Share Insurance and Appendix, 56001-56005 [06-8258]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 26, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
NATIONAL CREDIT UNION
ADMINISTRATION
12 CFR Part 745
RIN 3133–AD18
Share Insurance and Appendix
National Credit Union
Administration (NCUA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NCUA is amending its share
insurance rules to implement
amendments to the Federal Credit
Union Act (FCU Act) made by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of
2005 (Reform Act) and the Federal
Deposit Insurance Reform Conforming
Amendments Act of 2005 (Conforming
Amendments Act). In this regard, the
final rule: Defines the ‘‘standard
maximum share insurance amount’’ as
$100,000 and provides that beginning in
2010, and in each subsequent
5-year period thereafter, NCUA and the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC) will jointly consider if an
inflation adjustment is appropriate to
increase that amount; increases the
share insurance limit for certain
retirement accounts from $100,000 to
$250,000, subject to the above inflation
adjustments; and provides pass-through
coverage to each participant of an
employee benefit plan, but limits the
acceptance of shares in employee
benefit plans to insured credit unions
that are well capitalized or adequately
capitalized. Additionally, NCUA is
amending its share insurance rules to
clarify insurance coverage for qualified
tuition savings programs, commonly
referred to as 529 plans, and share
accounts denominated in foreign
currencies.
This final rule is effective
October 26, 2006.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Frank Kressman, Staff Attorney, Office
of General Counsel, or Moisette Green,
Staff Attorney, Office of General
Counsel, at the above address or
telephone: (703) 518–6540.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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A. Federal Deposit Insurance Reform
Act of 2005 and Federal Deposit
Insurance Reform Conforming
Amendments Act of 2005
The Reform Act and Conforming
Amendments Act, (Pub. L. 109–171) and
(Pub. L. 109–173), amended the share
insurance provisions of the FCU Act in
a number of ways. 12 U.S.C. 1781–
1790d. Specifically, section 2103(a) of
the Reform Act provides that beginning
April 1, 2010, and each subsequent 5-
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year period thereafter, NCUA and the
FDIC will jointly consider if an inflation
adjustment is appropriate to increase
the NCUA’s current ‘‘standard
maximum share insurance amount’’
(SMSIA), which is defined in 12 U.S.C.
1787(k) as $100,000, and the ‘‘standard
maximum deposit insurance amount’’
(SMDIA), the FDIC equivalent. Any
increase to the SMSIA or SMDIA will be
calculated using a formula comparing,
over time, the published annual values
of the Personal Consumption
Expenditures Chain-Type Price Index,
published by the Department of
Commerce, and rounded down to the
nearest $10,000. The Reform Act also
requires NCUA and FDIC to consider
certain other factors in determining
whether to increase the SMSIA and
SMDIA. Additionally, if an adjustment
is warranted, NCUA and FDIC are
required to publish information in the
Federal Register and provide a
corresponding report to Congress by
April 5, 2010, and every succeeding
fifth year. Subsequently, under those
circumstances, an inflation adjustment
will take effect on January 1st of the
year immediately succeeding the year in
which the adjustment is calculated
unless an act of Congress provides
otherwise.
Section 2(d)(1)(C) of the Conforming
Amendments Act mandates that NCUA
provide ‘‘pass-through’’ share insurance
coverage for shares in any employee
benefit plan account on a perparticipant basis. This type of coverage
is called ‘‘pass-through’’ because it
passes through the employee benefit
plan administrator to each of the
participants in the plan. The employee
benefit plans to which this section refers
include those described in: (1) Section
3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974; (2) section 401(d)
of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC); and
(3) section 457 of the IRC. This section,
however, limits the acceptance of
employee benefit plan shares to insured
credit unions that are ‘‘well capitalized’’
or ‘‘adequately capitalized’’ as those
terms are defined in section 216(c) of
the FCU Act. 12 U.S.C. 1790d(c).
Section 2(d)(2) of the Conforming
Amendments Act amended 12 U.S.C.
1787(k)(3) of the FCU Act to increase
the share insurance limit for certain
retirement accounts from $100,000 to
$250,000. The increased limit is also
subject to the inflation adjustments
discussed above. The types of accounts
within this category of coverage include
those specifically enumerated in 12
U.S.C. 1787(k)(3): Individual retirement
accounts (IRAs) described in section
408(a) of the IRC and any plan described
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in section 401(d) of the IRC (Keogh
accounts).
Additionally, the Conforming
Amendments Act created the term
‘‘government depositor’’ in connection
with public funds described in and
insured under 12 U.S.C. 1787(k)(2). It
also provides that the shares of a
government depositor are insured in an
amount up to the SMSIA. The
amendments to NCUA’s share insurance
rules in part 745 implement the share
insurance coverage revisions made by
the Reform Act and the Conforming
Amendments Act.
B. Interim Final Rule
In March 2006, the NCUA Board
issued an interim final rule with request
for comments to implement the
statutory amendments summarized
above. 71 FR 14631 (March 23, 2006). It
put in place share insurance rules,
effective on April 1, 2006, that enhance
share insurance coverage, clarify legal
positions already taken by NCUA,
maintain parity with the FDIC, and are
consistent with the regulatory changes
FDIC made under the Reform Act and
Conforming Amendments Act.
Additionally, the interim final rule
clarified and incorporated prior
interpretations of the share insurance
rules that provide coverage for qualified
tuition savings plans created pursuant
to section 529 of the IRC (529 plans) and
share accounts denominated in foreign
currencies.
C. Summary of Comments
NCUA received 14 comments
regarding the interim rule: Three from
FCUs, six from state credit unions, two
from credit union trade associations,
and three from a professional
association of state and territorial
regulatory agencies. All 14 commenters
supported the rule.
Two commenters, while supporting
the rule in general, limited their
comments to NCUA’s clarification of
share insurance coverage for shares
denominated in foreign currency. One
of those commenters also requested
NCUA permit credit unions to invest
foreign currencies received from
members at pre-approved corporate
credit unions. Permissible investments
for FCUs are beyond the scope of this
rulemaking, but the Board may consider
this authority in other rulemakings.
The other twelve commenters
supporting the rule responded to
NCUA’s request for comments on
whether pass-through coverage for
employee benefit plans should depend
on the participants’ membership in the
credit union where the employee benefit
plan is maintained. All agreed share
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insurance coverage should be extended
to all participants of the employee
benefit plan regardless of the
participants’ membership in the credit
union. Many of the commenters noted
that: (1) Employers generally establish
employee benefit plans at credit unions
where there is already some
membership connection; (2) participants
may not control where their interests in
the employee benefit plan are deposited;
and, (3) the Conforming Amendments
Act prohibits credit unions that are not
well or adequately capitalized from
accepting employee benefit plan shares.
