82_FR_44091 82 FR 43910 - Community Reinvestment Act Regulations

82 FR 43910 - Community Reinvestment Act Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 181 (September 20, 2017)

Page Range43910-43920
FR Document2017-19765

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (collectively, the Agencies) propose to amend their regulations implementing the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to update the existing definitions of ``home mortgage loan'' and ``consumer loan,'' related cross references, and the public file content requirements to conform recent revisions made by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) to Regulation C, which implements the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), and to remove obsolete references to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 181 (Wednesday, September 20, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 20, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43910-43920]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-19765]


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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. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 43910]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Parts 25 and 195

[Docket ID OCC-2017-0008]
RIN 1557-AE15

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 228

[Docket No. R-1574]
RIN 7100-AE84

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Part 345

RIN 3064-AE58


Community Reinvestment Act Regulations

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury; Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation.

ACTION: Joint notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Board 
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), and the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) (collectively, the Agencies) 
propose to amend their regulations implementing the Community 
Reinvestment Act (CRA) to update the existing definitions of ``home 
mortgage loan'' and ``consumer loan,'' related cross references, and 
the public file content requirements to conform recent revisions made 
by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) to Regulation C, 
which implements the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), and to remove 
obsolete references to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 20, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to:
    OCC: Because paper mail in the Washington, DC area and at the OCC 
is subject to delay, commenters are encouraged to submit comments 
through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or email, if possible. Please 
use the title ``Community Reinvestment Act Regulations'' to facilitate 
the organization and distribution of the comments. You may submit 
comments by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal--``Regulations.gov'': Go to 
www.regulations.gov. Enter ``Docket ID OCC-2017-0008'' in the Search 
box and click ``Search.'' Click on ``Comment Now'' to submit public 
comments.
     Click on the ``Help'' tab on the Regulations.gov home page 
to get information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
submitting public comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW., Suite 
3E-218, Washington, DC 20219.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th Street SW., Suite 3E-218, 
Mail Stop 9W-11, Washington, DC 20219.
     Fax: (571) 465-4326.
    Instructions: You must include ``OCC'' as the agency name and 
``Docket ID OCC-2017-0008'' in your comment. In general, OCC will enter 
all comments received into the docket and publish them on the 
Regulations.gov Web site without change, including any business or 
personal information that you provide such as name and address 
information, email addresses, or phone numbers. Comments received, 
including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the 
public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not include any 
information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider 
confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.
    You may review comments and other related materials that pertain to 
this rulemaking action by any of the following methods:
     Viewing Comments Electronically: Go to 
www.regulations.gov. Enter ``Docket ID OCC-2017-0008'' in the Search 
box and click ``Search.'' Click on ``Open Docket Folder'' on the right 
side of the screen. Comments and supporting materials can be viewed and 
filtered by clicking on ``View all documents and comments in this 
docket'' and then using the filtering tools on the left side of the 
screen.
     Click on the ``Help'' tab on the Regulations.gov home page 
to get information on using Regulations.gov. The docket may be viewed 
after the close of the comment period in the same manner as during the 
comment period.
     Viewing Comments Personally: You may personally inspect 
and photocopy comments at the OCC, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 
20219. For security reasons, the OCC requires that visitors make an 
appointment to inspect comments. You may do so by calling (202) 649-
6700 or, for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, TTY, (202) 649-
5597. Upon arrival, visitors will be required to present valid 
government-issued photo identification and submit to security screening 
in order to inspect and photocopy comments.
    Board: When submitting comments, please consider submitting your 
comments by email or fax because paper mail in the Washington, DC area 
and at the Board may be subject to delay. You may submit comments, 
identified by Docket No. R-XXXX and RIN XXXX-XXXX, by any of the 
following methods:
     Agency Web site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include docket 
and RIN numbers in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 452-3819 or (202) 452-3102.
     Mail: Ann E. Misback, Secretary, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20551.
    Instructions: All public comments will be made available on the 
Board's Web site at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, unless modified for technical reasons. 
Accordingly, your comments will not be edited to remove any identifying 
or contact information. Public comments

[[Page 43911]]

may also be viewed electronically or in paper form in Room 3515, 1801 K 
Street NW. (between 18th and 19th Streets, NW.), Washington, DC 20006 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. For security reasons, the 
Board requires that visitors make an appointment to inspect comments. 
You may do so by calling (202) 452-3684. Upon arrival, visitors will be 
required to present valid government-issued photo identification and to 
submit to security screening in order to inspect and photocopy 
comments.
    FDIC: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 3064-AE62, by any 
of the following methods:
     Agency Web site: http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/propose.html. Follow instructions for submitting comments on 
the Agency Web site.
     Email: [email protected]. Include the RIN 3064-AE62 on the 
subject line of the message.
     Mail: Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary, Attention: 
Comments, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20429.
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand delivered to the guard 
station at the rear of the 550 17th Street Building (located on F 
Street) on business days between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
    Instructions: All comments received must include the agency name 
and RIN 3064-AE62 for this rulemaking. All comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/propose.html, 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, Arlington, VA 22226 by 
telephone at (877) 275-3342 or (703) 562-2200.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    OCC: Emily R. Boyes, Attorney, Community and Consumer Law Division, 
(202) 649-6350; Allison Hester-Haddad, Counsel, Legislative and 
Regulatory Activities Division, (202) 649-5490; for persons who are 
deaf or hard of hearing, TTY, (202) 649-5597; or Vonda J. Eanes, 
Director for CRA and Fair Lending Policy, Compliance Risk Policy 
Division, (202) 649-6907, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 
400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.
    Board: Amal S. Patel, Senior Supervisory Consumer Financial 
Services Analyst, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, (202) 
912-7879; Cathy Gates, Senior Project Manager, Division of Consumer and 
Community Affairs, (202) 452-2099, Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20551.
    FDIC: Patience R. Singleton, Senior Policy Analyst, Supervisory 
Policy Branch, Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection, (202) 
898-6859; Sharon B. Vejvoda, Senior Examination Specialist, Examination 
Branch, Division of Depositor and Consumer Protection, (202) 898-3881; 
Richard M. Schwartz, Counsel, Legal Division (202) 898-7424; or Sherry 
Ann Betancourt, Counsel, Legal Division (202) 898-6560, Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20429.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Board, the FDIC, and the OCC implement the CRA (12 U.S.C. 2901 
et seq.) through their CRA regulations. See 12 CFR parts 25, 195, 228, 
and 345. The CRA is designed to encourage regulated financial 
institutions to help meet the credit needs of the local communities in 
which an institution is chartered. The CRA regulations establish the 
framework and criteria by which the Agencies assess a financial 
institution's record of helping to meet the credit needs of its 
community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent 
with safe and sound operations. Under the CRA regulations, the Agencies 
apply different evaluation standards for financial institutions of 
different asset sizes and types.
    The Agencies also publish the Interagency Questions and Answers 
Regarding Community Reinvestment (Questions and Answers) \1\ to provide 
guidance on the interpretation and application of the CRA regulations 
to agency personnel, financial institutions, and the public.
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    \1\ ``Questions and Answers'' refers to the ``Interagency 
Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment'' in its 
entirety; ``Q&A'' refers to an individual question and answer within 
the Questions and Answers.
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Introduction

