Removal of Transferred OTS Regulations Regarding Certain Subordinate Organizations of State Savings Associations, 67684-67691 [2020-23525]

Agencies

• FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 207 (Monday, October 26, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67684-67691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23525]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 207 / Monday, October 26, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 67684]]



FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Parts 362 and 390

RIN 3064-AF37


Removal of Transferred OTS Regulations Regarding Certain 
Subordinate Organizations of State Savings Associations

AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking with request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: In order to streamline Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
(FDIC) regulations, the FDIC proposes to rescind and remove from the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) regulations entitled Subordinate 
Organizations that were transferred to the FDIC from the Office of 
Thrift Supervision (OTS) on July 21, 2011, in connection with the 
implementation of Title III of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). The proposed rule would 
rescind and remove the transferred regulations because the FDIC has 
determined that the requirements for State savings association 
subordinate organizations included therein are substantially similar to 
the requirements for State savings associations and their subsidiaries 
set forth by certain sections of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI 
Act) and its implementing regulations. Therefore, the FDIC is proposing 
to remove the transferred regulations and proposes to use certain 
substantially similar FDIC regulations, as applicable, to achieve 
substantially similar supervisory results for State savings 
associations and their subsidiaries as could be obtained through the 
application of the transferred regulations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 25, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Agency website: https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/. Follow instructions for submitting comments on the agency 
website.
     FDIC Email: [email protected]. Include RIN 3064-AF37 on 
the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary, Attention: 
Comments/RIN 3064-AF37, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20429.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Comments may be hand-delivered to 
the guard station at the rear of the 550 17th Street NW building 
(located on F Street) on business days between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    Public Inspection: All comments received will be posted without 
change to https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/, including any 
personal information provided. Paper copies of public comments may be 
ordered from the FDIC Public Information Center, 3501 North Fairfax 
Drive, Room E-1002.
    Please include your name, affiliation, address, email address, and 
telephone number(s) in your comment. All statements received, including 
attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the public 
record and are subject to public disclosure. You should submit only 
information that you wish to make publicly available.
    Please note: All comments received will be posted generally without 
change to https://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/, including any 
personal information provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald Hamm, Special Advisor, (202) 
898-3528, [email protected]; or Shelli Coffey, Review Examiner, (312) 382-
7539, [email protected], Risk Management and Applications, Division of 
Risk Management Supervision; Suzanne Dawley, Counsel, 
[email protected]; or Karlyn J. Hunter, Counsel, [email protected], 
Legal Division.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Policy Objective

    The policy objective of the proposed rule is to simplify the FDIC's 
regulations by removing unnecessary regulations and realigning existing 
regulations in order to improve the public's understanding of the rules 
and to improve the ease of the public's reference to them. Thus, as 
further detailed in this section, the FDIC proposes to rescind and 
remove from the CFR part 390, subpart O.\1\ Pursuant to subpart O, the 
FDIC may, at any time, limit a State savings association's investment 
in their subordinate organizations, or may limit or refuse to permit 
any activities of any of these entities for supervisory, legal, or 
safety and soundness reasons.\2\
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    \1\ 12 CFR part 390, subpart O.
    \2\ 12 CFR part 390.250.
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    Subpart O includes definitions related to State savings association 
subsidiaries,\3\ a requirement for the parent State savings association 
and its subsidiaries to maintain separate corporate identities,\4\ a 
prior notice requirement for a State saving association seeking to 
establish or acquire a new subsidiary or engage in new activities 
through an existing subsidiary,\5\ requirements related to the issuance 
of securities by a subsidiary,\6\ and requirements for the exercise of 
salvage power by a State savings association.\7\
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    \3\ 12 CFR 390.251.
    \4\ 12 CFR 390.252.
    \5\ 12 CFR 390.253.
    \6\ 12 CFR 390.254.
    \7\ 12 CFR 390.255.
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    The FDIC has determined that the requirements for State savings 
association subordinate organizations set forth in subpart O are 
substantially similar to requirements of section 28 and its 
implementing regulations, subpart C and subpart D of part 362 of the 
FDIC's Rules and Regulations, and section 37 of the FDI Act.\8\ 
Therefore, the FDIC is proposing to remove subpart O and proposes to 
use part 362, subpart C and subpart D, as applicable, to achieve 
substantially similar supervisory results for State savings 
associations and subsidiaries as could be obtained through the 
application of subpart O.
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    \8\ 12 U.S.C. 1831e(a); 12 CFR part 362, subparts C and D; 12 
U.S.C. 1831n(a).
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II. Background

A. The Dodd-Frank Act

    The Dodd-Frank Act, signed into law on July 21, 2010, provided for 
a substantial reorganization of the regulation of State and Federal 
savings associations and their holding

[[Page 67685]]

