82_FR_30900 82 FR 30774 - Corporate Credit Unions

82 FR 30774 - Corporate Credit Unions

NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 126 (July 3, 2017)

Page Range30774-30776
FR Document2017-13642

The NCUA Board (Board) proposes to amend its regulations governing corporate credit unions (corporates) and the scope of their activities. Specifically, the proposed amendments revise provisions on retained earnings and Tier 1 capital.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 126 (Monday, July 3, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 126 (Monday, July 3, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30774-30776]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13642]


========================================================================
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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 126 / Monday, July 3, 2017 / Proposed 
Rules

[[Page 30774]]



NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 704

RIN 3133-AE75


Corporate Credit Unions

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) proposes to amend its regulations 
governing corporate credit unions (corporates) and the scope of their 
activities. Specifically, the proposed amendments revise provisions on 
retained earnings and Tier 1 capital.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods, but 
please send comments by one method only:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     NCUA Web site: http://www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinions 
Laws/proposed_regs/proposed_regs.html. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
     Email: Address to [email protected]. Include ``[Your 
name]--Comments on Proposed Rule--Corporate Credit Unions'' in the 
email subject line.
     Fax: (703) 518-6319. Use the subject line described above 
for email.
     Mail: Address to Gerard Poliquin, Secretary of the Board, 
National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314-3428.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne Applonie, Director of 
Supervision, Office of National Examinations and Supervision, at the 
above address or telephone (703) 518-6595; or Marvin Shaw, Staff 
Attorney, Office of General Counsel, at the above address or telephone 
(703) 518-6553.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The financial crisis of 2007-2009 took a heavy toll on the 
corporate credit union system. The crisis, largely mortgage related, 
greatly affected the investment portfolios of many corporates causing 
widespread liquidity problems, instability in the system, and failures. 
During this time period, NCUA took extraordinary short and mid-term 
measures to stabilize the corporate system. Among other things, it: (1) 
Made capital injections; (2) approved the Temporary Corporate Credit 
Union Share Guarantee Program, which guaranteed uninsured shares at 
participating corporates; (3) engaged the services of an independent, 
highly qualified third party to conduct a comprehensive analysis of 
expected non-recoverable credit losses for distressed securities held 
by corporates; (4) conserved five corporates; \1\ and (5) created the 
NCUA Guaranteed Note Program.\2\
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    \1\ The five were U.S. Central, Western Corporate, Members 
United Corporate, Southwest Corporate, and Constitution Corporate.
    \2\ As part of the corporate system resolution, NCUA created the 
NCUA Guaranteed Note Program to provide long-term funding for 
distressed investment securities (Legacy Assets) from the five 
failed corporate credit unions. Legacy Assets consisted of over 
2,000 investment securities, secured by approximately 1.6 million 
residential mortgages, as well as commercial mortgages and other 
securitized assets.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To provide longer term structural enhancements to the corporate 
system, the Board comprehensively revised part 704, the regulations 
governing corporates and their activities, in 2010.\3\ The 2010 rule's 
primary purpose was to establish a regulatory framework that provides a 
foundation for a healthy corporate system that: (1) Delivers important 
services to the corporates' natural person credit union members, such 
as payment systems and liquidity; and (2) builds and attracts 
sufficient capital.\4\ The 2010 rule also helped to prevent the 
recurrence of the kind of financial losses that led to the failure of 
the referenced five corporates and weakened the financial condition of 
several others.
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    \3\ 12 CFR part 704; 75 FR 64786 (Oct. 20, 2010).
    \4\ 75 FR 64787, 64787 (Oct. 20, 2010).
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    The 2010 rule curtailed several of the practices that led to the 
referenced corporate failures. Specifically, it established investment 
concentration limits, limited asset maturities, and prohibited 
investments in subordinated and private label mortgage-backed 
securities. Most relevant to this proposal, the 2010 rule also 
implemented a prompt corrective action (PCA) regime stipulating capital 
adequacy for corporates. Largely based on the Basel I requirements, the 
capital requirements of the 2010 rule emphasized the importance of 
corporates holding tangible and durable capital.
    It has been nearly seven years since the Board issued the 2010 
rule. In that time, NCUA's efforts have had the intended effect of 
stabilizing the corporate system and improving the corporates' ability 
to function and provide needed services to natural person credit 
unions. Additionally, the overall economy has improved greatly, thereby 
improving the economic landscape in which corporates operate. Further, 
the large concentration of troubled assets within the corporate system 
has been reduced through portfolio repositioning or NCUA intervention. 
The corporate system has significantly contracted and consolidated, 
with assets declining from approximately $81.7 billion prior to the 
2010 rule to approximately $24.9 billion today. In that same time 
period, the number of corporates has declined from 26 to 11. Given all 
of these positive developments, the Board believes conditions are such 
that it is now safe and appropriate to revisit the capital standards of 
the 2010 rule. As discussed in more detail below, the proposed 
amendments to the corporate rule primarily affect the calculation of 
capital after corporates consolidate and set a retained earnings ratio 
target in meeting PCA standards.