    The Agencies jointly propose to amend their regulations 
implementing the CRA (12 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.). This proposed rulemaking 
amends the current definitions of ``home mortgage loan'' and ``consumer 
loan'' and the public file content requirements to conform to recent 
revisions made by the Bureau to its Regulation C, which implements 
HMDA, makes technical amendments to remove unnecessary cross references 
as a result of the amended definitions, and removes an obsolete 
reference to the NSP.

Amendments To Conform the CRA Regulations to Recent Revisions to the 
Bureau's Regulation C

Conforming Changes to the ``Home Mortgage Loan'' Definition

    The CRA regulations specify the type of lending and other 
activities that the Agencies evaluate to assess a financial 
institution's CRA performance. In 1995, the Agencies substantively 
amended their CRA regulations to clarify the methods that examiners use 
to assess financial institutions' CRA performance (1995 CRA Rule).\2\ 
These amended regulations added the definition of ``home mortgage 
loan,'' to describe a category of loans that examiners evaluate when 
assessing a financial institution's performance under the retail 
lending test. As part of efforts to produce a less-burdensome CRA 
assessment process, the Agencies relied on the scope of loans reported 
under the Board's Regulation C, which implemented HMDA at the time, to 
define ``home mortgage loan.'' (12 CFR part 203 (1995)).\3\ The Board's 
Regulation C required a HMDA reporter to report data to its supervisory 
agency on originations, purchases, and applications for loans that were 
made for one of two purposes: Home purchase or home improvement. (See 
12 CFR 203.1(c) (1995)). As a result, the 1995 CRA Rule defined ``home 
mortgage loan'' to mean ``home purchase loan'' or ``home improvement 
loan,'' as those terms were defined in the Board's Regulation C in 12 
CFR 203.2.
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    \2\ 60 FR 22156 (May 4, 1995). The CRA regulations were also 
issued by the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). In 2010, the OTS 
was integrated with the OCC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street 
Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) (15 U.S.C. 
5413), and the regulation of thrifts was transferred to the OCC, the 
Board, and the FDIC (15 U.S.C. 5412).
    \3\ The Agencies originally proposed that the definition of 
``home mortgage loan'' include all mortgage loans reportable under 
both the HMDA statute and its implementing regulations (see 58 FR 
67466, at 67473, Dec. 21, 1993). However, some commenters noted that 
the Board had already refined the definition of home mortgage loan 
in its HMDA regulations (12 CFR part 203). These commenters 
indicated it would be preferable and, perhaps, less confusing if the 
Agencies only referred to the Board's HMDA regulations, rather than 
both the HMDA statute and the regulation. As a result of these 
comments, the Agencies amended the proposed definition in the 1995 
CRA Rule and defined ``home mortgage loan'' as a ``home improvement 
loan'' or a ``home purchase loan,'' as those terms were defined in 
12 CFR 203.2 of the Board's Regulation C.
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    On February 15, 2002, the Board made substantial revisions to its 
Regulation C (2002 HMDA Rule), including, among other things, changing 
the scope of loans reported under Regulation C to include all 
refinancings,

[[Page 43912]]