companies.\9\ Beginning July 21, 2011, the transfer date established by 
section 311 of the Dodd-Frank Act,\10\ the powers, duties, and 
functions formerly performed by the OTS were divided among the FDIC, as 
to State savings associations, the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency (OCC), as to Federal savings associations, and the Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB), as to savings and loan 
holding companies. Section 316(b) of the Dodd-Frank Act \11\ provides 
the manner of treatment of all orders, resolutions, determinations, 
regulations, and advisory materials that had been issued, made, 
prescribed, or allowed to become effective by the OTS. The section 
provides that if such materials were in effect on the day before the 
transfer date, they continue in effect and are enforceable by or 
against the appropriate successor agency until they are modified, 
terminated, set aside, or superseded in accordance with applicable law 
by such successor agency, by any court of competent jurisdiction, or by 
operation of law.
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    \9\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010).
    \10\ 12 U.S.C. 5411.
    \11\ 12 U.S.C. 5414(b).
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    Pursuant to section 316(c) of the Dodd-Frank Act,\12\ on June 14, 
2011, the FDIC's Board of Directors approved a ``List of OTS 
Regulations to be Enforced by the OCC and the FDIC Pursuant to the 
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.'' This list 
was published by the FDIC and the OCC as a Joint Notice in the Federal 
Register on July 6, 2011.\13\
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    \12\ 12 U.S.C. 5414(c).
    \13\ 76 FR 39246 (July 6, 2011).
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    Although section 312(b)(2)(B)(i)(II) of the Dodd-Frank Act \14\ 
granted the OCC rulemaking authority relating to both State and Federal 
savings associations, nothing in the Dodd-Frank Act affected the FDIC's 
existing authority to issue regulations under the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act (FDI Act) \15\ and other laws as the ``appropriate 
Federal banking agency'' or under similar statutory terminology. 
Section 312(c) of the Dodd-Frank Act \16\ revised the definition of 
``appropriate Federal banking agency'' contained in section 3(q) of the 
FDI Act \17\ to add State savings associations to the list of entities 
for which the FDIC is designated as the ``appropriate Federal banking 
agency.'' As a result, when the FDIC is designated as the ``appropriate 
Federal banking agency'' (or under similar terminology) for State 
savings associations, the FDIC is authorized to issue, modify, and 
rescind regulations involving such associations.
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    \14\ 12 U.S.C. 5412(b)(2)(B)(i)(II).
    \15\ 12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.
    \16\ 12 U.S.C. 5412(c)(1).
    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 1813(q).
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    As noted, on July 14, 2011, operating pursuant to this authority, 
the FDIC's Board of Directors reissued and re-designated certain 
transferring regulations of the former OTS. These transferred OTS 
regulations were published as new FDIC regulations in the Federal 
Register on August 5, 2011.\18\ When it republished the transferred OTS 
regulations as new FDIC regulations, the FDIC specifically noted that 
its staff would evaluate the transferred OTS rules and might later 
recommend incorporating the transferred OTS regulations into other FDIC 
rules, amending them, or rescinding them, as appropriate.\19\
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    \18\ 76 FR 47652 (Aug. 5, 2011).
    \19\ Id.
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B. 12 CFR Part 559

    In 1996, the OTS adopted part 559, entitled Subordinate 
Organizations, which updated and substantially streamlined its 
regulations and statements of policy concerning subsidiaries and other 
subordinate organizations in which savings associations have ownership 
interests (including operating subsidiaries and service corporations) 
and equity investments (including pass-through investments).\20\ Part 
559 consolidated all OTS regulations affecting thrift subsidiaries in 
order to make it easier for savings associations to find and use these 
regulations.
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    \20\ 61 FR 66561, 66562 (Dec. 18, 1996).
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    The definitions in part 559 were derived in large part from 
existing OTS regulatory or statutory definitions.\21\ Subpart B of part 
559 was applicable to all savings associations. Section 559.10 
prescribed requirements for a savings association and its subordinate 
organizations to establish and maintain separate identities in order to 
reduce the potential for customer confusion and to allow a court to 
hold the parent savings association liable for the subordinate 
organization's conduct or obligations. In order to establish or acquire 
a new subsidiary or engage in new activities, savings associations were 
required to follow the notice procedures set forth in Sec.  559.11.
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    \21\ Id at 66563.
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    Part 559 addressed securities and investments issues related to 
savings associations as well. Section 559.12 included a replacement for 
an existing OTS regulation that required a savings association to 
notify the OTS before a subsidiary issues securities, regardless of the 
purpose for which the proceeds will be used, and incorporated 
requirements providing that securities issued by all subsidiaries state 
that they are not covered by federal deposit insurance and may not be 
called or accelerated in the event of the savings association's 
insolvency.\22\ Section 559.13 replaced the application procedure for 
salvage investments, with a 30-day notice requirement.\23\ In the 
notice, a savings association must fully document its additional 
investment in a service corporation or a lower-tier entity in a manner 
that demonstrates how its action is consistent with safety and 
soundness and document the other salvage alternatives that it 
considered.\24\ The OTS added language to emphasize that investments 
made using salvage power authority continue to be considered 
investments for purposes of the capital regulation.\25\
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    \22\ Id. at 66567.
    \23\ Id.
    \24\ Id.
    \25\ Id. For example, a salvage investment in a nonincludable 
subsidiary would be deducted in calculating the State savings 
association's capital.
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C. Part 390, Subpart O

    12 CFR part 559, as discussed above, was transferred to the FDIC 
with nominal changes. It is now found in the FDIC's rules at subpart O, 
entitled Subordinate Organizations.\26\ Subpart O governs a range of 
requirements for subordinate organization of State savings 
associations, as further discussed below.
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    \26\ 12 CFR part 390, subpart O.
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III. The Proposal

    Section 316(b)(3) of the Dodd-Frank Act in pertinent part, provides 
that the regulations of the former OTS, as they apply to State savings 
associations, will be enforceable by the FDIC until they are modified, 
terminated, set aside, or superseded in accordance with applicable 
law.\27\ Consistent with the FDIC's stated intention to evaluate 
transferred OTS regulations before taking action on them, the FDIC 
conducted a careful review of subpart O and related Federal statutes, 
regulation, and statements of policy relevant to subordinate 
organizations of State savings associations. As discussed in Part III 
of this Supplementary Information section, the FDIC proposes to rescind 
and remove subpart O in its entirety, because the provisions contained 
there are duplicative of substantially similar FDIC statutory or 
regulatory provisions, or guidance that produce the same supervisory 
result.
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    \27\ 12 U.S.C. 5414(b)(3).
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    Section 28 of the FDI Act prohibits a State savings association 
from engaging

[[Page 67686]]