II. Proposed Amendments

Corporate Consolidations and Capital

    In 2015, the Board made further refinements to part 704. 
Specifically, the Board amended the definition of ``Tier 1 capital'' to 
include as a component of that term, the retained earnings acquired 
through a merger. Given that retained earnings acquired through a 
merger are currently not recorded on the continuing corporate's 
financial statements, the amount must be recorded outside of the 
financial statements. This approach does not follow Generally Accepted 
Accounting

[[Page 30775]]

Principles (GAAP), thus inhibiting transparency of capital adequacy. 
The Board believes a corporate will be more transparent presenting its 
capital adequacy by adopting conventions more closely aligned with its 
published financial statements. Accordingly, with respect to the 
definition of ``retained earnings,'' the Board proposes to incorporate 
``GAAP equity acquired in a merger'' as a component of retained 
earnings. This amendment to the definition of ``retained earnings'' 
will, in turn, affect the definition of ``Tier 1 capital,'' which 
includes retained earnings as one of the components of Tier 1 capital.
    More specifically, the current definition of ``retained earnings'' 
includes undivided earnings, regular reserve, reserve for 
contingencies, supplemental reserves, reserve for losses, and other 
appropriations from undivided earnings as designated by management or 
NCUA. Including ``GAAP equity acquired in a merger'' to that list gives 
recognition to standard accounting conventions for purposes of 
consolidating records between merged entities. As a practical matter, 
the Board has treated equity acquired in a merger as retained earnings, 
but did so in the context of defining contributed capital's ability to 
cover losses. The Board believes that expressly including such equity 
acquired in a merger as retained earnings and referencing GAAP will 
clarify that this capital is available to cover losses, enhance 
transparency, and reduce ambiguity.
    Further, the Board proposes to delete the phrase ``the retained 
earnings of any acquired credit union, or an integrated set of 
activities and assets, calculated at the point of acquisition, if the 
acquisition is a mutual combination'' from the current definition of 
``Tier 1 capital.'' This provision becomes redundant as a result of the 
expanded definition of retained earnings which will include GAAP equity 
acquired in a merger.

Retained Earnings Ratio

    In addition to the Board's proposed amendments to the definitions 
of ``retained earnings'' and ``Tier 1 capital'' as discussed above, the 
Board also proposes to add a definition of ``retained earnings ratio'' 
to part 704.
    The 2010 rule's PCA provisions require corporates to meet a 
leverage ratio.\5\ The leverage ratio primarily consists of retained 
earnings and perpetual contributed capital (PCC).\6\ Capital included 
in the leverage ratio incorporated the provisions of Tier 1 capital as 
defined by the bank regulatory agencies, with a notable exception. The 
Board recognizes that while corporates had been permitted to secure 
contributed capital from any source, history has shown that nearly all 
contributed capital has been invested by federally insured natural 
person credit unions. As such, depletions of corporate capital can lead 
to corresponding investment impairments and capital erosion at the 
natural person credit unions. This can lead to greater exposure of loss 
to the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. The 2010 rule 
encouraged corporates to build sufficient retained earnings to absorb 
losses without causing a corresponding loss to another party, such as a 
natural person credit union that purchased contributed capital from 
that corporate (i.e., perpetual and non-perpetual capital as defined in 
the rule).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ The leverage ratio is currently defined as Tier 1 Capital 
divided by moving daily average net assets. The leverage ratio and 
capital definitions were revised as part of the 2010 rule, which 
contained a series of phased in definitions over a three-year 
period. Beginning October 21, 2011 and before October 21, 2013, the 
leverage ratio was defined as the ratio of total capital to moving 
daily average net assets. This ratio was called the ``interim'' 
leverage ratio. After October 21, 2013, the leverage ratio was 
redefined as the ratio of adjusted core capital to moving daily 
average net assets. This was called the permanent leverage ratio. In 
May 6, 2015 the NCUA Board approved changes to the regulation that 
sought to simplify and clarify the capital definitions in the 
regulations now that the major phase-in dates had passed. The 
definitions of core capital and adjusted core capital were combined 
into one definition called Tier 1 capital. The leverage ratio and 
other related capital ratio definitions were similarly amended to 
reflect the change to Tier 1 Capital.
    \6\ Perpetual Contributed Capital means accounts or other 
interests of a corporate credit union that are perpetual, non-
cumulative dividend accounts; are available to cover losses that 
exceed retained earnings, are not insured by the National Credit 
Union Share Insurance Fund or other share or deposit insurers; and 
cannot be pledged against borrowings. In the event the corporate is 
liquidated, any claims made by the holders of the perpetual 
contributed capital will be subordinate to all other claims 
(including National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund claims).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The incentive to build retained earnings was created by limiting 
the amount of contributed capital permitted to be included in 
calculating the corporate's leverage ratio.\7\ The limitation on PCC 
was phased-in over a period of ten years recognizing the erosion of 
corporate capital during the financial crisis and reasonable 
expectations for future corporate profitability.\8\ Until October 2016, 
all PCC was included in the leverage ratio. Effective October 2016, 
part 704 requires corporates to deduct the amount of PCC exceeding 
retained earnings by 200 basis points. Effective October 2020, 
corporates must deduct the amount of PCC exceeding retained earnings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 12 CFR 704.2
    \8\ As financial intermediaries, the net margins for corporates 
have been low with a historical average net return on assets ratio 
of approximately 23 bps.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The 2010 revisions to part 704 have resulted in the intended 
effect. Specifically, all corporates have accumulated sufficient 
retained earnings to meet or exceed the adequate capitalization 
threshold under PCA through the October 2016 phase-in adjustment.
    While the result has been positive, the Board recognizes that the 
language in the current rule is indirect and may disadvantage 
corporates working with third parties. The limitation on PCC for 
regulatory capital purposes does not recognize the full value of PCC 
that stands to absorb losses and protect counterparties. Further, the 
construct to reduce the inclusion of PCC as capital provides for 
inconsistent treatment compared to capital regulations governing other 
types of financial institutions, such as banks, and could promote 
confusion. Accordingly, the Board proposes to remove the requirement 
effective October 2020 to limit PCC counted as Tier 1 capital to the 
amount of retained earnings. Further, the Board proposes to permit a 
corporate to include in its Tier 1 capital all PCC that is sourced from 
an entity not covered by federal share insurance.
    However, recognizing that retained earnings is critical to the 
health of the corporate system and the share insurance fund, the Board 
proposes to add a provision to part 704 requiring all corporates to 
achieve an eventual retained earnings ratio of 250 basis points. To 
that end, the Board proposes to add a definition of ``retained earnings 
ratio'' to mean ``the corporate credit union's retained earnings 
divided by its moving daily average net assets.'' Upon attaining this 
benchmark, a corporate would be permitted to include all PCC, 
regardless of source, in its Tier 1 capital. The PCA thresholds will 
remain at their current limits. Until such time as a corporate achieves 
a 250 basis points retained earnings ratio, it must deduct the amount 
of PCC exceeding retained earnings by 200 basis points as an inducement 
to build retained earnings.
    The Board believes this proposal will promote clarity as to the 
minimum amount of retained earnings to be held by a corporate to 
account for potential losses. In setting this minimum standard, the 
Board balances it with the risk mitigating provisions of current part 
704 including investment concentration limits, NEV volatility limits, 
asset maturity limits, and investment prohibitions. As such, the Board 
is not contemplating amending other