regardless of purpose.\4\ Prior to this amendment, lenders were able to 
select from among four scenarios to decide which refinancings to 
report. The 2002 HMDA Rule revised Regulation C to define and include 
``refinancings'' in the scope of loans that were reportable under HMDA 
and Regulation C. 12 CFR 203.1(c) (2004). As a result of this change, 
any closed-end home purchase or refinancing was reported if it was 
dwelling-secured and home improvement loans were reported whether or 
not they were dwelling-secured. To keep the CRA regulations aligned 
with the scope of loans reportable under HMDA and Regulation C, on 
March 28, 2005, the Agencies issued a final rule to change the 
definition of ``home mortgage loan'' in their CRA regulations to mean 
not only a ``home improvement loan'' or a ``home purchase loan,'' but 
also a ``refinancing'' as that term was defined in 12 CFR 203.2 of the 
Board's Regulation C.\5\
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    \4\ 67 FR 7222 (Feb. 15, 2002). The 2002 HMDA Rule revisions 
became effective on January 1, 2004.
    \5\ 70 FR 15570 (Mar. 28, 2005).
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    On July 21, 2011, rulemaking authority for HMDA transferred from 
the Board to the Bureau pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform 
and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act).\6\ On October 15, 2015, 
the Bureau issued a final rule substantially revising Regulation C (12 
CFR 1003), in part, to implement amendments to HMDA required by section 
1094 of the Dodd-Frank Act (2015 HMDA Rule).\7\ The 2015 HMDA Rule, 
which in relevant part has a January 1, 2018, effective date, revises 
the scope of transactions reportable under Regulation C.\8\ In some 
cases, the revised scope of loans reportable under HMDA is broader, and 
in other cases, it is more limited.\9\ For consumer-purpose 
transactions, the 2015 HMDA Rule changes the traditional purpose-based 
reporting approach \10\ to a dwelling-secured standard for all closed-
end loans and open-end lines of credit that are for personal, family, 
or household purposes (i.e., consumer purpose).\11\ As a result, most 
consumer-purpose transactions, including closed-end mortgage loans, 
closed-end home equity loans, home-equity lines of credit, and reverse 
mortgages, will be reportable under HMDA if they are secured by a 
dwelling.\12\ Home improvement loans that are not secured by a dwelling 
(i.e., home improvement loans that are unsecured or that are secured by 
some other type of collateral), however, will now be excluded from 
Regulation C coverage.\13\
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    \6\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010), codified in 
relevant part at 12 U.S.C. 5301, 5481-5603, and in laws amended 
(Title X); and 12 U.S.C. 5481 note, 15 U.S.C. 1601 note, 1602, and 
1631 et seq. (Title XIV). The Bureau's Regulation C is located at 12 
CFR part 1003.
    \7\ 80 FR 66127 (Oct. 28, 2015). On August 24, 2017, the Bureau 
issued a final rule (2017 HMDA Rule) amending the 2015 HMDA Rule. 
The 2017 HMDA Rule finalizes a proposal issued by the Bureau on 
April 25, 2017 (82 FR 19142), to address technical errors, ease the 
burden on certain reporting requirements, and clarify some key 
terms. The 2017 HMDA Rule also finalizes a proposal issued by the 
Bureau on July 14, 2017 (82 FR 33455), to temporarily increase the 
institutional and transactional coverage thresholds for open-end 
lines of credit. See http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/201708_cfpb_final-rule_home-mortgage-disclosure_regulation-c.pdf
    \8\ 80 FR at 66128.
    \9\ The 2015 HMDA Rule revises the scope of transactions as well 
as financial institutions that must collect and report HMDA data. 
Under the revised rule, a financial institution that meets all other 
requirements for financial institution coverage is required to 
report HMDA data only if it originates at least 25 closed-end 
mortgage loans or at least 100 open-end lines of credit in each of 
the two preceding calendar years. The open-end lines of credit 
threshold will increase from 100 to 500 loans on a temporary basis 
for a period of two years (calendar years 2018 and 2019) pursuant to 
the 2017 HMDA Rule. The Bureau is not making the threshold increase 
for open-end lines of credit permanent at this time. Absent further 
action by the Bureau, effective January 1, 2020, the open-end 
threshold will be restored to the 2015 HMDA Rule level of 100 open-
end lines of credit, and creditors originating between 100 and 499 
open-end lines of credit will need to begin collecting and reporting 
HMDA data for open-end lines of credit at this time. While 
depository financial institutions with more than 100 open-end lines 
of credit (500 open-end lines of credit for 2018 and 2019) will have 
to report HMDA data, fewer depository financial institutions will 
report closed-end mortgage data under HMDA when the revised rule 
becomes effective.
    \10\ Under current Regulation C, loans that are made primarily 
for personal, family or household purposes (i.e., consumer purpose) 
and that are secured by a dwelling are reportable if they are made 
for the purpose of home-purchase or refinancing. Loans that are made 
for the purpose of home improvement are reported regardless of 
whether they are secured by a dwelling. The 2015 HMDA Rule modifies 
the types of transactions that are subject to Regulation C by 
changing this traditional ``purpose-based'' reporting approach to 
generally adopting a dwelling secured standard for transactional 
coverage.
    \11\ 80 FR at 66128.
    \12\ Id.
    \13\ Id.
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    The 2015 HMDA Rule retains the traditional purpose-based reporting 
approach for all commercial-purpose transactions. Thus, if a dwelling-
secured, commercial loan has the purpose of home purchase, home 
improvement, or refinancing, the loan will be subject to Regulation 
C.\14\ Commercial-purpose loans or lines of credit that are not for 
home purchase, home improvement, or refinancing will continue to be 
excluded from the regulation's coverage under the 2015 HMDA Rule, as 
are all primarily agricultural-purpose transactions.\15\
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    \14\ Id. Under the 2015 HMDA Rule, dwelling-secured commercial-
purpose transactions will be covered only if they are for home 
purchase, home improvement, or refinancing purposes. A closed-end 
mortgage loan or an open-end line of credit to purchase or to 
improve a multifamily dwelling or a single-family investment 
property, or a refinancing of a closed-end mortgage loan or an open-
end line of credit secured by a multifamily dwelling or a single-
family investment property, would be a reportable transaction under 
the 2015 HMDA Rule. See Comment 3(c)(10)--3.i. A closed-end mortgage 
loan or an open-end line of credit whose funds will be used 
primarily to improve or expand a business, for example, to renovate 
a family restaurant that is not located in a dwelling or to purchase 
a warehouse, business equipment, or inventory, would not be a 
reportable transaction. See Comment 3(c)(10)--4.i.
    \15\ Id. Note that under current Regulation C, a loan to 
purchase property used primarily for agricultural purposes, is not a 
home purchase loan. However, under certain circumstances a refinance 
with a primarily agricultural purpose could be reported as a 
refinancing on the HMDA Loan Application Register (LAR). For 
purposes of CRA, this loan could be captured as both a 
``refinancing'' under the CRA definition of ``home mortgage loan'' 
and, because the refinancing would be for an agricultural loan, the 
loan would also be captured on the Call Report as a refinance of a 
small farm loan. Under the 2015 HMDA Rule, all loans with a 
primarily agricultural purpose, whether they are for home purchase, 
home improvement, refinancing, or another purpose, will no longer be 
reported on the HMDA LAR. As a result, for purposes of CRA, the 
likelihood of double counting primarily agricultural purpose loans 
as both a ``refinancing'' under the definition of ``home mortgage 
loan'' and a refinancing of small farm loans is decreased. The 
Agencies do not believe the proposed change in transactional 
coverage for commercial loans and loans with a primarily 
agricultural purpose will negatively impact a financial 
institution's CRA rating.
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    Effective January 1, 2018, Regulation C will require covered 
financial institutions to report applications for, and originations and 
purchases of, ``covered loans'' that are secured by a dwelling. A 
``covered loan'' is defined in 12 CFR 1003.2(e) to mean a closed-end 
mortgage loan, as defined in Sec.  1003.2(d), or an open-end line of 
credit, as defined in Sec.  1003.2(o), that is not an excluded 
transaction under 12 CFR 1003.3(c).\16\ To conform to the new