Seven commenters requested NCUA
extend pass-through coverage to
attorney trust accounts commonly
known as IOLTA accounts (interest-onlawyer-trust accounts) in a fashion
similar to employee benefit plans
accounts. These comments are beyond
the scope of this rulemaking. The
Conforming Amendments Act does not
address IOLTA accounts, and NCUA
will continue to insure IOLTA accounts
by providing pass-through coverage
only to members.
D. Standard Maximum Share Insurance
Amount
The interim final rule added a
definition of SMSIA to § 745.1, the
definitions section of the share
insurance rules. 12 CFR 745.1. The
definition of SMSIA tracks the language
of the Conforming Amendments Act and
reads ‘‘$100,000, adjusted as provided
under section 11(a)(1)(F) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act.’’ 12 U.S.C. 1821
(a)(1)(F). Revised section 11(a)(1)(F) of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
details how every five years, the NCUA
and FDIC will consider and calculate
the inflation adjustment to the SMSIA
and SMDIA, as discussed above. Also,
the definition of SMSIA notes: (1) The
current SMSIA is $100,000; (2) the
acronym SMSIA is used throughout the
regulatory text of part 745; and (3) all
examples of share insurance coverage in
part 745 use the current SMSIA of
$100,000, unless a higher limit is
presented and specifically noted.
Accordingly, all references to the
current insurance amount of $100,000
in the appendix to part 745, except for
the examples in the appendix, are
replaced by the acronym SMSIA.
Examples in the appendix to part 745,
which NCUA believes are helpful in
illustrating a member’s insurance
coverage, will continue to provide the
dollar amount of insurance for the
particular example so members can
calculate and know the insurance
available on their accounts. The use of
the acronym SMSIA throughout the
regulatory text of part 745, instead of an
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actual number, will allow NCUA to
avoid having to change the numerical
limit of share insurance throughout the
rule each time the SMSIA is adjusted for
inflation.
The amendments regarding the
SMSIA in the interim final rule are
adopted in this final rule without
change.
E. Retirement and Other Employee
Benefit Plan Accounts
In implementing amendments to the
FCU Act by the Conforming
Amendments Act, the interim final rule
consolidated § 745.9–3 into § 745.9–2.
This section now addresses share
insurance coverage for IRA/Keogh
accounts and deferred compensation
accounts, establishes pass-through
insurance coverage for employee benefit
plan accounts, and increases share
insurance coverage to $250,000 for
certain retirement accounts.
Although the Conforming
Amendments Act prohibits insured
credit unions that are not ‘‘well
capitalized’’ or ‘‘adequately capitalized’’
from accepting employee benefit plan
shares, pass-through coverage is granted
for shares in employee benefit plan
accounts in existence before this rule
even if the credit unions do not meet the
requisite capital levels. Credit unions
that do not meet the requisite capital
levels, or those that previously met the
requisite capital levels but fall below
those levels, are prohibited from
accepting shares in employee benefit
plan accounts until their capital levels
improve.
Previously, full share insurance
coverage in an employee benefit plan,
such as a deferred compensation
account, had been limited to plan
participants who are also members of
the credit union in which the account
is maintained. In the interim final rule,
NCUA noted that, during the
rulemaking process, it intended to
continue to insure employee benefit
plan participants in accordance with the
example for retirement funds then
provided in the appendix to NCUA’s
insurance rule. 12 CFR part 745,
Appendix, Paragraph G, Examples 3(a)
and 3(b). That meant participants in an
employee benefit plan who are credit
union members would receive up to
$100,000 as to their determinable
interest but member interests not
capable of evaluation and nonmember
interests would be added together and
insured up to $100,000 in the aggregate.
NCUA also noted in the interim final
that the language of the Conforming
Amendments Act suggests greater
NCUA authority to provide passthrough coverage on a per-participant
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basis, regardless of membership status.
Specifically, the Conforming
Amendments Act defines pass-through
insurance as ‘‘insurance coverage based
on the interest of each participant’’
without including any limitations or
qualifications requiring the membership
status of each participant. Federal
Deposit Insurance Reform Conforming
Amendments Act of 2005, Public Law
109–173. Also, the legislative history of
the Reform Act evidences congressional
intent to advance as a national priority
the enhancement of retirement security
for all Americans. H.R. Rep. No. 109–67
at 22 (2005).
On those bases, and in consideration
of the comments received, NCUA
believes it is appropriate to extend full
coverage to all participants in an
employee benefit plan. NCUA does not
believe it is necessary to restrict this
extended coverage only to plans where
the plan trustee or the employer
sponsoring the plan is a member or if
some percentage of plan participants are
members. NCUA finds the language of
the Conforming Amendments Act does
not impose any membership restrictions
and supports the agency’s position.
Furthermore, NCUA believes
extending full coverage to all
participants, regardless of membership
status, is both fair and reasonable for
two additional reasons. First, it is
extremely likely that employers or
trustees will only establish employee
benefit plans at a credit union if there
is already some membership
connection, for example, the employee
group is within the field of membership
of the credit union. Second, participants
may not be able to control or readily
determine where their interests in an
employee benefit plan are maintained.
Therefore, as a matter of fairness to
participants, all should be assured of
full, pass-through coverage. As
discussed above, NCUA will extend full
pass-through coverage to member and
nonmember participants alike.
Accordingly, examples 3(a) and (b) in
paragraph G of the appendix are revised
to illustrate the pass-through coverage
provided to employee benefit plans.
F. Public Unit Accounts
The interim final rule changed the
heading of § 745.10 from ‘‘Public Unit
Accounts’’ to ‘‘Accounts Held By
Government Depositors’’ to reflect the
amendments to 12 U.S.C. 1787(k)(2) by
the Conforming Amendments Act. The
interim rule did not make any
substantive changes to § 745.10 other
than replacing references to $100,000
with references to the SMSIA. The
amendments regarding public unit
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accounts in the interim rule are adopted
in this final rule without change.
G. 529 Programs
Section 529 of the IRC provides tax
benefits for 529 plans. 26 U.S.C. 529(a).
These programs include prepaid tuition
programs, which educational
institutions may create, as well as
tuition savings programs that states or
public instrumentalities sponsor. 26
U.S.C. 529(b)(1). Section 529 defines a
tuition savings program as a program
under which a person ‘‘may make
contributions to an account which is
established for the purpose of meeting
the qualified higher education expenses
of the designated beneficiary of the
account’’ and which meets certain
requirements. 26 U.S.C. 529(b)(1)(A)(ii).
A participant in a 529 program acquires
an interest in a state trust and does not
directly deposit funds with a financial
institution.
