Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks, 46849-46853 [2018-20029]

Agencies

• FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 180 (Monday, September 17, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46849-46853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20029]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 180 / Monday, September 17, 2018 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 46849]]



FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 229

[Regulation CC; Docket No. R-1620; RIN 7100 AF-14]


Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Board is publishing a final rule that amends Subpart C of 
Regulation CC to address situations where there is a dispute as to 
whether a check has been altered or was issued with an unauthorized 
signature, and the original paper check is not available for 
inspection. This rule adopts a presumption of alteration for disputes 
between banks over whether a substitute check or electronic check 
contains an alteration or is derived from an original check that was 
issued with an unauthorized signature of the drawer.

DATES: Effective January 1, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clinton N. Chen, Senior Attorney (202-
452-3952), Legal Division; or Ian C.B. Spear, Manager (202-452-3959), 
Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems; for users of 
Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDD) only, contact 202-263-
4869; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C 
Streets NW, Washington, DC 20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Statutory and Regulatory Background

    Congress enacted the Expedited Funds Availability Act of 1987 (EFA 
Act) to provide prompt funds availability for deposits in transaction 
accounts and to foster improvements in the check collection and return 
processes. Section 609(c) authorizes the Board to regulate any aspect 
of the payment system and any related function of the payment system 
with respect to checks in order to carry out the provisions of the EFA 
Act.\1\
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    \1\ EFA Act section 609(c)(1) states that in order to carry out 
the provisions of this chapter, the Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System shall have the responsibility to regulate--
(A) any aspect of the payment system, including the receipt, 
payment, collection, or clearing of checks; and (B) any related 
function of the payment system with respect to checks. See, 12 
U.S.C. 4008(c)(1).
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    Regulation CC implements the EFA Act. Subpart C of Regulation CC 
implements the EFA Act's provisions regarding forward collection and 
return of checks.

II. Summary of UCC and Current Regulation CC

    Under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), an alteration is a change 
to the terms of a check that is made after the check is issued that 
modifies an obligation of a party by, for example, changing the payee's 
name or the amount of the check.\2\ By contrast, a forgery is a check 
on which the signature of the drawer (i.e., the account-holder at the 
paying bank) was made without authorization at the time of the check's 
issuance.\3\ In general, under UCC 4-401, the paying bank may charge 
the drawer's account only for checks that are properly payable.\4\ 
Neither altered checks nor forged checks are properly payable. In the 
case of an altered check under the UCC, the banks that received the 
check during forward collection, including the paying bank, have 
warranty claims against the banks that transferred the check (e.g., a 
collecting bank or the depositary bank). In the case of a forged check, 
however, the UCC places the responsibility on the paying bank for 
identifying the forgery.\5\ Therefore, the depositary bank typically 
bears the loss related to an altered check, whereas the paying bank 
bears the loss related to a forged check.
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    \2\ UCC 3-407. The UCC is a body of laws approved by the 
American Law Institute and the Uniform Law Commission, which has 
been enacted by state legislatures on a generally uniform basis. 
Article 3 addresses negotiable instruments, while Article 4 
addresses bank deposits and collections.
    \3\ The term ``forgery'' is not defined in the UCC. However, the 
term ``unauthorized signature'' is defined as ``a signature made 
without actual, implied, or apparent authority'' and ``includes a 
forgery.'' UCC 1-201(41).
    \4\ The term ``bank'' as used in this notice and in Regulation 
CC (12 CFR 229.2(e)) includes a commercial bank, savings bank, 
savings and loan association, credit union, and a U.S. agency or 
branch of a foreign bank.
    \5\ The presenting bank warrants to the paying bank only that it 
has no knowledge of an unauthorized drawer's signature. See UCC 3-
417(a)(3) and 4-208(a)(3).
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    These provisions of the UCC reflect the long-standing rule set 
forth in Price v. Neal that the paying bank must bear the loss when a 
check it pays is not properly payable by virtue of the fact that the 
drawer did not authorize the item.\6\ The Price v. Neal rule reflects 
the assumption that the paying bank, rather than the depositary bank, 
is in the best position to judge whether the drawer's signature on a 
check is the authorized signature of the account-holder. By contrast, 
the depositary bank is arguably in a better position than the paying 
bank to inspect the check at the time of deposit and detect an 
alteration to the face of the check, to determine that the amount of 
the check is unusual for the depositary bank's customer, or to 
otherwise take responsibility for the items it accepts for deposit.
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    \6\ Price v. Neal, 97 Eng. Rep. 871 (K.B. 1762).
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    Regulation CC does not currently address whether a check should be 
presumed to be altered or forged in cases of doubt. For example, an 
unauthorized payee name could result from an alteration of the original 
check that the drawer issued, or from the creation of a forged check 
bearing the unauthorized payee name and an unauthorized/forged drawer's 
signature. Courts have reached opposite conclusions as to whether a 
paid, but fraudulent, check should be presumed to be altered or forged 
in the absence of evidence (such as the original check).\7\ Since the 
time of these decisions, the check collection system has become 
virtually all-electronic, and the number of instances in which the 
original paper check is available for inspection in such cases will be 
quite low.\8\ Unlike the 2006 court cases, where the paying bank 
received and destroyed the original check, in today's check environment 
the original check is typically truncated by