as principal in any type of activity, or in any activity in an amount, 
that is not permissible for a Federal savings association unless the 
FDIC has determined the activity would pose no significant risk to the 
Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF); and the savings association is and 
continues to be in compliance with the capital standards set forth in 
section 5(t) of HOLA.\28\ The FDIC proposes to use 12 CFR part 362, 
Activities of Insured State Banks and Insured Savings Associations, as 
applicable, which provides a substantially similar process for an 
insured State savings association, or its subsidiary, to apply for 
prior consent from the FDIC to engage in certain activities, that are 
not otherwise prohibited by federal or state law, while reaching 
substantially the same result as provided in subpart O without the 
burden of referring to a duplicative set of regulations.
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    \28\ 12 U.S.C. 1831e(a).
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    Subpart C of part 362 governs the activities of insured State 
savings associations and implements section 28(a) of the FDI Act, which 
restricts and prohibits insured state savings associations and their 
service corporations from engaging in activities and investments of a 
type that are not permissible for a Federal savings association and 
their service corporations.
    Subpart D of part 362 governs acquiring, establishing, or 
conducting new activities through a subsidiary by an insured State 
savings association, and implements section 18(m) of the FDI Act, which 
requires that prior notice be given to the FDIC when an insured savings 
association establishes or acquires a subsidiary or engages in any new 
activity in a subsidiary. In doing so it applies the definitions of 
Sec.  362.2 unless otherwise indicated. The phrase ``activity 
permissible for a Federal savings association'' means any activity 
authorized for a Federal savings association under any statute 
including the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA),\29\ as well as activities 
recognized as permissible for a Federal savings association in 
regulations issued by the OCC or in bulletins, orders or written 
interpretations issued by the OCC, or by the former OTS until modified, 
terminated, set aside, or superseded by the OCC.\30\
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    \29\ 12 U.S.C. 1464 et seq.
    \30\ 12 CFR 362.9(a).
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IV. Section-by-Section Analysis

A. Section 390.250--What does this subpart cover?

    Section 390.250 sets forth the FDIC's general rulemaking and 
supervisory authority under the FDI Act, its specific authority under 
section 18(m) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act \31\ and subpart O's 
application to subordinate organizations of State savings associations. 
Pursuant to this section, the FDIC may, at any time, limit a State 
savings association's investment in any of its subordinate 
organizations, or may limit or refuse to permit any activities of any 
of these entities for supervisory, legal, or safety and soundness 
reasons. For the purposes of subpart O, notices are applications for 
purposes of statutory and regulatory references to the term 
``applications.'' Further, any conditions that the FDIC imposes in 
approving any application are enforceable as a condition imposed in 
writing by the FDIC in connection with the granting of a request by a 
State savings association within the meaning of section 8(b) or 8(i) of 
the FDI Act.\32\
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    \31\ 12 U.S.C. 1828(m).
    \32\ 12 U.S.C. 1818(b); 1818(i).
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    Part 362, which includes subparts C and D, is issued pursuant to 
several FDIC authorities, including the FDIC's general rulemaking 
authority pursuant to section 9(a)(Tenth) and section 28 of the FDI 
Act, the FDIC's statutory authority over the activities of State 
savings associations and subsidiaries, that are substantially similar 
to the authorizing statutes pursuant to which subpart O and Sec.  
390.250 were issued. Therefore, the FDIC is proposing to remove subpart 
O and proposes to use part 362, subparts C and D, as applicable, to 
achieve substantially similar supervisory results for State savings 
associations and subsidiaries as could be obtained through subpart O.

B. Section 390.251--Definitions

    Section 390.251 is a definition section related to subordinate 
organizations. Included in the definitions section are: Control, GAAP-
consolidated subsidiary, lower-tier entity, ownership interest, 
subordinate organization, and, subsidiary.
    The control definition is a cross-reference to the former OTS Sec.  
391.41 definition,\33\ which provided that a controlling shareholder is 
any person who, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with one 
or more persons or companies, or together with members of his or her 
immediate family, owns, controls, or holds with power to vote 10 
percent or more of the voting stock of a company, or controls in any 
manner the election or appointment of a majority of the company's board 
of directors.\34\ For the purposes of State savings associations and 
their services companies, the FDIC proposes to apply the Sec.  362.2(e) 
control definition. Pursuant to Sec.  362.2(e), control means ``the 
power to vote, directly or indirectly, 25 percent or more of any class 
of the voting securities of a company, the ability to control in any 
manner the election of a majority of a company's directors or trustees, 
or the ability to exercise a controlling influence over the management 
and policies of a company.'' \35\ This definition is consistent with 
the control definition applicable to service companies of Federal 
savings associations which references the FRB's part 225, Regulation 
Y.\36\
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    \33\ The FDIC rescinded control definition at Sec.  391.41 as 
part of its 2015 Filing Requirements and Processing Procedures for 
Changes in Control with respect to State Nonmember Banks and State 
Savings Associations rulemaking. 80 FR 65889 (Oct. 28, 2015).
    \34\ 12 CFR 391.41 (2015).
    \35\ 12 CFR 362.2(e).
    \36\ 12 CFR 5.59(d); 12 CFR part 225.
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    The definition of equity investment in Sec.  362.2(g) is broader 
than the definition of ownership interest in 390.251, which ``means any 
equity interest in a business organization, including stock, limited or 
general partnership interests, or shares in a limited liability 
company.'' Equity investment ``means an ownership interest in any 
company; any membership interest that includes a voting right in any 
company; any interest in real estate; any transaction which in 
substance falls into any of these categories even though it may be 
structured as some other form of business transaction; and includes an 
equity security.'' \37\ Similarly, the definition of subsidiary 
pursuant to Sec.  362.2(r) is substantially similar to the subsidiary 
definition in Sec.  390.251. The distinction is that Sec.  362.2(r) 
defines a subsidiary as ``any company that is owned or controlled 
directly or indirectly by one or more insured depository institutions, 
rather than only by a State savings association.''
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    \37\ 12 CFR 362.2(g).
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    In the 1996 preamble to part 559, the OTS stated that the 
subordinate organization definition encompassed all business 
organizations in which a savings association has a direct or indirect 
ownership interest except where that ownership interest has been 
acquired through the use of the savings association's pass-through 
investment authority.\38\ The OTS further explained