In April 2005, a state contacted NCUA
about share insurance coverage for its
529 plan. The state asked NCUA to
adopt a rule similar to the FDIC’s
interim final rule to allow pass-through
coverage for participants in the 529
program. 70 FR 33689 (June 9, 2005).
The FDIC’s interim final rule provided
pass-through coverage to each
participant aggregated with the
participant’s other single ownership
accounts at the same financial
institution up to $100,000, provided
that each deposit may be traced to one
or more particular investors and the
FDIC’s disclosure rules for pass-through
coverage had been satisfied. 70 FR at
33691.
NCUA’s Office of General Counsel
(OGC) issued a legal opinion concluding
that NCUA’s insurance rules provide
pass-through coverage to a 529 program
participant if the participant is a
member of the federally insured credit
union where the 529 program account is
maintained and if the account is
properly titled. OGC Legal Opinion 05–
0630 (July 1, 2005). This interpretation
of the NCUA rule reached the same
result in terms of coverage and
maintained parity with the deposit
insurance provided by the FDIC in its
interim rule, although on a slightly
different basis. The legal opinion also
noted that NCUA would consider
amending its insurance rule when FDIC
issued a final one. Id. In October 2005,
FDIC issued a final rule without any
substantive changes. The interim rule
incorporated OGC Legal Opinion 05–
0630 into part 745 to clarify that share
insurance coverage is available for 529
program participants.
In 529 programs of which NCUA is
aware, the state holds 529 program
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funds as an agent for the participants.
Accordingly, these accounts are insured
as single ownership accounts under
NCUA’s share insurance rule covering
accounts held by agents or nominees. 12
CFR 745.3(a)(2).
Agent or nominee accounts are
insured as individual accounts and are
aggregated with all other individual
accounts a participant has at the same
credit union up to the SMSIA. To be
fully insured, the participant’s interest
must be ascertainable from the credit
union’s or state’s records. 12 CFR
745.2(c)(2). Therefore, careful titling of
the accounts and proper records are
necessary to ensure each participant
receives individual account coverage.
NCUA insurance regulations require a
participant to be a member of the credit
union or otherwise eligible to maintain
an insured account in the credit union.
12 CFR 745.0. The amendments
regarding 529 programs in the interim
rule are adopted in this final rule
without change.
H. Share Accounts Denominated in a
Foreign Currency
The FCU Act authorizes the NCUA
Board to limit the type of share
payments a credit union may accept and
to determine the types of funds that will
be insured. 12 U.S.C. 1766, 1782,
1782(h)(3). If NCUA permits federal
credit unions (FCUs) to accept member
accounts denominated in a foreign
currency, then NCUA must insure them.
12 U.S.C. 1781(a). Under the FCU Act’s
nondiscrimination provision, NCUA
must provide the same coverage for
member accounts of state-chartered
credit unions that comply with the FCU
Act and NCUA regulations. Id.; 12
U.S.C. 1790.
Under the incidental powers rule,
FCUs can provide monetary instrument
services that enable members to
purchase, sell, or exchange various
currencies. 12 CFR 721.3(i). FCUs can
use their accounts in foreign financial
institutions to facilitate transfer and
negotiation of member share drafts
denominated in foreign currencies or
engage in monetary transfer services.
FCU funds deposited in a foreign
financial institution are not insured by
NCUA and may not be insured by the
foreign country. Consequently, NCUA
has highlighted the need for FCUs to
exercise due diligence to ensure the
foreign financial institutions with which
it has accounts are financially sound,
suitably regulated, and authorized to
accept its transactions before opening
any accounts. OGC Legal Opinion 99–
1031 (December 9, 1999). FCUs assume
the risk of currency fluctuations when
they maintain an account in a foreign
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56003
financial institution. NCUA recognized
this risk and, before adopting § 721.3(i),
had recommended FCUs either
purchase or deposit only the amount of
foreign currency needed to satisfy
immediate short-term needs of their
members. OGC Legal Opinions 99–1031
(December 9, 1999); 90–0637 (June 29,
1990).
While the FCU Act does not prohibit
FCUs from accepting foreigndenominated shares, potential safety
and soundness concerns associated with
currency fluctuations have kept FCUs
from offering these accounts.
Accordingly, NCUA has only permitted
FCUs to provide foreign currency
services as an incidental powers activity
rather than allowing FCUs to maintain
shares in foreign currency. See OGC
Legal Opinions 89–0822 (September 15,
1989); 89–0613 (July 31, 1989). Simply
accepting shares denominated in a
foreign currency presents little risk, if
any, to credit unions. NCUA believes
federally insured credit unions can
effectively manage the risks associated
with accepting shares denominated in
foreign currency and issued provisions
similar to the FDIC’s in the interim final
rule. Lending or investing funds in
foreign currency still presents an
increased risk to credit unions due to
currency fluctuations that cannot be
easily ameliorated, so the interim final
rule did not permit lending or investing
funds denominated in a foreign
currency.
Previously, NCUA had not expressly
addressed the insurability of member
accounts denominated in foreign
currency except in the foreign branching
regulation, where NCUA has limited the
insurability of member accounts at
foreign branches of an insured credit
union to accounts denominated in U.S.
dollars. 12 CFR 741.11(e). The interim
final rule provided share insurance
coverage for shares denominated in a
foreign currency and for conversion of
foreign currency to U.S. dollars before
an insurance payout in the event a
credit union is liquidated similarly to
the FDIC.
The FDIC provides insurance
coverage for deposits at insured banks
denominated in a foreign currency equal
to the amount of U.S. dollars equivalent
in value to the amount of the deposit
denominated in the foreign currency up
to the SMDIA. 12 CFR 330.3(c). Under
the FDIC rule, if an insured bank is
liquidated, the value of the foreign
currency deposit is determined using
the rate of exchange quoted by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York at
noon on the day the bank defaults,
unless the deposit agreement states
otherwise. Id. Deposits payable solely
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outside of the U.S. and its territories are
not insurable deposits. 12 CFR 330.3(e).
As noted above, accepting shares
denominated in a foreign currency
presents little risk. If a credit union is
able to fund an operation that is fully
integrated and supportable in foreign
currency, it will have minimized its
exposure to risk of loss due to currency
fluctuation. Actually, the risk would
shift to the members who deposit and
withdraw funds denominated in the
foreign currency.
The interim final rule permitted credit
unions to accept shares denominated in
foreign currency and provided share
insurance coverage of those shares. By
accepting shares denominated in foreign
currencies, credit unions can better
serve members who, for example,
receive payments in foreign currencies.
Additionally, members who deposit
shares denominated in a foreign
currency will have the same share
insurance coverage available for share
accounts denominated in U.S. dollars.