[[Page 46850]]

the depositary bank or a collecting bank before it reaches the paying 
bank.
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    \7\ See, e.g., Chevy Chase Bank v. Wachovia Bank, N.A., 208 Fed. 
App'x. 232, 235 (4th Cir. 2006) and Wachovia Bank, N.A. v. Foster 
Bancshares, Inc., 457 F.3d 619 (7th Cir. 2006).
    \8\ For example, by the beginning of 2017 the Federal Reserve 
Banks received over 99.99 percent of checks electronically from 
99.06 percent of routing numbers and presented over 99.99 percent of 
checks electronically to over 99.76 percent of routing numbers. As 
of the same time, the Federal Reserve Banks received 99.63 percent 
of returned checks electronically from over 99.37 percent of routing 
numbers and delivered 99.41 percent of returned checks 
electronically to 92.84 percent of routing numbers.
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III. Summary of Proposal and Comments

A. Summary of Proposal

    On June 2, 2017, the Board published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking intended to clarify the burden of proof in situations where 
there is a dispute as to whether the check has been altered or is a 
forgery, and the original paper check is not available for 
inspection.\9\ The Board proposed to adopt a presumption of alteration 
with respect to any dispute arising under Federal or State law as to 
whether the dollar amount or the payee on a substitute check or 
electronic check has been altered or whether the substitute check or 
electronic check is derived from an original check that is a forgery. 
Under the proposed rule, the presumption of alteration may be overcome 
by a preponderance of evidence that the substitute check or electronic 
check accurately represents the dollar amount and payee as authorized 
by the drawer, or that the substitute check or electronic check is 
derived from an original check that is a forgery. In the proposed rule, 
the presumption of alteration shall cease to apply if the original 
check is made available for examination by all parties involved in the 
dispute. The Board requested comment on whether the presumption should 
apply to a claim that the date was altered. The Board also requested 
comment on whether the presumption should apply if the bank claiming 
the presumption received and destroyed the original check.
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    \9\ In response to a 2011 proposed rulemaking, two commenters 
requested that the Board address the uncertainty caused by the 
divergent appellate court decisions, even though the Board did not 
raise the issue. 76 FR 16862 (March 25, 2011). The Board described 
these comments in greater detail as part of its 2014 Regulation CC 
proposal and requested comment on whether it should adopt a 
presumption of alteration. 79 FR 6673, 6703 (Feb. 4, 2014). Based on 
its analysis of the comments received in the 2014, the Board 
requested comment on proposed regulatory text and commentary on June 
2, 2017. 82 FR 25539 (June 2, 2017).
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B. Summary of General Comments