[[Page 67687]]

the term was adopted primarily in order to avoid potential confusion 
arising from the use of the term subsidiary both as a generic term for 
a business organization in which a savings association has an ownership 
interest and as a more specific term used to describe a narrower 
category of companies in which the savings association's ownership 
interest is significant enough to give it direct or indirect 
control.\39\ The OTS also added to part 559 lower-tier entity, which 
includes all business organizations in which an operating subsidiary, 
service corporation, or other subordinate organization has an ownership 
interest, such as second-tier service corporations or service 
corporation subsidiaries. The distinctions in these two definitions do 
not appear to enhance the quality of State savings association 
supervision from the perspective of the State savings association or 
the FDIC, as supervisor; therefore, the FDIC proposes to rescind and 
remove these definitions. Likewise, the OCC rescinded and removed these 
definitions in the 2015 rule integrating licensing rules of national 
banks and Federal savings associations.\40\
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    \38\ 61 FR at 66563.
    \39\ Id.
    \40\ 80 FR 28414, May 18, 2015. Regulations pertaining to 
operating subsidiaries of Federal savings associations and service 
corporations are found at 12 CFR 5.38 and 5.59, respectively.
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    Lastly, the FDIC believes that a separate definition for GAAP-
consolidated subsidiary is unnecessary as State savings association 
reports and financial statements are required to be uniform and 
consistent with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) 
pursuant to section 37 of the FDI Act and section 4(b) of the 
Homeowners Owners Loan Act (HOLA).\41\ Further, the instructions to the 
Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) state that 
the regulatory reporting requirements applicable to the Call Report 
shall conform to GAAP as set forth in the Financial Accounting 
Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification.\42\ Because State 
savings associations have existing statutory directives to use GAAP in 
reporting and financial statements, eliminating a substantially similar 
regulation regarding GAAP-consolidated subsidiaries likely would not 
affect the quality of State savings association reporting and financial 
statements.
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    \41\ 12 U.S.C. 1831n(a)(2); 12 U.S.C. 1463(b)(2).
    \42\ Instructions for Preparation of Consolidated Reports of 
Condition and Income, Form FFIEC 031 and 041 https://www.ffiec.gov/pdf/FFIEC_forms/FFIEC031_FFIEC041_201906_i.pdf.
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    For these reasons, the FDIC proposes to rescind Sec.  390.251 in 
its entirety.

C. Section 390.252--How must separate corporate entities be maintained?

    Section 390.252 requires State savings associations and their 
subordinate organizations to operate in a manner that demonstrates to 
the public that they are separate corporate entities because of 
concerns that a failure to maintain separate corporate existences could 
potentially result in a court, for equitable reasons, holding the 
savings association liable for the obligations of the subordinate 
organization.\43\ This requires that State savings associations and 
their subordinate organizations must independently meet in order to 
meet this requirement. The requirements provide that each State savings 
association and subordinate organization: (1) Avoid intermingling their 
business transactions, accounts and records; (2) observe separate 
corporate procedures; (3) be adequately financed as separate entities 
based on the character and size of their respective businesses; (4) 
each independently hold out itself to the public as separate 
enterprise; and that (5) indicate that the State savings association is 
not liable for any borrowings by the subordinate organization, unless 
the parent State savings association has guaranteed a loan to the 
subordinate organization.\44\
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    \43\ 61 FR at 66567.
    \44\ 12 CFR 390.252(a).
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    The core eligibility requirements in Sec.  362.4(c) describe 
corporate separateness in the context of the state-chartered depository 
institution-subsidiary. The eligible subsidiary requirements in 
362.4(c)(2)--which are more detailed than eligible subsidiary 
requirements of 390.252--are designed specifically for the bank/
subsidiary relationship, and provide for separation between the state-
chartered depository institution and its subsidiary to lessen the 
possibility of piercing the corporate veil; deduction of the state-
chartered depository institution investment in the subsidiary to 
segregate the capital supporting the state-chartered depository 
institution from the capital supporting the subsidiary; and limitations 
on the state-chartered depository institution's investment in the 
subsidiary and on transactions with the subsidiary to ensure 
transactions are arms-length.\45\ The eligible subsidiary requirements 
are also incorporated into Sec.  362.13. Section 362.13 permits a State 
savings association that previously filed an application, and obtained 
the FDIC's consent to engage in an activity or to acquire or retain an 
investment in a service corporation engaging as principal in an 
activity, to continue the activity or retain the investment without 
seeking the FDIC's consent, provided the State savings association and 
the service corporation, if applicable, continue to meet the conditions 
and restrictions of approval if the insured state savings association 
and any applicable service corporation meet the requirements of Sec.  
362.4(c)(2).\46\
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    \45\ 12 CFR 362.4(c). See FIL-97-97. September 23, 1997.
    \46\ 12 CFR 362.13.
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    The provisions of Sec.  362.4(c)(2) that are duplicative of Sec.  
390.251 require that an eligible subsidiary: (1) Meet applicable 
statutory or regulatory capital requirements and have sufficient 
operating capital for normal obligations that are reasonably 
foreseeable for a business of its size and character; (2) be physically 
separate and distinct in its operations from the operations of the 
state-chartered depository institution; (3) maintain separate 
accounting and other business records; (4) observe separate business 
entity formalities; (5) conduct business pursuant to independent 
policies and procedures designed to inform customers and prospective 
customers of the subsidiary that the subsidiary is a separate 
organization from the state-chartered depository institution; and (6) 
that the state-chartered depository institution is not responsible for, 
and does not guarantee, the obligations of the subsidiary.\47\
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    \47\ Section 362.4(c)(2)(vii) corresponds to Sec. Sec.  
390.252(a)(4) and (5).
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    State savings associations and service corporations that qualify as 
eligible depository institutions and eligible subsidiaries pursuant to 
Sec.  362.4(c) maintain separate corporate identities, which should 
sufficiently insulate State savings associations from the liabilities 
of subsidiaries. For this reason, the FDIC proposes to remove and 
rescind Sec.  390.252 as duplicative.\48\
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    \48\ The OCC retained separate corporate identity provisions for 
service corporation in its 2015 final rule integrating licensing 
rules of national banks and Federal savings associations. 80 FR 
28467, May 18, 2015. 12 CFR 5.59(e)(8).
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D. Section 390.253--What notices are required to establish or acquire a 
new subsidiary or engage in new activities through a subsidiary?