[[Page 30776]]

corporate risk taking authorities in part 704.

Appendix B to Part 704--Expanded Authorities and Requirements

    Appendix B to part 704 enumerates the expanded authorities 
available to corporates and the procedures that a corporate must follow 
to be granted such authorities. The Part I expanded investment 
authority allows a corporate to take on additional risk in certain 
investment products. As part of this authority, a corporate's NEV 
ratios may decline to specified amounts when meeting certain leverage 
ratios.
    The Board proposes to add a ``retained earnings ratio'' requirement 
to the Part I expanded investment authorities. The Board believes that 
by doing so the retained earnings ratio requirement will limit the risk 
of the expanded investment portfolios. Specifically, the Board proposes 
to employ an indexed retained earnings requirement, which will 
correlate with the actual level of risk taking.

III. Regulatory Procedures

1. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires NCUA to prepare an analysis 
of any significant economic impact a regulation may have on a 
substantial number of small entities (primarily those under $100 
million in assets).\9\ This proposed rule only affects corporates, all 
of which have more than $100 million in assets. Accordingly, NCUA 
certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small credit unions.
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    \9\ 5 U.S.C. 603(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in 
which an agency by rule creates a new paperwork burden or increases an 
existing burden.\10\ For purposes of the PRA, a paperwork burden may 
take the form of a reporting or recordkeeping requirement, both 
referred to as information collections. The proposed rule does not 
contain information collection requirements that require approval by 
OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 encourages independent regulatory agencies to 
consider the impact of their actions on state and local interests. 
NCUA, an independent regulatory agency as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5), 
voluntarily complies with the executive order to adhere to fundamental 
federalism principles. The proposed rule does not have substantial 
direct effects on the states, on the relationship between the national 
government and the states, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. NCUA has, 
therefore, determined that this proposal does not constitute a policy 
that has federalism implications for purposes of the executive order.

4. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    NCUA has determined that this proposed rule will not affect family 
well-being within the meaning of Sec.  654 of the Treasury and General 
Government Appropriations Act, 1999, Public Law 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 
(1998).

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 704

    Credit unions, Corporate credit unions, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on June 23, 
2017.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.

    For the reasons discussed above, the National Credit Union 
Administration Board proposes to amend 12 CFR part 704 as follows:

PART 704--CORPORATE CREDIT UNIONS

0
1. The authority citation for Part 704 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1766(a), 1781, 1789.