    The Board received eleven responses to its proposal from a variety 
of commenters, including financial institutions, trade associations, 
and clearinghouses. Ten commenters, including a comment letter 
submitted by a group of institutions and trade associations (``group 
letter''), generally supported the Board's proposal to adopt a 
presumption of alteration. Commenters supported the presumption of 
alteration because it aligned Regulation CC with current practices and 
created a uniform rule. One commenter stated that the proposed 
presumption was not necessary because the difference between alteration 
and forgery are well-known in the industry and the use of an 
evidentiary presumption may require institutions to unnecessarily 
increase the expense to store documents. Detailed comments are 
discussed in the description of the final rule below.

C. Consultation With Other Agencies

    As directed by section 609(e) of the EFA Act, the Board consulted 
with the Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Directors of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union 
Administration Board during the rulemaking process.\10\
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    \10\ 12 U.S.C. 4008(e).
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IV. Summary of Final Rule

    The Board has considered all comments received and has adopted a 
presumption of alteration. The Board has made certain modifications to 
the proposed presumption in light of comments received, as discussed 
below.
    Altered Date. The Board's proposed presumption covered alterations 
to the dollar amount and payee. The Board requested comment on whether 
the presumption of alteration should apply to a claim that the date was 
altered. Six commenters, including the group letter, supported applying 
the presumption to claims that the date was altered and one commenter 
requested the Board investigate whether applying the presumption to 
such claims would promote greater certainty in the check collection 
process. Two commenters, including the group letter, noted that a claim 
that the date was altered may be alleged (1) where the date of a post-
dated check is altered to make the check currently payable, and as a 
result, the paying bank pays the check when presented and incurs a loss 
to its customer which would not have resulted had the paying bank paid 
the check upon or following the date on the check was issued by the 
customer; and (2) where the date is altered to a more recent date in 
order to convey holder-in-due-course status on the depositor or to 
otherwise avoid a ``stale-date'' rejection by the paying bank. Three 
commenters suggested that the Board align the definition of 
``alteration'' with the definition in the UCC, which would include 
alteration of the date field.\11\ One Federal Reserve Bank commenter 
stated that fraud could be committed by altering a number of fields, 
including name of payee, amount, date, check number, routing number, 
payee's indorsement, etc., and that the Board should address the entire 
scope of the legal uncertainty by using the UCC definition of 
alteration.
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    \11\ Under the UCC, alteration means (i) an unauthorized change 
in an instrument that purports to modify in any respect the 
obligation of a party, or (ii) an unauthorized addition of words or 
numbers or other change to an incomplete instrument relating to the 
obligation of a party. UCC section 3-407.
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    Based on the comments received, the Board has modified the 
presumption in the final rule so that the term ``alteration'' is used 
as defined in the UCC. The Board believes that aligning the presumption 
with the UCC's definition of ``alteration'' appropriately expands the 
scope of the presumption to cover instances of fraud beyond changes to 
the dollar amount or payee. The Board notes in the commentary that 
terms that are not defined in section 229.2, such as ``alteration,'' 
have the meanings set forth in the UCC and provides examples of 
alterations.
    Bank that received and destroyed the original check. The 
presumption in the proposed rule would apply to disputes involving a 
substitute check or an electronic check, and thus the presumption could 
not be asserted by a bank that received the original check. The Board 
requested comment on whether the presumption should apply if the bank 
claiming the presumption received and destroyed the original check.
    Six commenters, including the group letter, stated that the 
presumption should not apply to paying banks that received and 
destroyed the original check. These commenters noted that it is rare 
for a paying bank to receive an original check. A paying bank may 
receive the original check from the depositary bank via direct 
presentment if it is a very high dollar check or if the depositary bank 
has concerns with certain aspects of the check, such as unclear terms 
or a smudged signature. A paying bank may also request and receive the 
original check after receiving presentment of an electronic check due 
to a dispute about the check image. These commenters stated that 
receipt of an original check by a paying bank puts the paying bank on 
notice about the possible importance of the original check, and the 
paying bank should not have the benefit of the presumption of 
alteration if it receives the original check.
    Commenters were split on whether the presumption should apply to a 
bank, other than the paying bank, if it received and destroyed the 
original check. The group letter stated that the presumption