    Pursuant to Sec.  390.253, a State savings association must file a 
notice with the FDIC prior to establishing, acquiring or engaging in 
new activities of a subsidiary as required under section 18(m) of the 
FDI Act.\49\ This section provides that such a notice must contain all 
of the information required under Sec.  362.15, is subject to FDIC 
objection, and must be filed at least 30 days prior

[[Page 67688]]

to the establishment or acquisition of a subsidiary or commencement of 
a new activity through a subsidiary. The notice requirements of Sec.  
362.15 are substantially similar to the transferred OTS notice 
requirement in Sec.  390.253. For this reason, the FDIC proposes to 
rescind and remove Sec.  390.253 because it is duplicative.
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    \49\ 12 CFR 390.253. See 12 U.S.C 1828(m)(1).
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Federal Savings Association Notice Requirement in Sec.  362.15
    Section 363(7) of the Dodd-Frank Act amended section 18(m) of the 
FDI Act to change notification requirements for insured savings 
associations as a result of the transfer of the powers, duties, and 
functions formerly performed by the OTS that were divided among the 
FDIC, as to State savings associations, and the Office of the 
Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), as to Federal savings 
associations.\50\ After the Dodd-Frank Act amendment of section 18(m) 
of the FDI Act, Federal savings associations are no longer required to 
provide notice to the FDIC prior to the establishment, or acquisition, 
of a subsidiary, or prior to commencement of a new activity in a 
subsidiary controlled by a federal savings association.\51\ State 
savings banks must continue to notify the FDIC at least 30 days prior 
to establishing or acquiring a subsidiary or prior to commencement of a 
new activity through a State savings association-controlled subsidiary 
pursuant to section 18(m).\52\ To reflect the amendment, the FDIC 
proposes to remove the references to Federal savings association notice 
requirements remaining in Sec.  362.15 as part of the proposal.\53\
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    \50\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat 1376 (2010).
    \51\ 12 U.S.C. 1828(m).
    \52\ Id.
    \53\ 12 CFR 362.15.
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E. Section 390.254--How may a subsidiary of a State savings association 
issue securities?

    Section 390.254 permits a State savings association subsidiary to 
issue, either directly or through a third party intermediary, any 
securities that its parent State savings association is permitted to 
issue. The subsidiary must not state or imply that the securities it 
issues are covered by federal deposit insurance, nor may it issue any 
security the payment, maturity, or redemption of which may be 
accelerated upon the condition that State savings association is 
insolvent or is placed into receivership.\54\ The State savings 
association, for as long as any securities are outstanding, must 
maintain all records generated through each securities issuance in the 
ordinary course of business, including a copy of any prospectus, 
offering circular, or similar document concerning such issuance, and 
make such records available for examination by the FDIC.\55\ Such 
records must include, but are not limited to: (1) The amount of assets 
or liabilities (including any guarantees made with respect to the 
securities issuance) that have been transferred or made available to 
the subsidiary; the percentage that such amount represents of the 
current book value of assets on an unconsolidated basis; and the 
current book value of all such assets of the subsidiary; (2) the terms 
of any guarantee(s) issued by the State savings association or any 
third party; (3) a description of the securities the subsidiary issued; 
(4) the net proceeds from the issuance of securities (or the pro rata 
portion of the net proceeds from securities issued through a jointly 
owned subsidiary); the gross proceeds of the securities issuance; and 
the market value of assets collateralizing the securities issuance (any 
assets of the subsidiary, including any guarantees of its securities 
issuance made); (5) the interest or dividend rates and yields, or the 
range thereof, and the frequency of payments on the subsidiary's 
securities; (6) the minimum denomination of the subsidiary's 
securities; and (7) where the subsidiary marketed or intends to market 
the securities.\56\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ 12 CFR 390.254(a).
    \55\ 12 CFR 390.254(c).
    \56\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC retained certain of these requirements for operating 
subsidiaries and service corporations of Federal savings associations 
in the 2015 final rule integrating licensing rules of national banks 
and Federal savings associations.\57\ Pursuant to OCC regulations, 
neither an operating subsidiary nor a service corporation ``shall state 
or imply that the securities it issues are covered by Federal deposit 
insurance,'' or ``issue any security the payment, maturity, or 
redemption of which may be accelerated upon the condition that the 
controlling Federal savings association is insolvent or has been placed 
into receivership, and for as long as any securities are outstanding, 
the controlling Federal savings association must maintain all records 
generated through each securities issuance in the ordinary course of 
business, including but not limited to a copy of the prospectus, 
offering circular, or similar document concerning such issuance, and 
make such records available for examination by the OCC.'' \58\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ 80 FR 28414, May 18, 2015. Regulations pertaining to 
issuance of securities of operating subsidiaries and service 
corporations of Federal savings associations are found at 12 CFR 
5.38(e)(7) and 5.59(e)(9), respectively.
    \58\ 12 CFR 5.38(e)(7); 12 CFR 5.59(e)(9).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    State savings association subsidiaries are permitted to issue 
securities pursuant to section 28 of the FDI Act because the operating 
subsidiaries and service corporations of Federal savings associations 
are permitted to issue securities, subject to regulatory limitations. 
State savings associations and subsidiaries are reminded that 
subsidiary issuances, like other permissible activities, are subject to 
the same restrictions or conditions imposed on the Federal savings 
association and must be conducted in the same manner in which an 
operating subsidiary or service corporation is authorized to issue such 
securities.
    Accordingly, a State savings association subsidiary should not 
state or imply that the securities it issues are covered by Federal 
deposit insurance, or issue any security the payment, maturity, or 
redemption of which may be accelerated upon the condition that the 
controlling State savings association is insolvent or has been placed 
into receivership, and for as long as any securities are outstanding, 
the controlling State savings association must maintain all records 
generated through each securities issuance in the ordinary course of 
business, including but not limited to a copy of the prospectus, 
offering circular, or similar document concerning such issuance, and 
make such records available for examination by the FDIC. For these 
reasons, the FDIC proposes to remove and rescind Sec.  390.254.

F. Section 390.255--How may a State savings association exercise its 
salvage power in connection with a service corporation or lower-tier 
entities?

