Federal Reserve System – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Board is amending Regulation DD, which implements the Truth in Savings Act, and the staff commentary to the regulation, to address concerns about the uniformity and adequacy of information provided to consumers when they overdraw their deposit accounts. The amendments, in part, address certain types of servicessometimes referred to as ``bounced-check protection'' orcourtesy overdraft protection''which are offered by many depository institutions to pay consumers' checks, and which allow other overdrafts when there are insufficient funds in the account. These services are typically automated services provided to transaction account consumers as an alternative to a traditional overdraft line of credit. Among other things, the final rule creates a new section to the regulation that requires institutions that promote the payment of overdrafts in an advertisement to disclose on periodic statements, total fees imposed for paying overdrafts and total fees imposed for returning items unpaid on periodic statements, both for the statement period and the calendar year to date, and to include certain other disclosures in advertisements of overdraft services.

The Board requests comment on potential modifications to the method for calculating the target return on equity (ROE) in the private-sector adjustment factor (PSAF). The PSAF imputes the costs that would have been incurred and profits that would have been earned had the Federal Reserve Banks' priced services been provided by a private firm. The Monetary Control Act of 1980 (MCA) requires that the Federal Reserve set fees for its services to recover, over the long run, its actual costs of providing the services, as well as the imputed costs and profits. The Board reviews its method for calculating the PSAF periodically to assess whether it is still appropriate in light of the changing business and regulatory environment, industry practices, and accounting standards. Specifically, the Board requests comment on possible changes to the current method to compute a target rate of return on equity capital, including changes to the analytical models and peer group institutions used. The Board's method for setting its overall level of equity capital would continue to be based on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) guidelines for a well-capitalized institution for insurance premium purposes.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) has adopted final amendments to its Regulation A to reflect the Board's approval of an increase in the primary credit rate at each Federal Reserve Bank. The secondary credit rate at each Reserve Bank automatically increased by formula as a result of the Board's primary credit rate action.

The Board of Governors is amending appendix A of Regulation CC to delete the reference to the Salt Lake City branch office of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and reassign the Federal Reserve routing symbols currently listed under that office to the Denver branch office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. These amendments will ensure that the information in appendix A accurately describes the actual structure of check processing operations within the Federal Reserve System.

This correction amends a footnote reference in the text of 12 CFR part 225, Appendix A.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC (the ``agencies'') 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. On August 17, 2004, the agencies requested public comment for 60 days on proposed revisions to the Country Exposure Report (FFIEC 009) and the Country Exposure Information Report (FFIEC 009a) (August proposal), which are currently approved information collections. After considering the comments received, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), of which the agencies are members, has modified the August proposal and is requesting public comment on the modified set of proposed revisions.