authorized by the FDIC to conduct examinations or
inspections of insured depository institutions on behalf of the FDIC;
(2) who has been assigned continuing, broad, and lead
responsibility for the examination or inspection of the institution;
(3) who routinely interacts with officers or employees of the
institution or its affiliates; and
(4) whose responsibilities with respect to the institution
represent a substantial portion of the FDIC officer or employee's
overall responsibilities.
[[Page 69640]]
Sec. 336.12 One-year post-employment restriction.
(a) Prohibition. An officer or employee of the FDIC who serves as a
senior examiner of an insured depository institution for at least 2
months during the last 12 months of that individual's employment with
the FDIC may not, within 1 year after the termination date of his or
her employment with the FDIC, knowingly accept compensation as an
employee, officer, director, or consultant from--
(1) The insured depository institution; or
(2) Any company (including a bank holding company or savings and
loan holding company) that controls such institution.
(b) Waivers. The post-employment restrictions in paragraph (a) of
this section will not apply to a senior examiner if the FDIC
Chairperson certifies in writing and on a case-by case basis that a
waiver of the restrictions will not affect the integrity of the FDIC's
supervisory program.
(c) Effective Date. The post-employment restrictions in paragraph
(a) of this section will not apply to any officer or employee of the
FDIC, or any former officer or employee of the FDIC, who ceased to be
an officer or employee of the FDIC before December 17, 2005.
Sec. 336.13 Penalties.
(a) Penalties under section 10(k) of the FDI Act. A senior examiner
of the FDIC who violates the post-employment restrictions set forth in
Sec. 336.12 shall be subject to the following penalties--
(1) An order--
(i) Removing such person from office or prohibiting such person
from further participation in the affairs of the relevant insured
depository institution or company (including a bank holding company or
savings and loan holding company) that controls such institution for a
period of up to five years, and
(ii) Prohibiting any further participation by such person, in any
manner, in the affairs of any insured depository institution for a
period of up to five years; or
(2) A civil monetary penalty of not more than $250,000; or
(3) Both.
(b) Enforcement by appropriate Federal banking agency of hiring
entity. Violations of Sec. 336.12 shall be enforced by the appropriate
Federal banking agency of the depository institution, depository
institution holding company, or other company at which the violation
occurred, as determined under section 10(k)(6), which may be an agency
other than the FDIC.
(c) Scope of prohibition orders. Any senior examiner who is subject
to an order issued under paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall, as
required by 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(6)(B), be subject to paragraphs (6) and
(7) of section 8(e) in the same manner and to the same extent as a
person subject to an order issued under section 8(e).
(d) Other penalties. The penalties set forth in paragraph (a) of
this section are not exclusive, and a senior examiner who violates the
restrictions in Sec. 336.12 may also be subject to other
administrative, civil, or criminal remedies or penalties as provided by
law.
Dated at Washington, DC, this 8th day of November, 2005.
By order of the Board of Directors.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
Department of the Treasury
Office of Thrift Supervision
12 CFR Chapter V
Authority and Issuance
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, OTS is amending chapter V of
title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
0
1. Add a new part 507 to read as follows:
PART 507--RESTRICTIONS ON POST-EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES OF SENIOR
EXAMINERS
Sec.
507.1 What does this part do?
507.2 Who is a senior examiner?
507.3 What post-employment restrictions apply to senior examiners?
507.4 When will OTS waive the post-employment restrictions?
507.5 What are the penalties for violating the post-employment
restrictions?
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1462a, 1463 and 1820(k).
Sec. 507.1 What does this part do?
This part implements section 10(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act (FDIA), which prohibits senior examiners from accepting
compensation from certain companies following the termination of their
employment. See 12 U.S.C. 1820(k). Except where otherwise provided, the
terms used in this part have the meanings given in section 3 of the
FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1813).
Sec. 507.2 Who is a senior examiner?
An individual is a senior examiner for a particular savings
association or savings and loan holding company if--
(a) The individual is an officer or employee of OTS (including a
special government employee) who has been authorized by OTS to conduct
examinations or inspections of savings associations or savings and loan
holding companies;
(b) The individual has been assigned continuing, broad and lead
responsibility for the examination or inspection of that savings
association or savings and loan holding company; and
(c) The individual's responsibilities for examining, inspecting, or
supervising that savings association or savings and loan holding
company:
(1) Represent a substantial portion of the individual's assigned
responsibilities at OTS; and
(2) Require the individual to interact on a routine basis with
officers and employees of the savings association, savings and loan
holding company, or its affiliates.