[[Page 43913]]

revisions in Regulation C, the proposed rule would revise the current 
definition of ``home mortgage loan'' in their CRA regulations, also 
effective on January 1, 2018, to mean a ``closed-end mortgage loan'' or 
an ``open-end line of credit,'' as those terms are defined under new 12 
CFR 1003.2(d) and (o), respectively, and as may be amended from time to 
time, and that is not an excluded transaction under new 12 CFR 
1003.3(c)(1)-(10) and (13), as may be amended from time to time.\17\ 
The Agencies have used the scope of HMDA reportable transactions to 
define ``home mortgage loan'' in the CRA regulations since 1995. The 
Agencies will review any amendments made to the cross-referenced 
definitions in HMDA to ensure that such cross-referenced terms continue 
to meet the statutory objectives of the CRA.
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    \16\ The 2015 HMDA Rule retains existing categories of excluded 
transactions, clarifies some categories of excluded transactions, 
and expands the existing exclusion for agricultural-purpose 
transactions. Effective January 1, 2018, the following transactions 
will not be reportable under Regulation C:
    1. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line of credit 
originated or purchased by a financial institution acting in a 
fiduciary capacity;
    2. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line of credit secured 
by a lien on unimproved land;
    3. Temporary financing;
    4. The purchase of an interest in a pool of closed-end mortgage 
loans or open-end lines of credit;
    5. The purchase solely of the right to service closed-end 
mortgage loans or open-end lines of credit;
    6. The purchase of closed-end mortgage loans or open-end lines 
of credit as part of a merger or acquisition, or as part of the 
acquisition of all of the assets and liabilities of a branch office 
as defined in 12 CFR 1003.2(c);
    7. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line of credit, or an 
application of a closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line of 
credit, for which the total dollar amount is less than $500;
    8. The purchase of a partial interest in a closed-end mortgage 
loan or open-end line of credit;
    9. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line of credit used 
primarily for agricultural purposes;
    10. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line of credit that 
is or will be made primarily for a business or commercial purpose, 
unless the closed-end mortgage loan or open-end equity line of 
credit is a home improvement loan under Sec.  1003.2(i), a home 
purchase under Sec.  1003.2(j), or a refinancing under Sec.  
1003.2(p);
    11. A closed-end mortgage loan, if the financial institution 
originated fewer than 25 closed-end mortgage loans in either of the 
two preceding calendar years; a financial institution may collect, 
record, report, and disclose information, as described in Sec. Sec.  
1003.4 and 1003.5, for such an excluded closed-end mortgage loan as 
though it were a covered loan, provided that the financial 
institution complies with such requirements for all applications for 
closed-end mortgage loans that it receives, closed-end mortgage 
loans that it originates, and closed-end mortgage loans that it 
purchases that otherwise would have been covered loans during the 
calendar year during which final action is taken on the excluded 
closed-end mortgage loan; or
    12. An open-end equity line of credit, if the financial 
institution originated fewer than 500 open-end equity lines of 
credit in either of the two preceding calendar years; a financial 
institution may collect, record, report, and disclose information, 
as described in Sec. Sec.  1003.4 and 1003.5, for such an excluded 
open-end line of credit as though it were a covered loan, provided 
that the financial institution complies with such requirements for 
all applications for open-end lines of credit that it receives, 
open-end lines of credit that it originates, and open-end lines of 
credit that it purchases that otherwise would have been covered 
loans during the calendar year during which final action is taken on 
the excluded open-end line of credit (as noted above, the increased 
threshold from 100 to 500 open-end lines of credit is temporary and 
applies only to calendar years 2018 and 2019; absent action from the 
Bureau, the threshold for reporting open-end lines of credit reverts 
to 100 effective January 1, 2020); or
    13. A transaction that provided or, in the case of an 
application, proposed to provide new funds to the applicant or 
borrower in advance of being consolidated in a New York State 
consolidation, extension, and modification agreement classified as a 
supplemental mortgage under New York Tax Law section 255; the 
transaction is excluded only if final action on the consolidation 
was taken in the same calendar year as final action on the new funds 
transaction.
    \17\ The 2017 HMDA Rule adds a new exclusion from reporting HMDA 
data for certain transactions concerning New York consolidation, 
extension, and modification agreements (also known as NY CEMAs) 
under new Sec.  1003.3(c)(13).
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    As a result of the proposed revisions to the ``home mortgage loan'' 
definition, the manner in which some loan transactions are considered 
under CRA will be affected. Effective January 1, 2018, home improvement 
loans that are not secured by a dwelling, which are currently required 
to be reported under Regulation C, will no longer be reportable 
transactions under the 2015 HMDA Rule. Therefore, also effective 
January 1, 2018, for purposes of CRA, home improvement loans that are 
not secured by a dwelling may be considered at the option of the 
financial institution. A financial institution that opts to have its 
home improvement loans considered would need to collect and maintain 
data on these loans in machine readable form under the category of 
``other secured consumer loan'' or ``other unsecured consumer loan,'' 
as appropriate. See 12 CFR __.12(j)(3) or (4). The Agencies note that, 
notwithstanding an institution's option, home improvement loans that 
are not secured by a dwelling may still be evaluated by the Agencies 
under the lending test set out under 12 CFR __.22(a)(1), in 
circumstances where the consumer lending is so significant a portion of 
an institution's lending by activity and dollar volume of loans that 
the lending test evaluation would not meaningfully reflect lending 
performance if consumer loans were excluded.\18\
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    \18\ Q&A Sec.  __.22(a)(1)--2.
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    Home equity lines of credit secured by a dwelling, which are 
currently reported at the option of the financial institution under 
Regulation C, will be covered loans under the 2015 HMDA Rule. Effective 
January 1, 2018, financial institutions that meet the reporting 
requirements under the 2015 HMDA Rule will be required to collect, 
maintain, and report data on home equity lines of credit secured by a 
dwelling. For purposes of CRA consideration, in the case of financial 
institutions that report closed-end mortgage loans and/or home equity 
lines of credit under the 2015 HMDA Rule, those loans would be 
considered as home mortgage loans under the proposed amended definition 
of ``home mortgage loan.'' The effect of the proposed change will vary 
depending upon the amount and characteristics of the financial 
institution's mortgage loan portfolio. As with all aspects of an 
institution's CRA performance evaluation, the performance context of 
the institution will affect how the Agencies will consider home equity 
lines of credit. Performance context includes a broad range of 
economic, demographic, and financial institution and community-specific 
information that the Agencies use to understand the circumstances in 
which a financial institution's record of performance should be 
evaluated. Performance context information is used by the Agencies to 
support a financial institution's level of performance and CRA 
performance rating. For financial institutions that would not be 
required to report these transactions under Regulation C, examiners may 
review the relevant files and consider these loans for CRA performance 
on a sampling basis under the home mortgage loan category.
    The Agencies request comment on their proposal to amend the 
definition of ``home mortgage loan,'' including how the amended 
definition may impact a financial institution's CRA performance.