[[Page 46851]]

should apply in these cases because it would promote check truncation 
by not creating a legal disincentive to the destruction of checks by 
such banks. Three commenters stated that the presumption should not 
apply to any bank that received and destroyed the original check 
because a bank should not benefit from a presumption against another 
party when it had in its possession potential evidence to resolve a 
dispute regarding alteration or forgery.
    In the final rule, the presumption of alteration applies to a 
dispute between banks where an electronic check or a substitute check 
was transferred between those banks. The presumption applies in such a 
dispute regardless of where in the chain, or by whom, the original 
check was truncated. However, as noted in the commentary, the 
presumption does not apply to a dispute between banks where the 
original check was transferred between those banks, even if that check 
is subsequently truncated and destroyed. The Board believes that the 
final rule addresses the concerns raised by the commenters who argued 
that the presumption of alteration should not apply if the paying bank 
received the original check. As a presumption of alteration generally 
favors the paying bank (the depositary bank is generally liable for 
alterations), the commenters' concern was that the application of the 
presumption should not incentivize a paying bank to destroy the 
original check after being put on notice of potentially high-risk items 
by receiving the original check. When a paying bank receives 
presentment of the original check, the presumption of alteration would 
not apply, as the presumption applies only to disputes concerning 
substitute checks or electronic checks. In another example noted by 
commenters, a paying bank may request and receive the original check 
after receiving presentment of an electronic check due to a dispute 
about the check image. In that scenario, the presumption of alteration 
would not apply pursuant to Sec.  229.38(i)(3), which states that the 
presumption no longer applies if the original check is made available 
for examination by all parties involved in the dispute.
    The Board does not believe that limiting the application of the 
presumption to the transfer of electronic checks or substitute checks 
will create a material incentive for depositary banks or collecting 
banks to bypass the check imaging process and send forward a 
substantial number of original checks merely to preserve the 
presumption of alteration. As the commenters noted, the expense of 
handling checks physically would likely be merited only in rare cases 
where a bank had substantial concerns about certain aspects of the 
check.
    Rebutting the presumption and effect of producing the original 
check. One Federal Reserve Bank commenter suggested that the Board 
allow the presumption to be overcome only by the production of the 
original check, and not by proving by a preponderance of the evidence 
that the check was not altered or was forged. The commenter stated that 
a stronger evidentiary presumption in favor of alteration would be more 
efficient, as parties may continue to expend resources litigating the 
issue of whether an item is an alteration or forgery. Two commenters 
requested that the Board specify who would have the authority to 
determine whether evidence satisfied a preponderance of evidence 
burden. One commenter requested that the Board provide additional 
clarity as to what type of evidence would be adequate to overcome the 
presumption of alteration. Two commenters suggested that the Board set 
a time limitation in which a financial institution could request the 
original check in cases of doubt, such as ten business days. 
Additionally, one commenter requested that the Board allow a scanned 
image of the original check in lieu of the original to avoid the 
