Notice of Annual Adjustment of the Cap on Average Total Assets That Defines Community Financial Institutions, 2153-2154 [2018-00618]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2018 / Notices Need and Use: This collection of information is necessary, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 635(a)(1), to determine if such claim complies with the terms and conditions of the relevant insurance policy. Affected Public: This form affects entities involved in the export of U.S. goods and services. Annual Number of Respondents: 300. Estimated Time per Respondent: 45 minutes. Annual Burden Hours: 225 hours. Frequency of Reporting of Use: As needed to request claim payment. Government Expenses: Reviewing Time per Year: 300 hours. Average Wages per Hour: $42.50. Average Cost per Year: $12,750 (time * wages). Benefits and Overhead: 20%. Total Government Cost: $15,300. Bassam Doughman, IT Specialist. [FR Doc. 2018–00512 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6690–01–P EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice: 2017–6011] Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Submission for OMB review and comments request. AGENCY: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), as a part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Our customers will be able to submit this form on paper or electronically. This form is used by insurance brokers to register with Export-Import Bank. It provides EXIM staff with the information necessary to make a determination of the eligibility of the broker to receive commission payments under Export-Import Bank’s credit insurance programs. DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 15, 2018 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically on WWW.REGULATIONS.GOV (EIB 92–79) or by mail to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20038 Attn: OMB 3048–0024 Form can be viewed at https://www.exim.gov/pub/pending/ eib92-79.pdf daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:48 Jan 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title and Form Number: EIB 92–79 Broker Registration Form. OMB Number: 3048–0024. Type of Review: Regular. Need and Use: This form is used by insurance brokers to register with Export Import Bank. The form provides EXIM staff with the information necessary to make a determination of the eligibility of the broker to receive commission payments under Export Import Bank’s credit insurance programs. Affected Public: This form affects entities engaged in brokering export credit insurance policies. Annual Number of Respondents: 17. Estimated Time per Respondent: 15 minutes. Frequency of Reporting or Use: Once every three years. Annual Public Burden: 4.25 hours. Government Expenses: Reviewing Time/Hours: 2. Responses per Year: 17. Review Time per Year: 34 hours. Average Wages per Hour: $42.5. Wages per Year: $1,445. Benefits & Overhead: 20%. Total Government Cost: $1,734. Bassam Doughman, IT Specialist. [FR Doc. 2018–00511 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6690–01–P EXPORT-IMPORT BANK [Public Notice 2017–6009] Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request Export-Import Bank of the United States. ACTION: Submission for OMB Review and Comments Request. AGENCY: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. By neutralizing the effect of export credit insurance and guarantees offered by foreign governments and by absorbing credit risks that the private section will not accept, EXIM enables U.S. exporters to compete fairly in foreign markets on the basis of price and product. This collection of information is necessary to determine eligibility of the applicant for EXIM support. This form is used by a financial institution (or broker acting on its SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2153 behalf) in order to obtain approval for non-honoring coverage of short-term letters of credit. The information received provides EXIM staff with the information necessary to make a determination of the eligibility of the applicant and transaction for EXIM assistance under its programs. The application can be viewed at https://www.exim.gov/sites/default/files/ pub/pending/eib92-34.pdf. DATES: Comments should be received on or before February 15, 2018 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically on WWW.REGULATIONS.GOV (EIB 92–34) or by mail to Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20038 Attn: OMB– 3048–0009. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Titles and Form Number: EIB 92–34 Application for Short-Term Letter of Credit Insurance Policy. OMB Number: 3048–0009. Type of Review: Regular. Need and Use: The information collected, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. Sec. 635(a)(1), will provide information needed to determine compliance and creditworthiness for transaction requests submitted to the Export Import Bank. Affected Public: This form affects entities involved in the export of U.S. goods and services. Annual Number of Respondents: 11. Estimated Time per Respondent: 1 hours. Annual Burden Hours: 48 hours. Frequency of Reporting or Use: As needed. Government Expenses: Reviewing Time per Year: 11 hours. Average Wages per Hour: $42.50. Average Cost per Year: $468 (time * wages). Benefits and Overhead: 20%. Total Government Cost: $561. Bassam Doughman, IT Specialist. [FR Doc. 2018–00509 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6690–01–P FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY [No. 2018–N–1] Notice of Annual Adjustment of the Cap on Average Total Assets That Defines Community Financial Institutions AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Agency. E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1 2154 ACTION: Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 16, 2018 / Notices Notice. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has adjusted the cap on average total assets that is used in determining whether a Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank) member qualifies as a ‘‘community financial institution’’ (CFI) to $1,173,000,000, based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI–U), as published by the Department of Labor (DOL). These changes took effect on January 1, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaitlin Hildner, Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation, (202) 649– 3329, Kaitlin.Hildner@fhfa.gov; or Eric M. Raudenbush, Associate General Counsel, (202) 649–3084, Eric.Raudenbush@fhfa.gov, (not toll-free numbers), Federal Housing Finance Agency, Constitution Center, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20219. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES I. Statutory and Regulatory Background The Federal Home Loan Bank Act (Bank Act) confers upon insured depository institutions that meet the statutory definition of a CFI certain advantages over non-CFI insured depository institutions in qualifying for Bank membership, and in the purposes for which they may receive long-term advances and the collateral they may pledge to secure advances.1 Section 2(10)(A) of the Bank Act and § 1263.1 of FHFA’s regulations define a CFI as any Bank member the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and that has average total assets below the statutory cap.2 The Bank Act was amended in 2008 to set the statutory cap at $1 billion and to require FHFA to adjust the cap annually to reflect the percentage increase in the CPI–U, as published by the DOL.3 For 2017, FHFA set the CFI asset cap at $1,148,000,000, which reflected a 1.7 percent increase over 2016, based upon the increase in the CPI–U between 2015 and 2016.4 II. The CFI Asset Cap for 2018 As of January 1, 2018, FHFA has increased the CFI asset cap to $1,173,000,000, which reflects a 2.2 percent increase in the unadjusted CPI– U from November 2016 to November 2017. Consistent with the practice of other Federal agencies, FHFA bases the 1 See 12 U.S.C. 1424(a), 1430(a). 12 U.S.C. 1422(10)(A); 12 CFR 1263.1. 3 See 12 U.S.C. 1422(10)(B); 12 CFR 1263.1 (defining the term CFI asset cap). 4 See 82 FR 6551 (Jan. 19, 2017). 2 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:48 Jan 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 annual adjustment to the CFI asset cap on the percentage increase in the CPI– U from November of the year prior to the preceding calendar year to November of the preceding calendar year, because the November figures represent the most recent available data as of January 1st of the current calendar year. The new CFI asset cap was obtained by applying the percentage increase in the CPI–U to the unrounded amount for the preceding year and rounding to the nearest million, as has been FHFA’s practice for all previous adjustments. In calculating the CFI asset cap, FHFA uses CPI–U data that have not been seasonally adjusted (i.e., the data have not been adjusted to remove the estimated effect of price changes that normally occur at the same time and in about the same magnitude every year). The DOL encourages use of unadjusted CPI–U data in applying ‘‘escalation’’ provisions such as that governing the CFI asset cap, because the factors that are used to seasonally adjust the data are amended annually, and seasonally adjusted data that are published earlier are subject to revision for up to five years following their original release. Unadjusted data are not routinely subject to revision, and previously published unadjusted data are only corrected when significant calculation errors are discovered. Dated: January 8, 2018. Andre D. Galeano, Deputy Director, Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation, Federal Housing Finance Agency. [FR Doc. 2018–00618 Filed 1–12–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8070–01–P FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD Sunshine Act; Notice of Meeting January 12, 2018, 3:30 p.m. Agenda Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Member Meeting, Telephonic. STATUS: Closed to the public. MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: Information covered under 5 U.S.C. 552b (c)(9)(B). CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Kimberly Weaver, Director, Office of External Affairs, (202) 942–1640. Dated: January 11, 2018. Dharmesh Vashee, Deputy General Counsel, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. [FR Doc. 2018–00706 Filed 1–11–18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 6760–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The information collection requirements described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The FTC seeks public comments on its proposal to extend for three years the current PRA clearances for information collection requirements contained in the Commission’s rules and regulations under the Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 (Wool Rules). The clearance expires on April 30, 2018. DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 19, 2018. ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file a comment online or on paper by following the instructions in the Request for Comments part of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Write ‘‘Wool Rules: FTC File No. P072108’’ on your comment, and file your comment online at https:// ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/ woolrulespra1 by following the instructions on the web-based form. If you prefer to file your comment on paper, mail or deliver your comment to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite CC–5610 (Annex J), Washington, DC 20580, or deliver your comment to the following address: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Constitution Center, 400 7th Street SW, 5th Floor, Suite 5610 (Annex J), Washington, DC 20024. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies of the collection of information and supporting documentation should be addressed to Jock K. Chung, Attorney, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Mail Code CC–9528, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326–2984. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Information Collection Activities Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520, federal agencies must get OMB approval for each collection of information they conduct, sponsor, or require. E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2153-2154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00618]