Conforming Changes to the ``Consumer Loan'' Definition

    The CRA regulations currently define ``consumer loan'' as a loan to 
one or more individuals for household, family, or other personal 
expenditures and that is not a home mortgage, small business, or small 
farm loan under 12 CFR __.12(j). A ``home equity loan'' is one of five 
loan categories listed under the definition of ``consumer loan'' and is 
defined as a ``consumer loan secured by a residence of the borrower'' 
under 12 CFR __.12(j)(3). As noted above, the proposed CRA definition 
of ``home mortgage loan'' would refer to ``closed-end mortgage loans'' 
and ``open-end lines of credit'' as those terms are defined in 
Sec. Sec.  1003.2(d) and 1003.2(o), respectively, of Regulation C. 
Under Regulation C, a closed-end mortgage loan is defined ``as an 
extension of credit secured by a lien on a dwelling,'' and therefore, 
includes a home equity loan secured by a dwelling per 12 CFR 1003.2(d), 
effective January 1, 2018. Thus, the Agencies believe it is no longer 
necessary to separately categorize home equity loans under the CRA 
definition of ``consumer loan'' because both home equity loans and home 
equity lines of credit would be specifically included in the proposed 
revised CRA definition of ``home mortgage loan.'' Accordingly, the 
proposed rule would remove the term ``home equity loan'' from the list 
of consumer loan categories provided under the definition of ``consumer 
loan''

[[Page 43914]]

in 12 CFR __.12(j). The Agencies request comment on their proposal to 
amend the definition of ``consumer loan.''

Changes to the Content of the Public File

    The CRA regulations currently provide that financial institutions 
shall maintain a public file of certain information and specify, among 
other things, the information that should be maintained and made 
available to the public upon request under 12 CFR__.43(a)-(d). 
Currently, a financial institution that is required to report HMDA data 
under Regulation C must include a copy of the HMDA disclosure statement 
that is provided to each financial institution by the Federal Financial 
Institutions Examination Council in the institution's CRA public file 
for each of the prior two calendar years per 12 CFR __.43(b)(2). 
However, pursuant to changes to Regulation C under the 2015 HMDA Rule, 
which becomes effective January 1, 2018, financial institutions will no 
longer be required to provide this HMDA disclosure statement directly 
to the public. Instead, pursuant to Regulation C, a financial 
institution will only be required to provide a notice that clearly 
conveys to the public that they can obtain a copy of the financial 
institution's disclosure statement on the Bureau's Web site under 12 
CFR 1003.5(b). As a result, the proposed rule would amend the CRA 
public file content requirements under 12 CFR__.43(b)(2) for 
consistency and to reduce burden. Specifically, under the proposal, 
institutions that are required to report HMDA data would need to only 
maintain the notice required under Regulation C in their CRA public 
file, rather than a copy of the HMDA disclosure statement. The Agencies 
request comment on their proposal to amend the CRA public file content 
requirements.
    As explained in more detail under the Regulatory Analysis section 
of this proposal, the Agencies expect the proposed changes to the CRA 
definitions and to the content of the public file, to reflect revisions 
made to the Bureau's Regulation C, to generally have little economic 
effect and believe the proposed changes would not create additional 
regulatory burden on financial institutions.