presumption of alteration.
    In proposing the presumption of alteration, the Board did not 
intend to eliminate the opportunity for banks to provide additional 
evidence and engage in further litigation. The presumption was intended 
to create a uniform starting point that recognized the operational 
realities of check fraud in the absence of evidence. The comments 
requesting that the Board specify who can make the determination, what 
types of evidence would be adequate for overcoming the presumption of 
alteration, and the time limitation within which the original check 
must be provided would be matters for the court or other dispute 
resolution process and are outside of the scope of this final rule. A 
scanned image of the original check would generally provide no better 
evidentiary value than a substitute check or an electronic check, and 
thus the final rule does not permit such an image to overcome the 
presumption of alteration. Accordingly, the Board has adopted 
provisions on the rebuttal of the presumption in Sec.  229.38(i)(2) 
substantially as proposed.
    Use of term ``forgery.'' One Federal Reserve Bank commenter 
suggested that the Board use the phrase ``issued without the account 
holder's authorization'' instead of the term ``forgery.'' The Federal 
Reserve Bank commenter stated that under the UCC, the payor bank is 
generally liable for paying a check if the issuance of the check was 
not authorized by the accountholder, whether there is a forged drawer's 
signature on the check or not.
    In the Board's final rule, the Board has adopted this suggestion. 
The presumption will apply to disputes as to whether a substitute check 
or electronic check contains an alteration or is derived from an 
original check that was issued with an unauthorized signature of the 
drawer. The Board believes that adopting the phrase ``issued with an 
unauthorized signature of the drawer'' appropriately covers the entire 
scope of the payer bank's liability for paying an item that is not 
properly payable because the accountholder has not authorized the 
issuance of the item. As stated in relation to ``alteration,'' the 
Board notes in the commentary that terms that are not defined in Sec.  
229.2, such as ``unauthorized signature,'' have the meanings set forth 
in the UCC and provides examples of unauthorized signatures.
    Other topics. The Board also received comments on a variety of 
other topics. Two commenters, including the group letter, suggested 
that the Board clarify that the presumption also applies to alteration 
of the electronic image and not just the original check. The group 
letter also requested that the Board clarify that the parties should 
have the ability to vary the presumption to the maximum extent 
permitted under Sec.  229.37. In the final rule, the Board has 
clarified in the commentary that the alteration claim may be related to 
the original check or the electronic or substitute check. The Board 
also included in the commentary a sentence stating that the presumption 
of alteration may be varied by agreement to the extent permitted under 
Sec.  229.37.
    One commenter requested that the Board ensure that the presumption 
can be applied only in disputes between banks, and not disputes between 
banks and customers. In the final rule, the Board has specified in 
Sec.  229.38(i)(1) that the presumption applies to disputes between 
banks.
    The group letter requested that the Board clarify that the 
presumption applies to disputes where the loss allocation rules for 
bank and non-bank parties are established under private contract or by 
laws other than Regulation CC and the UCC, such as private presentment 
arrangements or Federal regulations that apply to Treasury checks. As 
stated earlier, the intent behind the presumption of alteration is to 
create a uniform starting point in the absence of evidence under