    Section 390.255 generally permits a State savings association to 
notify the FDIC at least 30 days before making a contribution or a loan 
(including a guarantee of a loan made by any other person) to a lower-
tier entity (salvage investment) that exceeds the maximum amount 
otherwise permitted under law or regulation to exercise its power to 
salvage the underlying asset (typically, an outstanding loan). Without 
the salvage power provision, the maximum amount a State savings 
association would be permitted would be related the loans to one 
borrower limit (LTOB Limit), which is equivalent to the applicable 
state's legal lending limit.
    The salvage power doctrine was a long-held position of the OTS and 
its

[[Page 67689]]

predecessor, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB),\59\ that a 
Federal savings association has inherent or implied authority to take 
whatever steps may be necessary to salvage an investment.\60\ When 
integrating the OTS regulations for Federal savings associations, the 
OCC adopted the position that a Federal savings association has 
inherent or implied authority to use salvage power,\61\ as well as the 
position that the LTOB Limit is not a specific legal prohibition with 
respect to the salvage powers doctrine.\62\
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    \59\ A July 1941 legal opinion provided that savings 
associations had ``an inherent power and a positive duty'' to 
salvage an investment to protect the FSLIC insurance fund. FHLBB Op. 
G.C. B-50, Salvage Operations, July 1, 1941.
    \60\ Salvage powers permit Federal savings association to take 
whatever steps necessary to salvage an investment, provided the 
steps taken are integral parts of a reasonable and bona fide salvage 
plan and do not contravene a specific legal prohibition. 
Comptrollers Handbook, Other Real Estate Owned, Version 1.1, August 
2018 p. 18.
    \61\ See 12 CFR 5.59(i). (Federal savings association permitted 
to exercise its salvage powers to make a salvage investment to a 
service corporation investment); see also, Comptroller's Handbook, 
Other Real Estate Owned (Federal savings association's salvage 
powers are derived from 12 CFR 160.30, General Lending and 
Investment Powers, and permit the acquisition, holding, and 
operation of OREO and the expenditure of additional funds in regard 
to OREO), https://www.occ.treas.gov/publications-and-resources/publications/comptrollers-handbook/files/other-real-estate-owned/index-other-real-estate-owned.html, last visited 7/9/2020.
    \62\ National banks and savings associations are subject to 12 
CFR part 32, Lending Limits, but see also Comptroller's Handbook 
OREO (``(Note: The lending limit is not considered to be a specific 
legal prohibition within the meaning of the salvage powers 
doctrine.)'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because a State savings association derives its powers, including 
salvage power, from its respective State chartering banking agency, 
there may be lack of uniformity among State LTOB Limits (or legal 
lending limit).\63\ For these reasons, staff proposes that State 
savings associations apply to the FDIC for prior approval pursuant to 
Sec.  362.11 before making a contribution or a loan to a lower-tier 
entity (salvage investment) that exceeds the maximum amount otherwise 
permitted under law or regulation to exercise its power to salvage the 
underlying asset to be consistent with State law. The applicant would 
be required to provide evidence that the State approved any exception 
over the LTOB limit.\64\
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    \63\ See 2007 WL 7112410, OTS RB 37-21, Examination Handbook, 
Asset Quality, Section 211, LOANS TO ONE BORROWER, December 13, 
2007. Rescinded by OCC Bulletin 2012-19, dated June 29, 2012. 
(``[s]tate-chartered savings associations have similar authority 
under state law.'') See also, 1975 WL 171273, Office of Thrift 
Supervision, August 7, 1975 (``[i]n the case of a state-chartered 
institution, the application must be accompanied by an opinion of 
counsel that the action proposed is within the institution's 
power.'') and 1975 WL 171331, Office of Thrift Supervision, December 
19, 1975 (``[w]hether a state chartered association possesses 
similar salvage powers, [to a Federal savings association is] . . . 
governed by the laws of the chartering jurisdiction.'').
    \64\ LTOB Limits are established by state law of each chartering 
authority, and LTOB Limits are not consistent from state to state. 
Some states allow waivers or modifications, while others do not. 
Part 362 does not authorize any insured State savings association to 
make investments or conduct activities that are not authorized or 
that are prohibited by either Federal or State law. 12 CFR 362.9(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For these reasons, the FDIC proposes to remove and rescind Sec.  
390.255.

IV. Expected Effects

    As of June 30, 2020, the FDIC supervised 3,270 depository 
institutions, of which 35 (1.1 percent) are State savings 
associations.\65\ The proposed rule primarily would affect regulations 
that govern State savings associations. As previously discussed, the 
proposed rule, if adopted, would rescind part 390, subpart O because 
most of its elements are duplicative of, or substantially similar to 
the requirements of section 28 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act 
(FDI Act) and its implementing regulations, subparts C and D of part 
362 of the FDIC's Rules and Regulations, and section 37 of the FDI Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ Call Report data, June 30, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, the proposed rule would amend certain sections of 
part 362 to remove the references to Federal savings association notice 
requirements because Federal savings associations are no longer 
required to provide notice to the FDIC prior to the establishment, or 
acquisition, of a subsidiary, or prior to commencement of a new 
activity in a subsidiary controlled by a Federal savings 
association.\66\ The FDIC does not believe that the proposed rule will 
have substantive effects on State savings associations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ 12 U.S.C. 1828(m).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 390.250 sets forth the FDIC's general rulemaking and 
supervisory authority under the FDI Act, its specific authority under 
section 18(m) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act \67\ and subpart O's 
application to subordinate organizations of State savings associations. 
As previously discussed, State savings associations are subject to part 
362, subparts C and D, which has the same statutory basis as Sec.  
390.350. Therefore, the FDIC believes that the practical application of 
part 362, subparts C and D, generally achieves the same outcomes for 
State savings associations as does subpart O. Therefore, the FDIC 
believes that the proposed rescission of Sec.  390.250, if enacted, is 
unlikely to have any substantive effects for State savings associations 
or their subordinate organizations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \67\ 12 U.S.C. 1828(m).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 390.251 is a definition section related to subordinate 
organizations. As previously discussed, the FDIC believes that the 
definitions of subsidiary and GAAP-consolidated subsidiary are 
substantially similar to and redundant to other statutory and 
regulatory requirements to which State savings associations are already 
subject. As previously discussed, State savings associations are 
already subject to a definition of control in part 362.2(e), a 
definition that is narrower, however, than the one in Sec.  390.251. 
Therefore, rescission of Sec.  390.251 could benefit State savings 
associations by narrowing the scope of investments in subordinate 
organizations that may be subject to limitation for supervisory, legal, 
or safety and soundness reasons asserted by the FDIC. Rescission of the 
definition of control in Sec.  390.251 could further benefit State 
savings associations by creating parity with the control definition 
applicable to service companies of Federal savings associations which 
references the FRB's part 225, Regulation Y.\68\ As previously 
discussed, State savings associations are already subject to a 
definition of equity investment in Sec.  362.2(g), a definition that is 
broader, however, than the one in Sec.  390.251. Therefore, rescission 
of Sec.  390.251 is unlikely to pose additional costs for State savings 
associations because they are already subject to regulations with a 
substantively similar and broader defined scope of investments in 
subordinate organizations. Finally, the proposed rescission of Sec.  
390.251 would remove definitions of lower-tier entity and second-tier 
service corporations or service corporation subsidiaries for which 
there is no corollary in FDIC regulations. However, as previously 
discussed, the FDIC does not believe that the existence of these 
defined terms enhance the quality of State savings association 
supervision. Therefore, the FDIC believes that rescission of these 
definitions is unlikely to have any substantive effects on State 
savings associations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ 12 CFR 5.59(d); 12 CFR part 225.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 390.252 requires State savings associations and their 
subordinate organizations to operate in a manner that demonstrates to 
the public that they are separate corporate entities because of 
concerns that a failure to maintain separate corporate existences could 
potentially result in a court, for equitable reasons, holding the 
savings association liable for the obligations of