0
2. Amend Sec.  704.2 by:
0
a. Revising the definition of ``Retained earnings'';
0
b. Adding a definition of ``Retained Earnings Ratio''; and
0
c. Revising the definition of ``Tier 1 capital'' to read as follows:


Sec.  704.2  Definitions

* * * * *
    Retained earnings means undivided earnings, regular reserve, 
reserve for contingencies, supplemental reserves, reserve for losses, 
GAAP equity acquired in a merger, and other appropriations from 
undivided earnings as designated by management or NCUA.
    Retained earnings ratio means the corporate credit union's retained 
earnings divided by its moving daily average net assets.
* * * * *
    Tier 1 capital means the sum of items (1) through (2) of this 
definition from which items (3) through (6) are deducted:
    (1) Retained earnings;
    (2) Perpetual contributed capital;
    (3) Deduct the amount of the corporate credit union's intangible 
assets that exceed one half percent of its moving daily average net 
assets (however, NCUA may direct the corporate credit union to add back 
some of these assets on NCUA's own initiative, or NCUA's approval of 
petition from the applicable state regulator or application from the 
corporate credit union);
    (4) Deduct investments, both equity and debt, in unconsolidated 
CUSOs;
    (5) Deduct an amount equal to any PCC or NCA that the corporate 
credit union maintains at another corporate credit union;
    (6) Deduct any amount of PCC received from federally insured credit 
unions that causes PCC minus retained earnings, all divided by moving 
daily average net assets, to exceed two percent when a corporate credit 
union's retained earnings ratio is less than two and a half percent.
* * * * *
0
3. Amend by revising paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of Part I of Appendix 
B to Part 704 to read as follows:

Appendix B to Part 704--Expanded Authorities and Requirements

* * * * *
    (b)(1) * * *
    (2) 28 percent if the corporate credit union has a seven percent 
minimum leverage ratio and a two and a half percent retained 
earnings ratio, and is specifically approved by NCUA; or
    (3) 35 percent if the corporate credit union has an eight 
percent minimum leverage ratio and a three percent retained earnings 
ratio and is specifically approved by NCUA.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017-13642 Filed 6-30-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-P



                                                  30774

                                                  Proposed Rules                                                                                                 Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                 Vol. 82, No. 126