Credit unions must carefully consider
any risk associated with maintaining
shares denominated in foreign
currencies before offering this service to
their members. Federally insured credit
unions that maintain shares
denominated in a foreign currency will
receive instructions on how to report
these deposits on 5300 call reports.
The interim final did not permit
insured credit unions to make loans or
invest funds denominated in foreign
currencies. These transactions may
require credit unions to participate in
trading currency, also called hedging or
currency swaps, to manage the risk of
potential loss due to currency
fluctuations. While hedging may help
credit unions protect against risks
associated with changing currency rates,
NCUA rules currently prohibit natural
person FCUs from investing in
derivatives like currency swaps. 12 CFR
703.16(a). FCUs that wish to engage in
swaps to hedge against currency
fluctuation must apply for NCUA
approval as a part of a properly
designed investment pilot program. 12
CFR 703.19. This rulemaking only
addresses share insurance coverage.
During NCUA’s annual regulatory
review, staff will consider the
investments rules in part 703 and may
recommend amendments to FCU
investment authority. The amendments
regarding share accounts denominated
in a foreign currency in the interim final
rule are adopted in this final rule
without change.
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Regulatory Procedures
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act
requires NCUA to prepare an analysis to
describe any significant economic
impact a rule may have on a substantial
number of small credit unions, defined
as those under ten million dollars in
assets. This final rule clarifies and
improves available share insurance
coverage, without imposing any
regulatory burden. The final
amendments would not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small credit
unions, and, therefore, a regulatory
flexibility analysis is not required.
Paperwork Reduction Act
NCUA has determined that this final
rule would not increase paperwork
requirements under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 and regulations
of the Office of Management and
Budget.
Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132 encourages
independent regulatory agencies to
consider the impact of their actions on
state and local interests. In adherence to
fundamental federalism principles,
NCUA, an independent regulatory
agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5),
voluntarily complies with the executive
order. This final rule would not have
substantial direct effects on the states,
on the connection between the national
government and the states, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government. NCUA has
determined that this rule does not
constitute a policy that has federalism
implications for purposes of the
executive order.
The Treasury and General Government
Appropriations Act, 1999—Assessment
of Federal Regulations and Policies on
Families
The NCUA has determined that this
final rule would not affect family wellbeing within the meaning of section 654
of the Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act, 1999,
Pub. L. 105–277, 112 Stat. 2681 (1998).
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act
The Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub.
L. 104–121) (SBREFA) provides
generally for congressional review of
agency rules. A reporting requirement is
triggered in instances where NCUA
issues a final rule as defined by Section
551 of the Administrative Procedure
Act. 5 U.S.C. 551. The Office of
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Management and Budget has
determined that this final rule is not a
major rule for purposes of SBREFA.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 745
Credit unions, Share insurance.
By the National Credit Union
Administration Board on September 21,
2006.
Mary F. Rupp,
Secretary of the Board.
Accordingly, NCUA adopts the
interim rule amending 12 CFR part 745,
which was published at 71 FR 14631 on
March 23, 2006, as a final rule with the
following change:
I
PART 745—SHARE INSURANCE AND
APPENDIX
1. The authority citation for part 745
continues to read as follows:
I
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1757, 1765,
1766, 1781, 1782, 1787, 1789.
2. The Appendix to part 745 is
amended by revising Examples 3(a) and
3(b) of Paragraph G to read as follows:
I
Appendix to Part 745—Examples of
Insurance Coverage Afforded Accounts
in Credit Unions Insured by the
National Credit Union Share Insurance
Fund
*
*
*
*
*
G. How Are Trust Accounts and Retirement
Accounts Insured?
*
*
*
*
*
Example 3(a)
Question: Member T invests $500,000 in
trust for ABC Employees Retirement Fund.
Some of the participants are members and
some are not. What is the insurance
coverage?
Answer: The account is insured as to the
determinable interests of each participant to
a maximum of $100,000 per participant
regardless of credit union member status. T’s
member status is also irrelevant. Participant
interests not capable of evaluation shall be
added together and insured to a maximum of
$100,000 in the aggregate (§ 745.9–2).
Example 3(b)
Question: T is trustee for the ABC
Employees Retirement Fund containing
$1,000,000. Fund participant A has a
determinable interest of $90,000 in the Fund
(9% of the total). T invests $500,000 of the
Fund in an insured credit union and the
remaining $500,000 elsewhere. Some of the
participants of the Fund are members of the
credit union and some are not. T does not
segregate each participant’s interest in the
Fund. What is the insurance coverage?
Answer: The account is insured as to the
determinable interest of each participant,
adjusted in proportion to the Fund’s
investment in the credit union, regardless of
the membership status of the participants or
trustee. A’s insured interest in the account is
$45,000, or 9% of $500,000. This reflects the
fact that only 50% of the Fund is in the
E:\FR\FM\26SER1.SGM
26SER1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 26, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
account and A’s interest in the account is in
the same proportion as his interest in the
overall plan. All other participants would be
similarly insured. Participants’ interests not
capable of evaluation are added together and
insured to a maximum of $100,000 in the
aggregate (§ 745.9–2).
*
*
*
*
*
[FR Doc. 06–8258 Filed 9–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
September 1, 2006, make the following
correction in the headings section. On
page 52250 in the first column, change
the agency docket information to read as
follows:
‘‘[Docket No. FAA–2003–14825;
Amendment Nos. 21–88, 91–293]’’
Issued in Washington, DC, on September
11, 2006.
Ida M. Klepper,
Acting Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 06–8234 Filed 9–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Federal Aviation Administration
56005
Also, in the August 25, 2006 rule,
amendatory instruction no. 21 added 14
CFR part 417 in its entirety. 71 FR at
50537. The table of contents for the part
indicated that appendix F was reserved
for future use. However, the text of part
417 inadvertently failed to include any
reference to the existence of the
reserved appendix. To avoid any
possible confusion, we are adding a
notation referencing the reserved
appendix between the text of appendix
E of part 417 and the text of appendix
G of part 417.
Justification for Expedited Rulemaking
14 CFR Parts 21 and 91
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[Docket No. FAA–2003–14825; Amendment
No. 21–88, 91–293]
Federal Aviation Administration
RIN 2120–AH90
14 CFR Parts 413 and 417
Standard Airworthiness Certification of
New Aircraft; Correction
[Docket No. FAA–2000–7953; Amendment
Nos. 401–4, 406–3, 413–7, 415–4, 417–0]
RIN 2120–AG37
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; correction.
AGENCY:
Licensing and Safety Requirements for
Launch; Correction
SUMMARY: This document makes a
correction to the final rule published in
the Federal Register on September 1,
2006 (71 FR 52250), which amends
regulations for issuing airworthiness
certificates to certain new aircraft
manufactured in the United States. This
action is necessary to add an
amendment number to the headings
section at the beginning of the final rule.