[[Page 46852]]

Federal and State laws. As stated above, the final rule does not 
prevent banks from varying the presumption of alteration by agreement 
to the extent permitted under Sec.  229.37. However, the Board did not 
intend to override any other Federal statute or regulation, such as 
U.S. Treasury rules governing Treasury checks, to the extent that they 
already address the issue that the presumption is intended to address. 
In the final rule, the Board has indicated that the presumption applies 
in the absence of any Federal statute or regulation to the contrary.
    One commenter requested that the Board require banks that receive 
original checks to preserve them for a set period of time. A retention 
requirement for physical checks would impose a record-keeping and 
storage burden for banks. The Board believes a more appropriate 
approach is for the rule to establish responsibilities with respect to 
the handling of checks and for banks to determine their own physical 
check retention policies based on their assessment of risk.

IV. Competitive Impact Analysis

    The Board conducts a competitive impact analysis when it considers 
an operational or legal change, if that change would have a direct and 
material adverse effect on the ability of other service providers to 
compete with the Federal Reserve in providing similar services due to 
legal differences or due to the Federal Reserve's dominant market 
position deriving from such legal differences. All operational or legal 
changes having a substantial effect on payments-system participants 
will be subject to a competitive-impact analysis, even if competitive 
effects are not apparent on the face of the proposal. If such legal 
differences exist, the Board will assess whether the same objectives 
could be achieved by a modified proposal with lesser competitive impact 
or, if not, whether the benefits of the proposal (such as contributing 
to payments-system efficiency or integrity or other Board objectives) 
outweigh the materially adverse effect on competition.\12\
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    \12\ Federal Reserve Regulatory Service, 7-145.2. See, https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/reginfo.htm.
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    The Board does not believe that the amendments to Regulation CC 
will have a direct and material adverse effect on the ability of other 
service providers to compete effectively with the Reserve Banks in 
providing similar services due to legal differences. The amendments 
would apply to the Reserve Banks and private-sector service providers 
alike and would not affect the competitive position of private-sector 
banks vis-[agrave]-vis the Reserve Banks.

V. Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3506; 5 CFR part 1320 Appendix A.1), the Board may not conduct 
or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an 
information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) control number. The Board reviewed the final rule 
under the authority delegated to the Board by the OMB and determined 
that it contains no collections of information under the PRA.\13\ 
Accordingly, there is no paperwork burden associated with the rule.
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    \13\ See 44 U.S.C. 3502(3).
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VI. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) was included in 
the proposal in accordance with section 3(a) of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (RFA). In the IRFA, the 
Board requested comment on the effect of the proposed rule on small 
entities and on any significant alternatives that would reduce the 
regulatory burden on small entities. The Board did not receive any 
comments. The RFA requires an agency to prepare a final regulatory 
flexibility analysis (FRFA) unless the agency certifies that the rule 
will not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. In accordance with section 3(a) 
of the RFA, the Board has reviewed the final regulation. Based on its 
analysis, and for the reasons stated below, the Board certifies that 
the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    The final rule will apply to all depository institutions regardless 
of their size.\14\ Pursuant to regulations issued by the Small Business 
Administration (13 CFR 121.201), a ``small banking organization'' 
includes a depository institution with $550 million or less in total 
assets. Based on 2017 call report data, there are 9,631 depository 
institutions that have total domestic assets of $550 million or less 
and thus are considered small entities for purposes of the RFA. The 
presumption of alteration shifts the burden to the bank that warrants 
that a check has not been altered, which could be a depositary bank or 
collecting bank. In order to overcome the presumption of alteration, a 
depositary bank or collecting bank must prove by a preponderance of 
evidence either the substitute check or electronic check does not 
contain an alteration, or that the substitute check or electronic check 
is derived from an original check that was issued with an unauthorized 
signature of the drawer. Under the final rule, the presumption of 
alteration shall cease to apply if the original check is made available 
for examination by all parties involved in the dispute. Furthermore, 
the presumption of alteration will not apply if the paying bank 
received the original check from which the substitute check or 
electronic check was derived.
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    \14\ The rule would not impose costs on any small entities other 
than depository institutions.
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    A depositary bank or collecting bank that destroys all original 
checks after truncation may incur additional risk, as it may not be 
able to overcome the presumption of alteration. The Board expects the 
additional risk to be minimal. According to Federal Reserve data, only 
0.015% of forward items collected through the Reserve Banks were 
returned due to a claim of alteration or forgery in March 2018. The 
Board expects depositary banks and collecting banks to weigh the costs 
and benefits of destroying or retaining original checks, such as for 
large dollar amounts, so that the presumption of alteration will not 
apply. In their roles as paying banks, however, those same banks could 
benefit from the presumption. Additionally, a depositary bank that 
permits remote deposit capture may also incur additional risk, as it 
may not be able to obtain the original check to overcome the 
presumption of alteration. The Board expects depositary banks to 
examine their protocols for remote deposit capture, such as limiting 
the amount of money that may be deposited remotely. The Board expects 
that depository institutions will benefit from a uniform rule when 
there is an absence of evidence over whether a check has been altered 
or forged and may have reduced litigation and dispute resolution costs. 
The Board does not expect the rule to have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 229

    Banks, Banking, Federal Reserve System, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board to amends 12 
CFR part 229 as follows:

[[Page 46853]]

PART 229--AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND COLLECTION OF CHECKS 
(REGULATION CC)

0
1. The authority citation for part 229 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4001-4010, 12 U.S.C. 5001-5018.