                                                                                                                                                                 Monday, July 3, 2017



                                                  This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             limits, limited asset maturities, and
                                                  contains notices to the public of the proposed                                                                 prohibited investments in subordinated
                                                  issuance of rules and regulations. The                  I. Background
                                                                                                                                                                 and private label mortgage-backed
                                                  purpose of these notices is to give interested             The financial crisis of 2007–2009 took              securities. Most relevant to this
                                                  persons an opportunity to participate in the            a heavy toll on the corporate credit                   proposal, the 2010 rule also
                                                  rule making prior to the adoption of the final          union system. The crisis, largely                      implemented a prompt corrective action
                                                  rules.                                                  mortgage related, greatly affected the                 (PCA) regime stipulating capital
                                                                                                          investment portfolios of many                          adequacy for corporates. Largely based
                                                                                                          corporates causing widespread liquidity                on the Basel I requirements, the capital
                                                  NATIONAL CREDIT UNION
                                                                                                          problems, instability in the system, and               requirements of the 2010 rule
                                                  ADMINISTRATION
                                                                                                          failures. During this time period, NCUA                emphasized the importance of
                                                  12 CFR Part 704                                         took extraordinary short and mid-term                  corporates holding tangible and durable
                                                                                                          measures to stabilize the corporate                    capital.
                                                  RIN 3133–AE75                                           system. Among other things, it: (1) Made                  It has been nearly seven years since
                                                                                                          capital injections; (2) approved the                   the Board issued the 2010 rule. In that
                                                  Corporate Credit Unions
                                                                                                          Temporary Corporate Credit Union                       time, NCUA’s efforts have had the
                                                  AGENCY:  National Credit Union                          Share Guarantee Program, which                         intended effect of stabilizing the
                                                  Administration (NCUA).                                  guaranteed uninsured shares at                         corporate system and improving the
                                                  ACTION: Proposed rule.                                  participating corporates; (3) engaged the              corporates’ ability to function and
                                                                                                          services of an independent, highly                     provide needed services to natural
                                                  SUMMARY:    The NCUA Board (Board)                      qualified third party to conduct a                     person credit unions. Additionally, the
                                                  proposes to amend its regulations                       comprehensive analysis of expected                     overall economy has improved greatly,
                                                  governing corporate credit unions                       non-recoverable credit losses for                      thereby improving the economic
                                                  (corporates) and the scope of their                     distressed securities held by corporates;              landscape in which corporates operate.
                                                  activities. Specifically, the proposed                  (4) conserved five corporates; 1 and (5)               Further, the large concentration of
                                                  amendments revise provisions on                         created the NCUA Guaranteed Note                       troubled assets within the corporate
                                                  retained earnings and Tier 1 capital.                   Program.2                                              system has been reduced through
                                                  DATES: Comments must be received on                        To provide longer term structural                   portfolio repositioning or NCUA
                                                  or before September 1, 2017.                            enhancements to the corporate system,                  intervention. The corporate system has
                                                  ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                      the Board comprehensively revised part                 significantly contracted and
                                                  by any of the following methods, but                    704, the regulations governing                         consolidated, with assets declining from
                                                  please send comments by one method                      corporates and their activities, in 2010.3             approximately $81.7 billion prior to the
                                                  only:                                                   The 2010 rule’s primary purpose was to                 2010 rule to approximately $24.9 billion
                                                    • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://                 establish a regulatory framework that                  today. In that same time period, the
                                                  www.regulations.gov. Follow the                         provides a foundation for a healthy                    number of corporates has declined from
                                                  instructions for submitting comments.                   corporate system that: (1) Delivers                    26 to 11. Given all of these positive
                                                    • NCUA Web site: http://                              important services to the corporates’                  developments, the Board believes
                                                  www.ncua.gov/RegulationsOpinions                        natural person credit union members,                   conditions are such that it is now safe
                                                  Laws/proposed_regs/                                     such as payment systems and liquidity;                 and appropriate to revisit the capital
                                                  proposed_regs.html. Follow the                          and (2) builds and attracts sufficient                 standards of the 2010 rule. As discussed
                                                  instructions for submitting comments.                   capital.4 The 2010 rule also helped to                 in more detail below, the proposed
                                                    • Email: Address to regcomments@                      prevent the recurrence of the kind of                  amendments to the corporate rule
                                                  ncua.gov. Include ‘‘[Your name]—                        financial losses that led to the failure of            primarily affect the calculation of
                                                  Comments on Proposed Rule—                              the referenced five corporates and                     capital after corporates consolidate and
                                                  Corporate Credit Unions’’ in the email                  weakened the financial condition of                    set a retained earnings ratio target in
                                                  subject line.                                           several others.                                        meeting PCA standards.
                                                    • Fax: (703) 518–6319. Use the                           The 2010 rule curtailed several of the
                                                  subject line described above for email.                 practices that led to the referenced                   II. Proposed Amendments
                                                    • Mail: Address to Gerard Poliquin,                   corporate failures. Specifically, it
                                                  Secretary of the Board, National Credit                                                                        Corporate Consolidations and Capital
                                                                                                          established investment concentration
                                                  Union Administration, 1775 Duke                                                                                  In 2015, the Board made further
                                                  Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314–                        1 The five were U.S. Central, Western Corporate,    refinements to part 704. Specifically, the
                                                  3428.                                                   Members United Corporate, Southwest Corporate,         Board amended the definition of ‘‘Tier
                                                    • Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as                      and Constitution Corporate.                            1 capital’’ to include as a component of
                                                                                                             2 As part of the corporate system resolution,
                                                  mail address.                                                                                                  that term, the retained earnings acquired
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                          NCUA created the NCUA Guaranteed Note Program
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        to provide long-term funding for distressed
                                                                                                                                                                 through a merger. Given that retained
                                                  Yvonne Applonie, Director of                            investment securities (Legacy Assets) from the five    earnings acquired through a merger are
                                                  Supervision, Office of National                         failed corporate credit unions. Legacy Assets          currently not recorded on the
                                                  Examinations and Supervision, at the                    consisted of over 2,000 investment securities,         continuing corporate’s financial
                                                                                                          secured by approximately 1.6 million residential
                                                  above address or telephone (703) 518–                   mortgages, as well as commercial mortgages and
                                                                                                                                                                 statements, the amount must be
                                                  6595; or Marvin Shaw, Staff Attorney,                   other securitized assets.                              recorded outside of the financial
                                                  Office of General Counsel, at the above                    3 12 CFR part 704; 75 FR 64786 (Oct. 20, 2010).     statements. This approach does not
                                                  address or telephone (703) 518–6553.                       4 75 FR 64787, 64787 (Oct. 20, 2010).               follow Generally Accepted Accounting


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:50 Jun 30, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00001   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\03JYP1.SGM   03JYP1


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 126 / Monday, July 3, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                 30775