This correction does not make
substantive changes to the final rule.
DATES: Effective Date: October 2, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan
Hayworth, Airworthiness Certification
Branch, AIR–230, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591,
telephone (202) 267–8449.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
rmajette on PROD1PC67 with RULES1
Background
The September 1, 2006, final rule (71
FR 52250) inadvertently failed to
include in the headings section at the
beginning of the rule an amendment
number for the change to 14 CFR part
91. Amendment numbers are a means
by which the FAA keeps track of
changes to its regulations. The final rule
included an amendment number for the
changes to 14 CFR part 21 (No. 21–88),
but not for part 91. For this reason, we
are adding amendment number 91–293
to the headings section at the beginning
of the rule.
Correction
In final rule FR Doc. 06–7355,
beginning on page 52250 in the issue of
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:57 Sep 25, 2006
Jkt 208001
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; correction.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This document makes two
minor corrections to a final rule that
amends commercial space
transportation regulations governing the
launch of expendable launch vehicles.
71 FR 50507 (Aug. 25, 2006). This
action is necessary to correct a
paragraph designation and add a
notation of a reserved appendix. This
correction does not make substantive
changes to the final rule.
EFFECTIVE DATES: September 25, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
´
Rene Rey, Licensing and Safety
Division, AST–200, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;
telephone (202) 267–7538; e-mail
Rene.Rey@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
14 CFR Part 413
Rockets, Space transportation and
exploration.
14 CFR Part 417
Rockets, Space transportation and
exploration.
The Amendment
Accordingly, the FAA amends
Chapter 1 of Title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations as follows:
I
PART 413—LICENSE APPLICATION
PROCEDURES
1. The authority citation for part 413
continues to read as follows:
In the August 25, 2006, final rule (71
FR 50507, 50531), amendatory
instruction no. 6 added paragraph (d),
Measurement system consistency to 14
CFR 413.7. However, an earlier FAA
action had added paragraph (d), Safety
approval to § 413.7. 71 FR 46847, 46852
(Aug. 15, 2006). It was not the FAA’s
intention in the August 25, 2006 rule to
supersede the previously added
paragraph (d). Thus, we are changing
the paragraph designation of
Measurement system consistency to 14
CFR 413.7(e).
Frm 00011
List of Subjects
I
Background
PO 00000
Section 553 of the Administrative
Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B),
provides that, when an agency for good
cause finds that notice and public
procedure are impracticable,
unnecessary, or contrary to the public
interest, the agency may issue a rule
without providing notice and an
opportunity for public comment. We
have determined there is good cause for
making today’s action final without
prior proposal and opportunity for
comment because the changes are minor
technical corrections and do not change
the substantive requirements of the rule.
Thus, notice and public procedure are
unnecessary.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 70101–70121.
2. Amend § 413.7 by removing
paragraph (d) that was added on August
25, 2006 (71 FR 50531), and by adding
paragraph (e) to read as follows:
I
§ 413.7
Application.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) Measurement system consistency.
For each analysis, an applicant must
employ a consistent measurements
system, whether English or metric, in its
application and licensing information.
E:\FR\FM\26SER1.SGM
26SER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56001-56005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8258]
[[Page 56001]]
=======================================================================
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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION
12 CFR Part 745
RIN 3133-AD18
Share Insurance and Appendix
AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NCUA is amending its share insurance rules to implement
amendments to the Federal Credit Union Act (FCU Act) made by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 (Reform Act) and the
Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Conforming Amendments Act of 2005
(Conforming Amendments Act). In this regard, the final rule: Defines
the ``standard maximum share insurance amount'' as $100,000 and
provides that beginning in 2010, and in each subsequent 5-year period
thereafter, NCUA and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
will jointly consider if an inflation adjustment is appropriate to
increase that amount; increases the share insurance limit for certain
retirement accounts from $100,000 to $250,000, subject to the above
inflation adjustments; and provides pass-through coverage to each
participant of an employee benefit plan, but limits the acceptance of
shares in employee benefit plans to insured credit unions that are well
capitalized or adequately capitalized. Additionally, NCUA is amending
its share insurance rules to clarify insurance coverage for qualified
tuition savings programs, commonly referred to as 529 plans, and share
accounts denominated in foreign currencies.
DATES: This final rule is effective October 26, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Kressman, Staff Attorney, Office
of General Counsel, or Moisette Green, Staff Attorney, Office of
General Counsel, at the above address or telephone: (703) 518-6540.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 and Federal Deposit
Insurance Reform Conforming Amendments Act of 2005
The Reform Act and Conforming Amendments Act, (Pub. L. 109-171) and
(Pub. L. 109-173), amended the share insurance provisions of the FCU
Act in a number of ways. 12 U.S.C. 1781-1790d. Specifically, section
2103(a) of the Reform Act provides that beginning April 1, 2010, and
each subsequent 5-year period thereafter, NCUA and the FDIC will
jointly consider if an inflation adjustment is appropriate to increase
the NCUA's current ``standard maximum share insurance amount'' (SMSIA),
which is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1787(k) as $100,000, and the ``standard
maximum deposit insurance amount'' (SMDIA), the FDIC equivalent. Any
increase to the SMSIA or SMDIA will be calculated using a formula
comparing, over time, the published annual values of the Personal
Consumption Expenditures Chain-Type Price Index, published by the
Department of Commerce, and rounded down to the nearest $10,000. The
Reform Act also requires NCUA and FDIC to consider certain other
factors in determining whether to increase the SMSIA and SMDIA.
Additionally, if an adjustment is warranted, NCUA and FDIC are required
to publish information in the Federal Register and provide a
corresponding report to Congress by April 5, 2010, and every succeeding
fifth year. Subsequently, under those circumstances, an inflation
adjustment will take effect on January 1st of the year immediately
succeeding the year in which the adjustment is calculated unless an act
of Congress provides otherwise.
Section 2(d)(1)(C) of the Conforming Amendments Act mandates that
NCUA provide ``pass-through'' share insurance coverage for shares in
any employee benefit plan account on a per-participant basis. This type
of coverage is called ``pass-through'' because it passes through the
employee benefit plan administrator to each of the participants in the
plan. The employee benefit plans to which this section refers include
those described in: (1) Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974; (2) section 401(d) of the Internal Revenue Code
(IRC); and (3) section 457 of the IRC. This section, however, limits
the acceptance of employee benefit plan shares to insured credit unions
that are ``well capitalized'' or ``adequately capitalized'' as those
terms are defined in section 216(c) of the FCU Act. 12 U.S.C. 1790d(c).
Section 2(d)(2) of the Conforming Amendments Act amended 12 U.S.C.