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FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

[No. 2018-N-1]


Notice of Annual Adjustment of the Cap on Average Total Assets 
That Defines Community Financial Institutions

AGENCY: Federal Housing Finance Agency.

[[Page 2154]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has adjusted the cap 
on average total assets that is used in determining whether a Federal 
Home Loan Bank (Bank) member qualifies as a ``community financial 
institution'' (CFI) to $1,173,000,000, based on the annual percentage 
increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U), 
as published by the Department of Labor (DOL). These changes took 
effect on January 1, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaitlin Hildner, Division of Federal 
Home Loan Bank Regulation, (202) 649-3329, [email protected]; or 
Eric M. Raudenbush, Associate General Counsel, (202) 649-3084, 
[email protected], (not toll-free numbers), Federal Housing 
Finance Agency, Constitution Center, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, 
DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Statutory and Regulatory Background

    The Federal Home Loan Bank Act (Bank Act) confers upon insured 
depository institutions that meet the statutory definition of a CFI 
certain advantages over non-CFI insured depository institutions in 
qualifying for Bank membership, and in the purposes for which they may 
receive long-term advances and the collateral they may pledge to secure 
advances.\1\ Section 2(10)(A) of the Bank Act and Sec.  1263.1 of 
FHFA's regulations define a CFI as any Bank member the deposits of 
which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and that 
has average total assets below the statutory cap.\2\ The Bank Act was 
amended in 2008 to set the statutory cap at $1 billion and to require 
FHFA to adjust the cap annually to reflect the percentage increase in 
the CPI-U, as published by the DOL.\3\ For 2017, FHFA set the CFI asset 
cap at $1,148,000,000, which reflected a 1.7 percent increase over 
2016, based upon the increase in the CPI-U between 2015 and 2016.\4\
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    \1\ See 12 U.S.C. 1424(a), 1430(a).
    \2\ See 12 U.S.C. 1422(10)(A); 12 CFR 1263.1.
    \3\ See 12 U.S.C. 1422(10)(B); 12 CFR 1263.1 (defining the term 
CFI asset cap).
    \4\ See 82 FR 6551 (Jan. 19, 2017).
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II. The CFI Asset Cap for 2018

    As of January 1, 2018, FHFA has increased the CFI asset cap to 
$1,173,000,000, which reflects a 2.2 percent increase in the unadjusted 
CPI-U from November 2016 to November 2017. Consistent with the practice 
of other Federal agencies, FHFA bases the annual adjustment to the CFI 
asset cap on the percentage increase in the CPI-U from November of the 
year prior to the preceding calendar year to November of the preceding 
calendar year, because the November figures represent the most recent 
available data as of January 1st of the current calendar year. The new 
CFI asset cap was obtained by applying the percentage increase in the 
CPI-U to the unrounded amount for the preceding year and rounding to 
the nearest million, as has been FHFA's practice for all previous 
adjustments.
    In calculating the CFI asset cap, FHFA uses CPI-U data that have 
not been seasonally adjusted (i.e., the data have not been adjusted to 
remove the estimated effect of price changes that normally occur at the 
same time and in about the same magnitude every year). The DOL 
encourages use of unadjusted CPI-U data in applying ``escalation'' 
provisions such as that governing the CFI asset cap, because the 
factors that are used to seasonally adjust the data are amended 
annually, and seasonally adjusted data that are published earlier are 
subject to revision for up to five years following their original 
release. Unadjusted data are not routinely subject to revision, and 
previously published unadjusted data are only corrected when 
significant calculation errors are discovered.

    Dated: January 8, 2018.
Andre D. Galeano,
Deputy Director, Division of Federal Home Loan Bank Regulation, Federal 
Housing Finance Agency.
[FR Doc. 2018-00618 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8070-01-P
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