                                                  Principles (GAAP), thus inhibiting                      consists of retained earnings and                         earnings by 200 basis points. Effective
                                                  transparency of capital adequacy. The                   perpetual contributed capital (PCC).6                     October 2020, corporates must deduct
                                                  Board believes a corporate will be more                 Capital included in the leverage ratio                    the amount of PCC exceeding retained
                                                  transparent presenting its capital                      incorporated the provisions of Tier 1                     earnings.
                                                  adequacy by adopting conventions more                   capital as defined by the bank regulatory                    The 2010 revisions to part 704 have
                                                  closely aligned with its published                      agencies, with a notable exception. The                   resulted in the intended effect.
                                                  financial statements. Accordingly, with                 Board recognizes that while corporates                    Specifically, all corporates have
                                                  respect to the definition of ‘‘retained                 had been permitted to secure                              accumulated sufficient retained
                                                  earnings,’’ the Board proposes to                       contributed capital from any source,                      earnings to meet or exceed the adequate
                                                  incorporate ‘‘GAAP equity acquired in a                 history has shown that nearly all                         capitalization threshold under PCA
                                                  merger’’ as a component of retained                     contributed capital has been invested by                  through the October 2016 phase-in
                                                  earnings. This amendment to the                         federally insured natural person credit                   adjustment.
                                                  definition of ‘‘retained earnings’’ will, in            unions. As such, depletions of corporate                     While the result has been positive, the
                                                  turn, affect the definition of ‘‘Tier 1                 capital can lead to corresponding                         Board recognizes that the language in
                                                  capital,’’ which includes retained                      investment impairments and capital                        the current rule is indirect and may
                                                  earnings as one of the components of                    erosion at the natural person credit                      disadvantage corporates working with
                                                  Tier 1 capital.                                         unions. This can lead to greater                          third parties. The limitation on PCC for
                                                     More specifically, the current                       exposure of loss to the National Credit                   regulatory capital purposes does not
                                                  definition of ‘‘retained earnings’’                     Union Share Insurance Fund. The 2010                      recognize the full value of PCC that
                                                  includes undivided earnings, regular                    rule encouraged corporates to build                       stands to absorb losses and protect
                                                  reserve, reserve for contingencies,                     sufficient retained earnings to absorb                    counterparties. Further, the construct to
                                                  supplemental reserves, reserve for                      losses without causing a corresponding                    reduce the inclusion of PCC as capital
                                                  losses, and other appropriations from                   loss to another party, such as a natural                  provides for inconsistent treatment
                                                  undivided earnings as designated by                     person credit union that purchased                        compared to capital regulations
                                                  management or NCUA. Including                           contributed capital from that corporate                   governing other types of financial
                                                  ‘‘GAAP equity acquired in a merger’’ to                 (i.e., perpetual and non-perpetual                        institutions, such as banks, and could
                                                  that list gives recognition to standard                 capital as defined in the rule).                          promote confusion. Accordingly, the
                                                  accounting conventions for purposes of                     The incentive to build retained                        Board proposes to remove the
                                                  consolidating records between merged                    earnings was created by limiting the                      requirement effective October 2020 to
                                                  entities. As a practical matter, the Board              amount of contributed capital permitted                   limit PCC counted as Tier 1 capital to
                                                  has treated equity acquired in a merger                 to be included in calculating the                         the amount of retained earnings.
                                                  as retained earnings, but did so in the                 corporate’s leverage ratio.7 The                          Further, the Board proposes to permit a
                                                  context of defining contributed capital’s               limitation on PCC was phased-in over a                    corporate to include in its Tier 1 capital
                                                  ability to cover losses. The Board                      period of ten years recognizing the                       all PCC that is sourced from an entity
                                                  believes that expressly including such                  erosion of corporate capital during the                   not covered by federal share insurance.
                                                  equity acquired in a merger as retained                 financial crisis and reasonable                              However, recognizing that retained
                                                  earnings and referencing GAAP will                      expectations for future corporate                         earnings is critical to the health of the
                                                  clarify that this capital is available to               profitability.8 Until October 2016, all                   corporate system and the share
                                                  cover losses, enhance transparency, and                 PCC was included in the leverage ratio.                   insurance fund, the Board proposes to