1787(k)(3) of the FCU Act to increase the share insurance limit for
certain retirement accounts from $100,000 to $250,000. The increased
limit is also subject to the inflation adjustments discussed above. The
types of accounts within this category of coverage include those
specifically enumerated in 12 U.S.C. 1787(k)(3): Individual retirement
accounts (IRAs) described in section 408(a) of the IRC and any plan
described in section 401(d) of the IRC (Keogh accounts).
Additionally, the Conforming Amendments Act created the term
``government depositor'' in connection with public funds described in
and insured under 12 U.S.C. 1787(k)(2). It also provides that the
shares of a government depositor are insured in an amount up to the
SMSIA. The amendments to NCUA's share insurance rules in part 745
implement the share insurance coverage revisions made by the Reform Act
and the Conforming Amendments Act.
B. Interim Final Rule
In March 2006, the NCUA Board issued an interim final rule with
request for comments to implement the statutory amendments summarized
above. 71 FR 14631 (March 23, 2006). It put in place share insurance
rules, effective on April 1, 2006, that enhance share insurance
coverage, clarify legal positions already taken by NCUA, maintain
parity with the FDIC, and are consistent with the regulatory changes
FDIC made under the Reform Act and Conforming Amendments Act.
Additionally, the interim final rule clarified and incorporated prior
interpretations of the share insurance rules that provide coverage for
qualified tuition savings plans created pursuant to section 529 of the
IRC (529 plans) and share accounts denominated in foreign currencies.
C. Summary of Comments
NCUA received 14 comments regarding the interim rule: Three from
FCUs, six from state credit unions, two from credit union trade
associations, and three from a professional association of state and
territorial regulatory agencies. All 14 commenters supported the rule.
Two commenters, while supporting the rule in general, limited their
comments to NCUA's clarification of share insurance coverage for shares
denominated in foreign currency. One of those commenters also requested
NCUA permit credit unions to invest foreign currencies received from
members at pre-approved corporate credit unions. Permissible
investments for FCUs are beyond the scope of this rulemaking, but the
Board may consider this authority in other rulemakings.
The other twelve commenters supporting the rule responded to NCUA's
request for comments on whether pass-through coverage for employee
benefit plans should depend on the participants' membership in the
credit union where the employee benefit plan is maintained. All agreed
share
[[Page 56002]]
insurance coverage should be extended to all participants of the
employee benefit plan regardless of the participants' membership in the
credit union. Many of the commenters noted that: (1) Employers
generally establish employee benefit plans at credit unions where there
is already some membership connection; (2) participants may not control
where their interests in the employee benefit plan are deposited; and,
(3) the Conforming Amendments Act prohibits credit unions that are not
well or adequately capitalized from accepting employee benefit plan
shares.
Seven commenters requested NCUA extend pass-through coverage to
attorney trust accounts commonly known as IOLTA accounts (interest-on-
lawyer-trust accounts) in a fashion similar to employee benefit plans
accounts. These comments are beyond the scope of this rulemaking. The
Conforming Amendments Act does not address IOLTA accounts, and NCUA
will continue to insure IOLTA accounts by providing pass-through
coverage only to members.
D. Standard Maximum Share Insurance Amount
The interim final rule added a definition of SMSIA to Sec. 745.1,
the definitions section of the share insurance rules. 12 CFR 745.1. The
definition of SMSIA tracks the language of the Conforming Amendments
Act and reads ``$100,000, adjusted as provided under section
11(a)(1)(F) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.'' 12 U.S.C. 1821
(a)(1)(F). Revised section 11(a)(1)(F) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act details how every five years, the NCUA and FDIC will consider and
calculate the inflation adjustment to the SMSIA and SMDIA, as discussed
above. Also, the definition of SMSIA notes: (1) The current SMSIA is
$100,000; (2) the acronym SMSIA is used throughout the regulatory text
of part 745; and (3) all examples of share insurance coverage in part
745 use the current SMSIA of $100,000, unless a higher limit is
presented and specifically noted. Accordingly, all references to the
current insurance amount of $100,000 in the appendix to part 745,
except for the examples in the appendix, are replaced by the acronym
SMSIA. Examples in the appendix to part 745, which NCUA believes are
helpful in illustrating a member's insurance coverage, will continue to
provide the dollar amount of insurance for the particular example so
members can calculate and know the insurance available on their
accounts. The use of the acronym SMSIA throughout the regulatory text
of part 745, instead of an actual number, will allow NCUA to avoid
having to change the numerical limit of share insurance throughout the
rule each time the SMSIA is adjusted for inflation.
The amendments regarding the SMSIA in the interim final rule are
adopted in this final rule without change.
E. Retirement and Other Employee Benefit Plan Accounts
In implementing amendments to the FCU Act by the Conforming
Amendments Act, the interim final rule consolidated Sec. 745.9-3 into
Sec. 745.9-2. This section now addresses share insurance coverage for
IRA/Keogh accounts and deferred compensation accounts, establishes
pass-through insurance coverage for employee benefit plan accounts, and
increases share insurance coverage to $250,000 for certain retirement
accounts.
Although the Conforming Amendments Act prohibits insured credit
unions that are not ``well capitalized'' or ``adequately capitalized''
from accepting employee benefit plan shares, pass-through coverage is
granted for shares in employee benefit plan accounts in existence
before this rule even if the credit unions do not meet the requisite
capital levels. Credit unions that do not meet the requisite capital
levels, or those that previously met the requisite capital levels but
fall below those levels, are prohibited from accepting shares in
employee benefit plan accounts until their capital levels improve.
Previously, full share insurance coverage in an employee benefit
plan, such as a deferred compensation account, had been limited to plan
participants who are also members of the credit union in which the
account is maintained. In the interim final rule, NCUA noted that,
during the rulemaking process, it intended to continue to insure
employee benefit plan participants in accordance with the example for
retirement funds then provided in the appendix to NCUA's insurance
rule. 12 CFR part 745, Appendix, Paragraph G, Examples 3(a) and 3(b).
That meant participants in an employee benefit plan who are credit
union members would receive up to $100,000 as to their determinable
interest but member interests not capable of evaluation and nonmember
interests would be added together and insured up to $100,000 in the
aggregate.
NCUA also noted in the interim final that the language of the
Conforming Amendments Act suggests greater NCUA authority to provide
pass-through coverage on a per-participant basis, regardless of
membership status. Specifically, the Conforming Amendments Act defines
pass-through insurance as ``insurance coverage based on the interest of
each participant'' without including any limitations or qualifications
requiring the membership status of each participant. Federal Deposit
Insurance Reform Conforming Amendments Act of 2005, Public Law 109-173.
Also, the legislative history of the Reform Act evidences congressional
intent to advance as a national priority the enhancement of retirement
security for all Americans. H.R. Rep. No. 109-67 at 22 (2005).