[[Page 67690]]

the subordinate organization.\69\ As discussed previously, FDIC-
supervised depository institutions, including State savings 
associations and their subsidiaries, are covered by Sec. Sec.  362.4(c) 
and 362.13, which are substantively similar to or broader than the 
obligations in Sec.  390.252. Therefore, the FDIC believes that the 
proposed rescission of Sec.  390.252, if adopted, is unlikely to have 
any substantive effect on State savings associations or their 
subsidiaries.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \69\ 61 FR 66567.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 390.253 establishes notification requirements for State 
savings associations prior to their establishing, acquiring or engaging 
in new activities of a subsidiary as required under section 18(m) of 
the FDI Act.\70\ As discussed previously, State savings associations 
are already subject to substantively similar requirements in Sec.  
362.15. Therefore, the FDIC believes that the proposed rescission of 
Sec.  390.253, if adopted, is unlikely to pose any substantive effects 
on State savings associations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \70\ 12 CFR 390.253. See 12 U.S.C 1828(m)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 362.15 established notification requirements for State and 
Federal savings associations prior to their establishing or acquiring a 
subsidiary, or conducting any new activity through a subsidiary. As 
discussed previously, after the Dodd-Frank Act amendment of section 
18(m) of the FDI Act, Federal savings associations are no longer 
required to provide notice to the FDIC prior to the establishment, or 
acquisition, of a subsidiary, or prior to the commencement of a new 
activity in a subsidiary controlled by a federal savings 
association.\71\ Therefore, the FDIC believes that the proposed 
rescission of references to Federal savings associations from Sec.  
362.15 is unlikely to have any substantive effect on insured depository 
institutions in that it is simply consistent with existing law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \71\ 12 U.S.C. 1828(m).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 390.254 permits a State savings association subsidiary to 
issue, either directly or through a third party intermediary, any 
securities that its parent State savings association is permitted to 
issue. As discussed previously, although there is no corollary 
regulation for FDIC-supervised depository institutions, State savings 
association subsidiaries are permitted to issue securities pursuant to 
section 28 of the FDI Act because the operating subsidiaries and 
service corporations of Federal savings associations are permitted to 
issue securities, subject to regulatory limitations. Therefore, the 
FDIC believes that the proposed rescission of Sec.  390.254, if 
adopted, is unlikely to have any substantive effect on State savings 
associations or their subsidiaries.
    Section 390.255 generally permits a State savings association to 
notify the FDIC at least 30 days before making a contribution or a loan 
(including a guarantee of a loan made by any other person) to a lower-
tier entity (salvage investment) that exceeds the maximum amount 
otherwise permitted under law or regulation to exercise its power to 
salvage the underlying asset (typically, an outstanding loan).\72\ As 
discussed previously, State savings associations are currently subject 
to Sec.  362.11 which requires State savings associations to seek prior 
approval from the FDIC before making a contribution or a loan to a 
lower-tier entity (salvage investment) that exceeds the maximum amount 
otherwise permitted under law or regulation to exercise its power to 
salvage the underlying asset to be consistent with State law. 
Therefore, the FDIC believes that the proposed rescission of Sec.  
390.255, if adopted, is unlikely to substantively affect State savings 
associations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \72\ Without the salvage power provision, the maximum amount a 
State savings association would be permitted would be related the 
loans to one borrower limit (LTOB Limit), which is equivalent to the 
applicable state's legal lending limit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    By removing duplicative or unnecessary regulations the FDIC 
believes that the proposed rule will benefit State savings associations 
by clarifying regulations and improving the ease of references.

V. Alternatives

    The FDIC has considered alternatives to the rule but believes that 
the amendments represent the most appropriate option for covered 
institutions. As discussed previously, the Dodd-Frank Act transferred 
certain powers, duties, and functions formerly performed by the OTS to 
the FDIC. The FDIC's Board reissued and redesignated certain 
transferred regulations from the OTS, but noted that it would evaluate 
them and might later incorporate them into other FDIC regulations, 
amend them, or rescind them, as appropriate. The FDIC has evaluated the 
existing regulations relating to certain subordinate organizations of 
State savings associations. The FDIC considered the status quo 
alternative of retaining the current regulations, but did not choose to 
do so. The FDIC believes it would be unnecessary for FDIC-supervised 
institutions to continue to refer to these separate sets of 
regulations, and is therefore proposing to amend and rescind them.

VI. Request for Comments

    The FDIC invites comments on all aspects of this proposed 
rulemaking, and specifically requests comments on the following:
    1. What impact, if any, do you foresee in the FDIC's proposal to 
rescind Subpart O? Please substantiate your response.
    Written comments must be received by the FDIC no later than 
November 25, 2020.

VII. Regulatory Analysis and Procedure

A. The Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (PRA), the FDIC may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent 
is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it 
displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number. The proposed rule would rescind and remove from FDIC 
regulations subpart O. The proposed rule will not create any new or 
revise any existing collections of information under the PRA. 
Therefore, no information collection request will be submitted to the 
OMB for review.