                                                  reduce ambiguity.                                       Effective October 2016, part 704                          add a provision to part 704 requiring all
                                                     Further, the Board proposes to delete                requires corporates to deduct the                         corporates to achieve an eventual
                                                  the phrase ‘‘the retained earnings of any               amount of PCC exceeding retained                          retained earnings ratio of 250 basis
                                                  acquired credit union, or an integrated                                                                           points. To that end, the Board proposes
                                                  set of activities and assets, calculated at             before October 21, 2013, the leverage ratio was           to add a definition of ‘‘retained earnings
                                                  the point of acquisition, if the                        defined as the ratio of total capital to moving daily     ratio’’ to mean ‘‘the corporate credit
                                                                                                          average net assets. This ratio was called the             union’s retained earnings divided by its
                                                  acquisition is a mutual combination’’                   ‘‘interim’’ leverage ratio. After October 21, 2013, the
                                                  from the current definition of ‘‘Tier 1                 leverage ratio was redefined as the ratio of adjusted     moving daily average net assets.’’ Upon
                                                  capital.’’ This provision becomes                       core capital to moving daily average net assets. This     attaining this benchmark, a corporate
                                                                                                          was called the permanent leverage ratio. In May 6,        would be permitted to include all PCC,
                                                  redundant as a result of the expanded                   2015 the NCUA Board approved changes to the
                                                  definition of retained earnings which                   regulation that sought to simplify and clarify the
                                                                                                                                                                    regardless of source, in its Tier 1 capital.
                                                  will include GAAP equity acquired in a                  capital definitions in the regulations now that the       The PCA thresholds will remain at their
                                                  merger.                                                 major phase-in dates had passed. The definitions of       current limits. Until such time as a
                                                                                                          core capital and adjusted core capital were               corporate achieves a 250 basis points
                                                  Retained Earnings Ratio                                 combined into one definition called Tier 1 capital.
                                                                                                          The leverage ratio and other related capital ratio
                                                                                                                                                                    retained earnings ratio, it must deduct
                                                     In addition to the Board’s proposed                  definitions were similarly amended to reflect the         the amount of PCC exceeding retained
                                                  amendments to the definitions of                        change to Tier 1 Capital.                                 earnings by 200 basis points as an
                                                  ‘‘retained earnings’’ and ‘‘Tier 1 capital’’               6 Perpetual Contributed Capital means accounts
                                                                                                                                                                    inducement to build retained earnings.
                                                                                                          or other interests of a corporate credit union that          The Board believes this proposal will
                                                  as discussed above, the Board also                      are perpetual, non-cumulative dividend accounts;
                                                  proposes to add a definition of ‘‘retained              are available to cover losses that exceed retained        promote clarity as to the minimum
                                                  earnings ratio’’ to part 704.                           earnings, are not insured by the National Credit          amount of retained earnings to be held
                                                     The 2010 rule’s PCA provisions                       Union Share Insurance Fund or other share or              by a corporate to account for potential
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                                                                                                          deposit insurers; and cannot be pledged against           losses. In setting this minimum
                                                  require corporates to meet a leverage                   borrowings. In the event the corporate is liquidated,
                                                  ratio.5 The leverage ratio primarily                    any claims made by the holders of the perpetual           standard, the Board balances it with the
                                                                                                          contributed capital will be subordinate to all other      risk mitigating provisions of current part
                                                    5 The leverage ratio is currently defined as Tier     claims (including National Credit Union Share             704 including investment concentration
                                                  1 Capital divided by moving daily average net           Insurance Fund claims).
                                                                                                             7 12 CFR 704.2
                                                                                                                                                                    limits, NEV volatility limits, asset
                                                  assets. The leverage ratio and capital definitions
                                                  were revised as part of the 2010 rule, which               8 As financial intermediaries, the net margins for
                                                                                                                                                                    maturity limits, and investment
                                                  contained a series of phased in definitions over a      corporates have been low with a historical average        prohibitions. As such, the Board is not
                                                  three-year period. Beginning October 21, 2011 and       net return on assets ratio of approximately 23 bps.       contemplating amending other