On those bases, and in consideration of the comments received, NCUA
believes it is appropriate to extend full coverage to all participants
in an employee benefit plan. NCUA does not believe it is necessary to
restrict this extended coverage only to plans where the plan trustee or
the employer sponsoring the plan is a member or if some percentage of
plan participants are members. NCUA finds the language of the
Conforming Amendments Act does not impose any membership restrictions
and supports the agency's position.
Furthermore, NCUA believes extending full coverage to all
participants, regardless of membership status, is both fair and
reasonable for two additional reasons. First, it is extremely likely
that employers or trustees will only establish employee benefit plans
at a credit union if there is already some membership connection, for
example, the employee group is within the field of membership of the
credit union. Second, participants may not be able to control or
readily determine where their interests in an employee benefit plan are
maintained. Therefore, as a matter of fairness to participants, all
should be assured of full, pass-through coverage. As discussed above,
NCUA will extend full pass-through coverage to member and nonmember
participants alike. Accordingly, examples 3(a) and (b) in paragraph G
of the appendix are revised to illustrate the pass-through coverage
provided to employee benefit plans.
F. Public Unit Accounts
The interim final rule changed the heading of Sec. 745.10 from
``Public Unit Accounts'' to ``Accounts Held By Government Depositors''
to reflect the amendments to 12 U.S.C. 1787(k)(2) by the Conforming
Amendments Act. The interim rule did not make any substantive changes
to Sec. 745.10 other than replacing references to $100,000 with
references to the SMSIA. The amendments regarding public unit
[[Page 56003]]
accounts in the interim rule are adopted in this final rule without
change.
G. 529 Programs
Section 529 of the IRC provides tax benefits for 529 plans. 26
U.S.C. 529(a). These programs include prepaid tuition programs, which
educational institutions may create, as well as tuition savings
programs that states or public instrumentalities sponsor. 26 U.S.C.
529(b)(1). Section 529 defines a tuition savings program as a program
under which a person ``may make contributions to an account which is
established for the purpose of meeting the qualified higher education
expenses of the designated beneficiary of the account'' and which meets
certain requirements. 26 U.S.C. 529(b)(1)(A)(ii). A participant in a
529 program acquires an interest in a state trust and does not directly
deposit funds with a financial institution.
In April 2005, a state contacted NCUA about share insurance
coverage for its 529 plan. The state asked NCUA to adopt a rule similar
to the FDIC's interim final rule to allow pass-through coverage for
participants in the 529 program. 70 FR 33689 (June 9, 2005). The FDIC's
interim final rule provided pass-through coverage to each participant
aggregated with the participant's other single ownership accounts at
the same financial institution up to $100,000, provided that each
deposit may be traced to one or more particular investors and the
FDIC's disclosure rules for pass-through coverage had been satisfied.
70 FR at 33691.
NCUA's Office of General Counsel (OGC) issued a legal opinion
concluding that NCUA's insurance rules provide pass-through coverage to
a 529 program participant if the participant is a member of the
federally insured credit union where the 529 program account is
maintained and if the account is properly titled. OGC Legal Opinion 05-
0630 (July 1, 2005). This interpretation of the NCUA rule reached the
same result in terms of coverage and maintained parity with the deposit
insurance provided by the FDIC in its interim rule, although on a
slightly different basis. The legal opinion also noted that NCUA would
consider amending its insurance rule when FDIC issued a final one. Id.
In October 2005, FDIC issued a final rule without any substantive
changes. The interim rule incorporated OGC Legal Opinion 05-0630 into
part 745 to clarify that share insurance coverage is available for 529
program participants.
In 529 programs of which NCUA is aware, the state holds 529 program
funds as an agent for the participants. Accordingly, these accounts are
insured as single ownership accounts under NCUA's share insurance rule
covering accounts held by agents or nominees. 12 CFR 745.3(a)(2).
Agent or nominee accounts are insured as individual accounts and
are aggregated with all other individual accounts a participant has at
the same credit union up to the SMSIA. To be fully insured, the
participant's interest must be ascertainable from the credit union's or
state's records. 12 CFR 745.2(c)(2). Therefore, careful titling of the
accounts and proper records are necessary to ensure each participant
receives individual account coverage. NCUA insurance regulations
require a participant to be a member of the credit union or otherwise
eligible to maintain an insured account in the credit union. 12 CFR
745.0. The amendments regarding 529 programs in the interim rule are
adopted in this final rule without change.
H. Share Accounts Denominated in a Foreign Currency
The FCU Act authorizes the NCUA Board to limit the type of share
payments a credit union may accept and to determine the types of funds
that will be insured. 12 U.S.C. 1766, 1782, 1782(h)(3). If NCUA permits
federal credit unions (FCUs) to accept member accounts denominated in a
foreign currency, then NCUA must insure them. 12 U.S.C. 1781(a). Under
the FCU Act's nondiscrimination provision, NCUA must provide the same
coverage for member accounts of state-chartered credit unions that
comply with the FCU Act and NCUA regulations. Id.; 12 U.S.C. 1790.
Under the incidental powers rule, FCUs can provide monetary
instrument services that enable members to purchase, sell, or exchange
various currencies. 12 CFR 721.3(i). FCUs can use their accounts in
foreign financial institutions to facilitate transfer and negotiation
of member share drafts denominated in foreign currencies or engage in
monetary transfer services. FCU funds deposited in a foreign financial
institution are not insured by NCUA and may not be insured by the
foreign country. Consequently, NCUA has highlighted the need for FCUs
to exercise due diligence to ensure the foreign financial institutions
with which it has accounts are financially sound, suitably regulated,
and authorized to accept its transactions before opening any accounts.
OGC Legal Opinion 99-1031 (December 9, 1999). FCUs assume the risk of
currency fluctuations when they maintain an account in a foreign
financial institution. NCUA recognized this risk and, before adopting
Sec. 721.3(i), had recommended FCUs either purchase or deposit only
the amount of foreign currency needed to satisfy immediate short-term
needs of their members. OGC Legal Opinions 99-1031 (December 9, 1999);
90-0637 (June 29, 1990).
While the FCU Act does not prohibit FCUs from accepting foreign-
denominated shares, potential safety and soundness concerns associated
with currency fluctuations have kept FCUs from offering these accounts.
Accordingly, NCUA has only permitted FCUs to provide foreign currency
services as an incidental powers activity rather than allowing FCUs to
maintain shares in foreign currency. See OGC Legal Opinions 89-0822
(September 15, 1989); 89-0613 (July 31, 1989). Simply accepting shares
denominated in a foreign currency presents little risk, if any, to
credit unions. NCUA believes federally insured credit unions can
effectively manage the risks associated with accepting shares
denominated in foreign currency and issued provisions similar to the
FDIC's in the interim final rule. Lending or investing funds in foreign
currency still presents an increased risk to credit unions due to
currency fluctuations that cannot be easily ameliorated, so the interim
final rule did not permit lending or investing funds denominated in a
foreign currency.