Sec. 507.3 What post-employment restrictions apply to senior
examiners?
(a) Prohibition. (1) Senior examiner of savings association. An
individual who serves as a senior examiner of a savings association for
two or more of the last 12 months of his or her employment with OTS may
not, within one year after the termination date of his or her
employment with OTS, knowingly accept compensation as an employee,
officer, director, or consultant from--
(i) The savings association; or
(ii) A savings and loan holding company, bank holding company, or
any other company that controls the savings association.
(2) Senior examiner of a savings and loan holding company. An
individual who serves as a senior examiner of a savings and loan
holding company for two or more of the last 12 months of his or her
employment with OTS may not, within one year after the termination date
of his or her employment with OTS, knowingly accept compensation as an
employee, officer, director, or consultant from--
(i) The savings and loan holding company; or
(ii) Any depository institution that is controlled by the savings
and loan holding company.
(b) Effective date. The post-employment restrictions in paragraph
(a) of this section do not apply to any senior examiner who terminated
his employment at OTS before December 17, 2005.
(c) Definitions. For the purposes of this section--
(1) Consultant. An individual acts as a consultant for a savings
association or other company only if he or she directly works on
matters for, or on behalf of, the savings association or company.
[[Page 69641]]
(2) Control. Control has the same meaning given in part 574 of this
chapter.
Sec. 507.4 When will OTS waive the post-employment restrictions?
The post-employment restriction in Sec. 507.3 of this part will
not apply to a senior examiner if the Director certifies in writing and
on a case-by-case basis that a waiver of the restriction will not
affect the integrity of OTS's supervisory program.
Sec. 507.5 What are the penalties for violating the post-employment
restrictions?
(a) Penalties. A senior examiner who violates Sec. 507.3 shall, in
accordance with 12 U.S.C. 1820(k)(6), be subject to one or both of the
following penalties:
(1) An order--
(i) Removing the person from office or prohibiting the person from
further participating in the conduct of the affairs of the relevant
depository institution, savings and loan holding company, bank holding
company or other company for up to five years, and
(ii) Prohibiting the person from participating in the affairs of
any insured depository institution for up to five years.
(2) A civil money penalty not to exceed $250,000.
(b) Scope of prohibition orders. Any senior examiner who is subject
to an order issued under paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be
subject to 12 U.S. C. 1818(e)(6) and (7) in the same manner and to the
same extent as a person subject to an order issued under 12 U.S.C.
1818(e).
(c) Procedures. 12 U.S.C. 1820(k) describes the procedures that are
applicable to actions under paragraph (a) of this section and the
appropriate Federal banking agency authorized to take the action, which
may be an agency other than OTS. Where OTS is the appropriate Federal
banking agency, it will conduct administrative proceedings under 12 CFR
part 509.
(d) Other penalties. The penalties under this section are not
exclusive. A senior examiner who violates the restriction in Sec.
507.3 may also be subject to other administrative, civil, or criminal
remedy or penalty as provided by law.
PART 509--RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES IN ADJUDICATORY
PROCEEDINGS
0
2. The authority citation for part 509 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 504, 554-557; 12 U.S.C. 1464, 1467, 1467a,
1468, 1817(j), 1818, 1820(k), 3349. 4717; 15 U.S.C. 78(l); 78o-5,
78u-2; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 31 U.S.C. 5321; 42 U.S.C. 4012a.
0
3. In Sec. 509.1, redesignate paragraph (g) as paragraph (h); remove
the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (f); and add a new paragraph
(g) to read as follows:
Sec. 509.1 Scope.
* * * * *
(g) Proceedings under section 10(k) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1820(k))
to impose penalties on senior examiners for violation of post-
employment prohibitions; and
* * * * *
Dated: November 7, 2005.
Office of Thrift Supervision.
John M. Reich,
Director.
[FR Doc. 05-22814 Filed 11-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P; 6210-01-P; 6714-01-P; 6720-01-P