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                                                  30776                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 126 / Monday, July 3, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  corporate risk taking authorities in part                complies with the executive order to                   which items (3) through (6) are
                                                  704.                                                     adhere to fundamental federalism                       deducted:
                                                                                                           principles. The proposed rule does not                   (1) Retained earnings;
                                                  Appendix B to Part 704—Expanded                                                                                   (2) Perpetual contributed capital;
                                                                                                           have substantial direct effects on the
                                                  Authorities and Requirements                                                                                      (3) Deduct the amount of the
                                                                                                           states, on the relationship between the
                                                     Appendix B to part 704 enumerates                     national government and the states, or                 corporate credit union’s intangible
                                                  the expanded authorities available to                    on the distribution of power and                       assets that exceed one half percent of its
                                                  corporates and the procedures that a                     responsibilities among the various                     moving daily average net assets
                                                  corporate must follow to be granted                      levels of government. NCUA has,                        (however, NCUA may direct the
                                                  such authorities. The Part I expanded                    therefore, determined that this proposal               corporate credit union to add back some
                                                  investment authority allows a corporate                  does not constitute a policy that has                  of these assets on NCUA’s own
                                                  to take on additional risk in certain                    federalism implications for purposes of                initiative, or NCUA’s approval of
                                                  investment products. As part of this                     the executive order.                                   petition from the applicable state
                                                  authority, a corporate’s NEV ratios may                                                                         regulator or application from the
                                                  decline to specified amounts when                        4. Assessment of Federal Regulations                   corporate credit union);
                                                  meeting certain leverage ratios.                         and Policies on Families                                 (4) Deduct investments, both equity
                                                     The Board proposes to add a                             NCUA has determined that this                        and debt, in unconsolidated CUSOs;
                                                  ‘‘retained earnings ratio’’ requirement to               proposed rule will not affect family                     (5) Deduct an amount equal to any
                                                  the Part I expanded investment                           well-being within the meaning of § 654                 PCC or NCA that the corporate credit
                                                  authorities. The Board believes that by                  of the Treasury and General                            union maintains at another corporate
                                                  doing so the retained earnings ratio                     Government Appropriations Act, 1999,                   credit union;
                                                  requirement will limit the risk of the                   Public Law 105–277, 112 Stat. 2681                       (6) Deduct any amount of PCC
                                                  expanded investment portfolios.                          (1998).                                                received from federally insured credit
                                                  Specifically, the Board proposes to                                                                             unions that causes PCC minus retained
                                                  employ an indexed retained earnings                      List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 704                    earnings, all divided by moving daily
                                                  requirement, which will correlate with                     Credit unions, Corporate credit                      average net assets, to exceed two
                                                  the actual level of risk taking.                         unions, Reporting and recordkeeping                    percent when a corporate credit union’s
                                                  III. Regulatory Procedures                               requirements.                                          retained earnings ratio is less than two
                                                                                                                                                                  and a half percent.
                                                  1. Regulatory Flexibility Act                              By the National Credit Union
                                                                                                           Administration Board on June 23, 2017.                 *     *      *    *     *
                                                     The Regulatory Flexibility Act                                                                               ■ 3. Amend by revising paragraphs
                                                                                                           Gerard Poliquin,
                                                  requires NCUA to prepare an analysis of                                                                         (b)(2) and (b)(3) of Part I of Appendix B
                                                                                                           Secretary of the Board.
                                                  any significant economic impact a                                                                               to Part 704 to read as follows:
                                                  regulation may have on a substantial                       For the reasons discussed above, the
                                                                                                           National Credit Union Administration                   Appendix B to Part 704—Expanded
                                                  number of small entities (primarily
                                                                                                           Board proposes to amend 12 CFR part                    Authorities and Requirements
                                                  those under $100 million in assets).9
                                                  This proposed rule only affects                          704 as follows:                                        *       *    *     *      *
                                                  corporates, all of which have more than                                                                           (b)(1) * * *
                                                  $100 million in assets. Accordingly,                     PART 704—CORPORATE CREDIT                                (2) 28 percent if the corporate credit union
                                                  NCUA certifies the rule will not have a                  UNIONS                                                 has a seven percent minimum leverage ratio
                                                                                                                                                                  and a two and a half percent retained
                                                  significant economic impact on a                                                                                earnings ratio, and is specifically approved
                                                                                                           ■ 1. The authority citation for Part 704
                                                  substantial number of small credit                                                                              by NCUA; or
                                                                                                           continues to read as follows:
                                                  unions.                                                                                                           (3) 35 percent if the corporate credit union
                                                                                                               Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1766(a), 1781, 1789.          has an eight percent minimum leverage ratio
                                                  2. Paperwork Reduction Act
                                                                                                           ■ 2. Amend § 704.2 by:                                 and a three percent retained earnings ratio
                                                     The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                                                                          and is specifically approved by NCUA.
                                                                                                           ■ a. Revising the definition of ‘‘Retained
                                                  (PRA) applies to rulemakings in which                                                                           *       *    *     *      *
                                                                                                           earnings’’;
                                                  an agency by rule creates a new                                                                                 [FR Doc. 2017–13642 Filed 6–30–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                           ■ b. Adding a definition of ‘‘Retained
                                                  paperwork burden or increases an
                                                                                                           Earnings Ratio’’; and                                  BILLING CODE 7535–01–P
                                                  existing burden.10 For purposes of the
                                                                                                           ■ c. Revising the definition of ‘‘Tier 1
                                                  PRA, a paperwork burden may take the
                                                  form of a reporting or recordkeeping                     capital’’ to read as follows:
                                                                                                                                                                  FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD
                                                  requirement, both referred to as                         § 704.2    Definitions
                                                  information collections. The proposed                    *     *     *     *     *                              12 CFR Parts 930 and 932
                                                  rule does not contain information                          Retained earnings means undivided
                                                  collection requirements that require                     earnings, regular reserve, reserve for                 FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE
                                                  approval by OMB under the Paperwork                      contingencies, supplemental reserves,                  AGENCY
                                                  Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501).                          reserve for losses, GAAP equity
                                                  3. Executive Order 13132                                 acquired in a merger, and other                        12 CFR Part 1277
                                                     Executive Order 13132 encourages                      appropriations from undivided earnings                 RIN 2590–AA70
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                                                  independent regulatory agencies to                       as designated by management or NCUA.
                                                  consider the impact of their actions on                    Retained earnings ratio means the                    Federal Home Loan Bank Capital
                                                  state and local interests. NCUA, an                      corporate credit union’s retained                      Requirements
                                                  independent regulatory agency as                         earnings divided by its moving daily
                                                                                                           average net assets.                                    AGENCY:  Federal Housing Finance
                                                  defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5), voluntarily                                                                       Board; Federal Housing Finance
                                                                                                           *     *     *     *     *                              Agency.
                                                    95   U.S.C. 603(a).                                      Tier 1 capital means the sum of items
                                                                                                                                                                  ACTION: Proposed rule.
                                                    10 44  U.S.C. 3507(d); 5 CFR part 1320.                (1) through (2) of this definition from


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Document Created: 2018-11-14 10:19:58
Document Modified: 2018-11-14 10:19:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule.
DatesComments must be received on or before September 1, 2017.
ContactYvonne Applonie, Director of Supervision, Office of National Examinations and Supervision, at the
FR Citation82 FR 30774 
RIN Number3133-AE75
CFR AssociatedCredit Unions; Corporate Credit Unions and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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