Previously, NCUA had not expressly addressed the insurability of
member accounts denominated in foreign currency except in the foreign
branching regulation, where NCUA has limited the insurability of member
accounts at foreign branches of an insured credit union to accounts
denominated in U.S. dollars. 12 CFR 741.11(e). The interim final rule
provided share insurance coverage for shares denominated in a foreign
currency and for conversion of foreign currency to U.S. dollars before
an insurance payout in the event a credit union is liquidated similarly
to the FDIC.
The FDIC provides insurance coverage for deposits at insured banks
denominated in a foreign currency equal to the amount of U.S. dollars
equivalent in value to the amount of the deposit denominated in the
foreign currency up to the SMDIA. 12 CFR 330.3(c). Under the FDIC rule,
if an insured bank is liquidated, the value of the foreign currency
deposit is determined using the rate of exchange quoted by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York at noon on the day the bank defaults, unless
the deposit agreement states otherwise. Id. Deposits payable solely
[[Page 56004]]
outside of the U.S. and its territories are not insurable deposits. 12
CFR 330.3(e).
As noted above, accepting shares denominated in a foreign currency
presents little risk. If a credit union is able to fund an operation
that is fully integrated and supportable in foreign currency, it will
have minimized its exposure to risk of loss due to currency
fluctuation. Actually, the risk would shift to the members who deposit
and withdraw funds denominated in the foreign currency.
The interim final rule permitted credit unions to accept shares
denominated in foreign currency and provided share insurance coverage
of those shares. By accepting shares denominated in foreign currencies,
credit unions can better serve members who, for example, receive
payments in foreign currencies. Additionally, members who deposit
shares denominated in a foreign currency will have the same share
insurance coverage available for share accounts denominated in U.S.
dollars. Credit unions must carefully consider any risk associated with
maintaining shares denominated in foreign currencies before offering
this service to their members. Federally insured credit unions that
maintain shares denominated in a foreign currency will receive
instructions on how to report these deposits on 5300 call reports.
The interim final did not permit insured credit unions to make
loans or invest funds denominated in foreign currencies. These
transactions may require credit unions to participate in trading
currency, also called hedging or currency swaps, to manage the risk of
potential loss due to currency fluctuations. While hedging may help
credit unions protect against risks associated with changing currency
rates, NCUA rules currently prohibit natural person FCUs from investing
in derivatives like currency swaps. 12 CFR 703.16(a). FCUs that wish to
engage in swaps to hedge against currency fluctuation must apply for
NCUA approval as a part of a properly designed investment pilot
program. 12 CFR 703.19. This rulemaking only addresses share insurance
coverage. During NCUA's annual regulatory review, staff will consider
the investments rules in part 703 and may recommend amendments to FCU
investment authority. The amendments regarding share accounts
denominated in a foreign currency in the interim final rule are adopted
in this final rule without change.
Regulatory Procedures
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires NCUA to prepare an analysis
to describe any significant economic impact a rule may have on a
substantial number of small credit unions, defined as those under ten
million dollars in assets. This final rule clarifies and improves
available share insurance coverage, without imposing any regulatory
burden. The final amendments would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small credit unions, and, therefore,
a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required.
Paperwork Reduction Act
NCUA has determined that this final rule would not increase
paperwork requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and
regulations of the Office of Management and Budget.
Executive Order 13132
Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to
consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests. In
adherence to fundamental federalism principles, NCUA, an independent
regulatory agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5), voluntarily complies
with the executive order. This final rule would not have substantial
direct effects on the states, on the connection between the national
government and the states, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government. NCUA has
determined that this rule does not constitute a policy that has
federalism implications for purposes of the executive order.
The Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999--
Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families
The NCUA has determined that this final rule would not affect
family well-being within the meaning of section 654 of the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations Act, 1999, Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat.
2681 (1998).
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
(Pub. L. 104-121) (SBREFA) provides generally for congressional review
of agency rules. A reporting requirement is triggered in instances
where NCUA issues a final rule as defined by Section 551 of the
Administrative Procedure Act. 5 U.S.C. 551. The Office of Management
and Budget has determined that this final rule is not a major rule for
purposes of SBREFA.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 745
Credit unions, Share insurance.
By the National Credit Union Administration Board on September
21, 2006.
Mary F. Rupp,
Secretary of the Board.
0
Accordingly, NCUA adopts the interim rule amending 12 CFR part 745,
which was published at 71 FR 14631 on March 23, 2006, as a final rule
with the following change:
PART 745--SHARE INSURANCE AND APPENDIX
0
1. The authority citation for part 745 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1752(5), 1757, 1765, 1766, 1781, 1782,
1787, 1789.
0
2. The Appendix to part 745 is amended by revising Examples 3(a) and
3(b) of Paragraph G to read as follows:
Appendix to Part 745--Examples of Insurance Coverage Afforded Accounts
in Credit Unions Insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance
Fund
* * * * *
G. How Are Trust Accounts and Retirement Accounts Insured?
* * * * *
Example 3(a) Question: Member T invests $500,000 in trust for
ABC Employees Retirement Fund. Some of the participants are members
and some are not. What is the insurance coverage?
Answer: The account is insured as to the determinable interests
of each participant to a maximum of $100,000 per participant
regardless of credit union member status. T's member status is also
irrelevant. Participant interests not capable of evaluation shall be
added together and insured to a maximum of $100,000 in the aggregate
(Sec. 745.9-2).
Example 3(b) Question: T is trustee for the ABC Employees
Retirement Fund containing $1,000,000. Fund participant A has a
determinable interest of $90,000 in the Fund (9% of the total). T
invests $500,000 of the Fund in an insured credit union and the
remaining $500,000 elsewhere. Some of the participants of the Fund
are members of the credit union and some are not. T does not
segregate each participant's interest in the Fund. What is the
insurance coverage?
Answer: The account is insured as to the determinable interest
of each participant, adjusted in proportion to the Fund's investment
in the credit union, regardless of the membership status of the
participants or trustee. A's insured interest in the account is
$45,000, or 9% of $500,000. This reflects the fact that only 50% of
the Fund is in the
[[Page 56005]]
account and A's interest in the account is in the same proportion as
his interest in the overall plan. All other participants would be
similarly insured. Participants' interests not capable of evaluation
are added together and insured to a maximum of $100,000 in the
aggregate (Sec. 745.9-2).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 06-8258 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-P