Technical Amendments

``Home Equity'' When Used as a Category of Consumer Loans

    As indicated above, the proposed rule would remove the term ``home 
equity loan'' currently included under 12 CFR __.12(j)(3) from the 
categories of consumer loans listed in 12 CFR __.12(j). Based on the 
new proposed definition of ``consumer loan,'' any cross-references to 
home equity loans as a category of ``consumer loans'' in the CRA 
regulations would be invalid. As a result, the proposed rule would 
amend 12 CFR __.22, Lending Test, and 12 CFR _.42, Data Collection, 
Reporting, and Disclosure, to remove the term ``home equity'' each time 
it appears as a category of consumer loans.

Technical Revision to the ``Community Development Loan'' Definition

    The CRA regulations under 12 CFR __.12(h) currently define 
``community development loan'' as a loan that,

    (1) Has as its primary purpose, community development; and
    (2) Except in the case of a wholesale or limited purpose bank:
    (i) Has not been reported or collected by the bank or an 
affiliate for consideration in the bank's assessment as a home 
mortgage, small business, small farm, or consumer loan, unless it is 
a multifamily dwelling loan (as described in appendix A to part 1003 
of this title); and
    (ii) Benefits the bank's assessment area(s) or a broader 
statewide or regional area that includes the bank's assessment 
area(s).

    Effective January 1, 2019, the 2015 HMDA Rule removes appendix A 
from Regulation C. The instructions for completion of the HMDA LAR 
currently found in part 1 of that appendix A will not apply to data 
collected pursuant to the amendments to Regulation C that are effective 
January 1, 2018. The substantive requirements found in existing 
appendix A will be moved to the text and commentary of Regulation C and 
going forward, any reference to appendix A will become obsolete. As a 
result, the Agencies believe that the reference to appendix A of 
Regulation C in the ``community development loan'' definition in the 
CRA regulations needs to be removed. Moreover, effective January 1, 
2018, the term ``multifamily dwelling'' will be specifically defined 
under 12 CFR 1003.2(n). Accordingly, the proposed rule would remove the 
reference to appendix A in the definition of ``community development 
loan'' and replace it with a reference to the definition of 
``multifamily dwelling'' under new 12 CFR 1003.2(n).

Removal of Obsolete Language Related to the NSP

    The NSP was authorized by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act 
\19\ to stabilize communities suffering from foreclosures and 
abandonment. On December 20, 2010, the Agencies issued a joint final 
rule amending the definition of ``community development'' to include 
qualifying NSP-related activities that benefit low-, moderate-, and 
middle-income individuals and geographies in NSP-target areas.\20\ 
Under the joint final rule, NSP-eligible activities would receive 
consideration if conducted no later than two years after the last date 
appropriated funds for the program were required to be spent by the 
grantees. After the two-year period, the rule would cease to apply. The 
last date appropriated funds were required to be spent by grantees was 
March 2014.\21\ Thus, pursuant to 12 CFR __.12(g)(5)(ii), after March 
2016, NSP-eligible activities no longer receive consideration as 
``community development'' under the CRA regulations. On that basis, the 
proposed rule would amend 12 CFR 25.12, 195.12, 228.12, and 345.12 to 
revise the definition of ``community development'' to remove qualifying 
NSP-related activities that benefit low-, moderate-, and middle-income 
individuals and geographies in NSP-targeted areas.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Public Law 110-289, 122 Stat. 2654 (2008).
    \20\ 75 FR 79278 (Dec. 20, 2010).
    \21\ See https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/NSP3_100_Expenditure_Deadline.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Agencies request comment on their proposal to make the 
technical amendments described above.
    The Agencies note that they plan to make conforming changes to the 
relevant Interagency CRA Q&As if the proposed changes to the CRA 
regulations become final.

Effective Date

    The proposed rule would have an effective date of January 1, 2018, 
to conform to the effective date of the revisions resulting from the 
Bureau's Regulation C. The Agencies request comment on the proposed 
effective date.

Regulatory Analysis

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    OCC: In general, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq.) requires that in connection with a rulemaking, an agency 
prepare and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility 
analysis that describes the impact of the rule on small entities. Under 
section 605(b) of the RFA, this analysis is not required if an 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 brief explanatory statement in the Federal Register along with 
its rule.
    The OCC currently supervises approximately 956 small entities.

[[Page 43915]]