B. The Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), requires that, in connection 
with a notice of proposed rulemaking, an agency prepare and make 
available for public comment an initial regulatory flexibility analysis 
that describes the impact of the proposed rule on small entities.\73\ 
However, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required if the 
agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities, and publishes its 
certification and a short explanatory statement in the Federal Register 
together with the rule. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has 
defined ``small entities'' to include banking organizations with total 
assets of less than or equal to $600 million.\74\ Generally, the FDIC 
considers

[[Page 67691]]

a significant effect to be a quantified effect in excess of 5 percent 
of total annual salaries and benefits per institution, or 2.5 percent 
of total non-interest expenses. The FDIC believes that effects in 
excess of these thresholds typically represent significant effects for 
FDIC-supervised institutions. For the reasons provided below, the FDIC 
certifies that the proposed rule, if adopted in final form, would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
banking organizations. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis 
is not required.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \73\ 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.
    \74\ The SBA defines a small banking organization as having $600 
million or less in assets, where an organization's ``assets are 
determined by averaging the assets reported on its four quarterly 
financial statements for the preceding year.'' See 13 CFR 121.201 
(as amended, by 84 FR 34261, effective August 19, 2019). ``SBA 
counts the receipts, employees, or other measure of size of the 
concern whose size is at issue and all of its domestic and foreign 
affiliates.'' See 13 CFR 121.103. Following these regulations, the 
FDIC uses a covered entity's affiliated and acquired assets, 
averaged over the preceding four quarters, to determine whether the 
covered entity is ``small'' for the purposes of RFA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As of June 30, 2020, the FDIC supervised 3,270 insured depository 
institutions, of which 2,548 are considered small banking organizations 
for the purposes of RFA. The proposed rule primarily affects 
regulations that govern State savings associations.\75\ There are 33 
State savings associations considered to be small banking organizations 
for the purposes of the RFA.\76\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \75\ FDIC Call Report, June 30, 2020.
    \76\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As explained previously, the proposed rule would remove Sec. Sec.  
390.250 through 390.255 of subpart O because these sections are 
unnecessary or redundant of existing federal banking laws or 
regulations that prescribe requirements subsidiaries of State savings 
associations. Because these regulations are redundant to existing 
regulations, rescinding them would not have any substantive effects on 
small FDIC-supervised institutions.
    Based on the information above, the FDIC certifies that the 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    2. The FDIC invites comments on all aspects of the supporting 
information provided in this RFA section. In particular, would this 
rule have any significant effects on small entities that the FDIC has 
not identified?

C. Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act \77\ requires each 
Federal banking agency to use plain language in all of its proposed and 
final rules published after January 1, 2000. As a federal banking 
agency subject to the provisions of this section, the FDIC has sought 
to present the proposed rule to rescind subpart O in a simple and 
straightforward manner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \77\ Public Law 106-102, 113 Stat. 1338, 1471 (codified at 12 
U.S.C. 4809).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. The FDIC invites comments on whether the proposal is clearly 
stated and effectively organized, and how the FDIC might make the 
proposal easier to understand.

D. The Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under section 2222 of the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPRA), the FDIC is required to review all of 
its regulations, at least once every 10 years, in order to identify any 
outdated or otherwise unnecessary regulations imposed on insured 
institutions.\78\ The FDIC, along with the other federal banking 
agencies, submitted a Joint Report to Congress on March 21, 2017, 
(EGRPRA Report) discussing how the review was conducted, what has been 
done to date to address regulatory burden, and further measures that 
will be taken to address issues that were identified. As noted in the 
EGRPRA Report, the FDIC is continuing to streamline and clarify its 
regulations through the OTS rule integration process. By removing 
outdated or unnecessary regulations, such as subpart O, this proposal 
complements other actions the FDIC has taken, separately and with the 
other federal banking agencies, to further the EGRPRA mandate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ Public Law 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009 (1996).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 362

    Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations 
(Government agencies), Bank deposit insurance, Banks, banking, 
Investments, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 390

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advertising, Aged, Civil 
rights, Conflict of interests, Credit, Crime, Equal employment 
opportunity, Fair housing, Government employees, Individuals with 
disabilities, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Savings 
associations.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation proposes to amend 12 CFR parts 362 and 390 as 
follows:

PART 362--ACTIVITIES OF INSURED STATE BANKS AND INSURED SAVINGS 
ASSOCIATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 362 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1816, 1818, 1819(a)(Tenth), 1828(j), 
1828(m), 1828a, 1831a, 1831e, 1831w, 1843(l).

0
2. Revise Sec.  362.15 to read as follows:


Sec.  362.15   Acquiring or establishing a subsidiary; conducting new 
activities through a subsidiary.

    No State insured savings association may establish or acquire a 
subsidiary, or conduct any new activity through a subsidiary, unless it 
files a notice in compliance with Sec.  303.142(c) of this chapter at 
least 30 days prior to establishment of the subsidiary or commencement 
of the activity and the FDIC does not object to the notice. This 
requirement does not apply to any State savings association that 
acquired its principal assets from a Federal savings bank that was 
chartered prior to October 15, 1982, as a savings bank under State law.

PART 390--REGULATIONS TRANSFERRED FROM THE OFFICE OF THRIFT 
SUPERVISION

0
3. The authority citation for part 390 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1819.

    Subpart F also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552; 559; 12 U.S.C. 2901 et 
seq.
    Subpart G also issued under 12 U.S.C. 2810 et seq., 2901 et 
seq.; 15 U.S.C. 1691; 42 U.S.C. 1981, 1982, 3601-3619.
    Subpart Q also issued under 12 U.S.C. 1462; 1462a; 1463; 1464.
    Subpart W also issued under 12 U.S.C. 1462a; 1463; 1464; 15 
U.S.C. 78c; 78l; 78m; 78n; 78p; 78w.
    Subpart Y also issued under 12 U.S.C. 1831o.

Subpart O--[Removed and Reserved]

0
4. Remove and reserve subpart O, consisting of Sec. Sec.  390.250 
through 390.255.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

    By order of the Board of Directors.

    Dated at Washington, DC, on October 20, 2020.
James P. Sheesley,
Assistant Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-23525 Filed 10-21-20; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6714-01-P