Subpart C--Collection of Checks

0
2. In Sec.  229.38, paragraph (i) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  229.38  Liability.

* * * * *
    (i) Presumption of Alteration--(1) Presumption. Subject to 
paragraphs (i)(2) and (3) of this section and in the absence of a 
Federal statute or regulation to the contrary, the presumption in this 
paragraph applies with respect to any dispute between banks arising 
under Federal or State law as to whether a substitute check or 
electronic check transferred between those banks contains an alteration 
or is derived from an original check that was issued with an 
unauthorized signature of the drawer. When such a dispute arises, there 
is a rebuttable presumption that the substitute check or electronic 
check contains an alteration.
    (2) Rebuttal of presumption. The presumption of alteration may be 
overcome by proving by a preponderance of evidence that either the 
substitute check or electronic check does not contain an alteration, or 
that the substitute check or electronic check is derived from an 
original check that was issued with an unauthorized signature of the 
drawer.
    (3) Effect of producing original check. If the original check is 
made available for examination by all banks involved in the dispute, 
the presumption in paragraph (i)(1) of this section shall no longer 
apply.

0
3. In appendix E, section XXIV, add reserved paragraphs E through H and 
paragraph I to read as follows:

Appendix E to Part 229--Commentary

* * * * *

XXIV. Section 229.38 Liability

* * * * *

E through H [Reserved]

I. 229.38(i) Presumption of Alteration

    1. This paragraph applies to disputes between banks where one 
bank has sent an electronic check or a substitute check for 
collection to the other bank. The presumption of alteration does not 
apply to a dispute between banks where one bank sent the original 
check to the other bank, even if that check is subsequently 
truncated and destroyed. The presumption of alteration applies with 
respect to claims that the original check or to the electronic check 
or substitute check was altered or contained an unauthorized 
signature.
    2. The presumption of alteration applies when the original check 
is unavailable for review by the banks in context of the dispute. If 
the original check is produced, through discovery or other means, 
and is made available for examination by all the parties, the 
presumption no longer applies.
    3. This paragraph does not alter the transfer and presentment 
warranties under the UCC that allocate liability among the parties 
to a check transaction with respect to an item that has been altered 
or that was issued with an unauthorized signature of the drawer. The 
UCC or other applicable check law continues to apply with respect to 
other rights, duties, and obligations related to altered or 
unauthorized checks. In addition, the presumption does not apply if 
it is contrary to another Federal statute or regulation, such as the 
U.S. Treasury's rules regarding U.S. Treasury checks. The 
presumption of alteration may be varied by agreement to the extent 
permitted under Sec.  229.37.
    4. As stated in Sec.  229.2, terms that are not defined in that 
section have the meanings set forth in the Uniform Commercial Code. 
``Alteration'' is defined in UCC 3-407 and includes both (i) an 
unauthorized change in a check that purports to modify in any 
respect the obligation of a party, and (ii) an unauthorized addition 
of words or numbers or other change to an incomplete check relating 
to the obligation of a party. Alterations could include, for 
example, an unauthorized change to a payee name or a change to the 
date on a post-dated check that purports to make the check currently 
payable. ``Unauthorized signature'' is defined in UCC 1-201 and 
further discussed in UCC 3-403. An unauthorized signature could 
include a forgery as well as a signature made without actual or 
apparent authority.
* * * * *

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, September 11, 2018.
Ann Misback,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2018-20029 Filed 9-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6210-01-P