Although the proposed rule would apply to all OCC-supervised financial 
institutions, we anticipate that the proposal would not impose costs on 
any OCC-supervised financial institutions since the proposed rule does 
not impose new requirements or include new mandates. Any burden that 
may be associated with changes made to Regulation C HMDA reporting are 
a result of Bureau rulemakings. However, the proposed rule may reduce 
regulatory costs for covered financial institutions that are required 
to report HMDA data because those institutions would no longer be 
required to keep two years of HMDA disclosure statements in their CRA 
public file. Instead, covered financial institutions would provide a 
notice in the public file with a Web site address indicating where the 
HMDA disclosure statements can be accessed. Among the small entities 
that the OCC currently supervises, 518 are HMDA reporters. By not 
having to keep paper copies of the HMDA disclosure statements in their 
CRA public file, the OCC estimates that the savings for these small 
entities will be less than $1,142 (10 hours x $114.20 per hour) per 
entity. Therefore, the proposal will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. Accordingly, the OCC 
certifies that the joint proposed rule, if promulgated, will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small OCC-
supervised entities.
    Board: The RFA (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) generally requires an agency 
to publish an initial regulatory flexibility analysis with a proposed 
rule or certify that the proposed rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.\22\ Based on 
its analysis, and for the reasons stated below, the Board believes that 
this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Nevertheless, the Board is 
publishing an initial regulatory flexibility analysis and requests 
public comment on all aspects of its analysis. The Board will, if 
necessary, conduct a final regulatory flexibility analysis after 
considering the comments received during the public comment period.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ See 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There are 820 Board-supervised state member banks, and 566 are 
identified as small entities according to the RFA.\23\ The Board 
estimates that the proposed rule will have generally small economic 
effects for small entities. The new CRA public file disclosure 
statement option will reduce recordkeeping burden for covered financial 
institutions. Additionally, the Board expects that the proposed changes 
to definitions within the CRA performance standards will have little 
impact on supervisory assessments of CRA performance generally, but 
could affect some financial institutions more than others depending 
upon the amount and characteristics of their loan portfolio.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ Call Report Data as of June 30, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed rule changes the CRA public file notification 
requirements for covered financial institutions. Financial institutions 
that are required to report HMDA data can maintain the notice required 
under Regulation C in their CRA public file of their branch office, 
rather than the HMDA Disclosure Statement. By allowing covered 
financial institutions to utilize the same disclosure for both 
purposes, the proposed rule will reduce compliance burden. As 
previously stated, there are 566 Board-supervised entities that are 
identified as small entities by the terms of the RFA. Of those, 304 
were HMDA filers in 2016.\24\ All FDIC-insured financial institutions 
reported having 31,096 branch offices, for an average of 7.9 branches 
per financial institution.\25\ The Board assumes it takes one employee 
10 minutes at a rate of $76.61 an hour \26\ to print and file the CRA 
notification and an additional 10 minutes to print and file the HMDA 
notification per year. This equates to an estimated annual printing and 
filing cost of $25.54 per branch office. Therefore, complying with the 
new rule will save small entities an estimated $61,336.86 in costs per 
year.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ 2016 HMDA Data and Call Report Data as of June 30, 2017.
    \25\ 2015 Summary of Deposits Data.
    \26\ Estimated total hourly compensation for Compliance Officers 
in the Depository Credit Intermediation sector as of December 2016. 
The estimate includes the May 2015 90th percentile hourly wage rate 
reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Industry-
Specific Occupational Employment, and Wage Estimates. This wage rate 
has been adjusted for changes in the Consumer Price Index for all 
Urban Consumers between May 2015 and December 2016 (2.5 percent) and 
grossed up by 54.3 percent to account for non-monetary compensation 
as reported by the December 2016 Employer Costs for Employee 
Compensation Data.
    \27\ Assuming that each covered institution will no longer have 
to print and file the CRA notification, the recordkeeping burden for 
each branch office declines by 10 minutes for all 7.9 branch 
offices, for all 304 small entities that are HMDA filers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Board expects the proposed changes to definitions within the 
CRA performance standards to generally have little economic effect for 
small entities, however the amendments could pose some effects for 
individual entities depending upon the amount and characteristics of 
their loan portfolio. As noted previously, in some cases the revised 
scope of the CRA definitions is broader, and in other cases, it is more 
limited. These changes could affect supervisory assessment of CRA 
performance for small entities. However, it is unlikely that small 
financial institutions will be significantly affected given that HMDA 
reporting will be limited to financial institutions that originate more 
than 25 home mortgage loans or 100 home equity lines of credit each 
year.\28\ There could be a net effect on CRA examination results for 
some small entities which may, in turn, affect the future behavior of 
those financial institutions. But, it is difficult to accurately 
determine the likelihood and degree of aggregate lending or economic 
effects that may result because they are dependent upon firm-specific 
business plans and propensities to lend.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ The open-end lines of credit threshold will increase from 
100 to 500 loans on a temporary basis for a period of two years 
(calendar years 2018 and 2019) pursuant to the 2017 HMDA Rule. The 
Bureau is not making the threshold increase for open-end lines of 
credit permanent at this time. Absent further action by the Bureau, 
effective January 1, 2020, the open-end threshold will be restored 
to the 2015 HMDA Rule level of 100 open-end lines of credit, and 
creditors originating between 100 and 499 open-end lines of credit 
will need to begin collecting and reporting HMDA data for open-end 
lines of credit at this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, Board-supervised small entities will likely benefit from 
the harmonization of definitions for CRA performance standards with 
HMDA data reporting requirements by avoiding unnecessary confusion and 
costs. Inconsistencies between CRA examination metrics and the HMDA 
data, which is used to assess performance, could lead to misleading 
results causing small entities to change future lending behavior.
    1. Statement of the need for, and objectives of, the proposed rule. 
The proposed rule makes revisions to certain definitions in the current 
CRA regulations and the public file content requirements to conform to 
recent changes made by the Bureau to Regulation C, removes cross 
references related to the proposed definitional changes, and removes an 
obsolete reference to the NSP.
    2. Small entities affected by the proposed rule. State member banks 
that are subject to the Board's CRA regulation would be affected. The 
Board currently supervises approximately 566 small entities, and does 
not believe the proposed rule will have a significant economic impact 
on these entities. As noted, the Board believes that the proposed 
changes to the definition of ``home mortgage loan'' and ``consumer 
loan'' will have minimal impact on

[[Page 43916]]

supervisory assessments of a financial institution's CRA performance 
generally, but could affect some financial institutions more than 
others depending on the characteristics of their loan portfolios. For 
example, home improvement loans that are not secured by a dwelling, 
which are currently required to be reported under Regulation C, will no 
longer be reportable transactions under HMDA, effective January 1, 
2018. A financial institution that opts to have these loans considered 
would need to collect and maintain data on these loans in machine 
readable form under the category of ``other secured consumer loan'' or 
``other unsecured consumer loan,'' as appropriate.
    The Board invites comment on the effect of the proposed rule on 
small entities.
    3. Recordkeeping, reporting, and compliance requirements. The 
proposed rule would impose minor recordkeeping, reporting, or 
compliance requirements on some entities. Additionally, it is 
anticipated that by allowing covered financial institutions to utilize 
the Regulation C notice that clearly conveys to the public that they 
can obtain a copy of the financial institution's HMDA disclosure 
statement at the Bureau's Web site to satisfy the associated CRA public 
file content requirements the proposed rule will reduce compliance 
burden.
    4. Other federal rules. The Board has not identified any federal 
rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the proposed rule.
    5. Significant alternatives to the proposed revisions. The Board is 
not aware of any significant alternatives that would further minimize 
the impact on small entities of the proposed rule, but solicits comment 
on any significant alternatives that would reduce the regulatory burden 
associated on small entities with this proposed rule.
    FDIC: The RFA (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) generally 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 a proposed rule on small entities 
(defined in regulations promulgated by the Small Business 
Administration to include banking organizations with total assets of 
less than or equal to $550 million). A regulatory flexibility analysis, 
however, 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 proposed rule. For 
the reasons provided below, the FDIC certifies that the proposed rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    There are 3,787 FDIC-supervised financial institutions, and 3,080 
are identified as small entities according to the RFA.\29\ The FDIC 
estimates that the proposed rule would have generally small economic 
effects for small entities. The new proposed CRA public file disclosure 
statement option would reduce regulatory costs for covered financial 
institutions. Additionally, the FDIC expects that the proposed changes 
to definitions within the CRA performance standards would have little 
impact on supervisory assessments of CRA performance generally, but 
could affect some financial institutions more than others depending 
upon the amount and characteristics of their loan portfolio.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ Call Report Data as of Dec. 31, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The proposed rule changes the CRA public file notification 
requirements for covered financial institutions. Financial institutions 
required to report HMDA data can maintain the notice required under 
Regulation C in the CRA public file of their branch office, rather than 
the HMDA Disclosure Statement. By allowing covered financial 
institutions to utilize the same disclosure for both purposes, the 
proposed rule would reduce regulatory costs. As previously stated, 
there are 3,080 FDIC-supervised entities that are identified as small 
entities by the terms of the RFA. Of those, 1,856 were HMDA filers in 
2015.\30\ All FDIC-insured financial institutions reported having 
31,096 branch offices, for an average of 7.9 branches per financial 
institution.\31\ The FDIC assumes it takes one employee 10 minutes at a 
rate of $76.61 an hour \32\ to print and file the CRA notification and 
an additional 10 minutes to print and file the HMDA notification per 
year. This equates to an estimated annual printing and filing cost of 
$25.54 per branch office. Therefore, complying with the new rule would 
save small entities an estimated $187,214 in costs per year.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 2015 HMDA Data and Call Report Data as of Dec. 31, 2015.
    \31\ 2015 Summary of Deposits Data.
    \32\ Estimated total hourly compensation for Compliance Officers 
in the Depository Credit Intermediation sector as of December 2016. 
The estimate includes the May 2015 90th percentile hourly wage rate 
reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Industry-
Specific Occupational Employment, and Wage Estimates. This wage rate 
has been adjusted for changes in the Consumer Price Index for all 
Urban Consumers between May 2015 and December 2016 (2.5 percent) and 
grossed up by 54.3 percent to account for non-monetary compensation 
as reported by the December 2016 Employer Costs for Employee 
Compensation Data.
    \33\ Assuming that each covered institution will no longer have 
to print and file the CRA notification, the recordkeeping burden for 
each branch office declines by 10 minutes for all 7.9 branch 
offices, for all 1,856 small entities that are HMDA filers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FDIC expects the proposed changes to definitions within the CRA 
performance standards to generally have little economic effect for 
small entities, however the amendments could pose some effects for 
individual entities depending upon the amount and characteristics of 
their loan portfolio. As noted previously, in some cases the revised 
scope of the CRA definitions is broader, and in other cases, it is more 
limited. These changes could affect supervisory assessment of CRA 
performance for small entities. However, it is unlikely that small 
financial institutions would be significantly affected given that HMDA 
reporting will be limited to financial institutions that originate more 
than 25 home mortgage loans or 100 home equity lines of credit each 
year.\34\ There could be a net effect on CRA examination results for 
some small entities which may, in turn, affect the future behavior of 
those financial institutions. But, it is difficult to accurately 
determine the likelihood and degree of aggregate lending or economic 
effects that may result because they are dependent upon firm-specific 
business plans and propensities to lend.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ The open-end lines of credit threshold will increase from 
100 to 500 loans on a temporary basis for a period of two years 
(calendar years 2018 and 2019) pursuant to the 2017 HMDA Rule. The 
Bureau is not making the threshold increase for open-end lines of 
credit permanent at this time. Absent further action by the Bureau, 
effective January 1, 2020, the open-end threshold will be restored 
to the 2015 HMDA Rule level of 100 open-end lines of credit, and 
creditors originating between 100 and 499 open-end lines of credit 
will need to begin collecting and reporting HMDA data for open-end 
lines of credit at this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, FDIC-supervised small entities would likely benefit from 
the harmonization of definitions for CRA performance standards with 
HMDA data reporting requirements by avoiding unnecessary confusion and 
costs. Inconsistencies between CRA examination metrics and the HMDA 
data which is used to assess performance could lead to misleading 
results causing small entities to change future lending behavior.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    Certain provisions of the proposed rule contain ``collection of 
information'' requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521). In accordance with 
the requirements of the PRA, the

[[Page 43917]]

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. 
The information collection requirements contained in this proposed 
rulemaking have been submitted by the OCC and FDIC to OMB for review 
and approval under section 3507(d) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) and 
section 1320.11 of the OMB's implementing regulations (5 CFR 1320). The 
OMB control number for the OCC is 1557-0160 and the FDIC is 3064-0092. 
The OMB control number for the Board is 7100-0197 and will be extended, 
with revision. The Board reviewed the proposed rule under the authority 
delegated to the Board by OMB.
    Under this proposal, effective January 1, 2018, financial 
institutions required to collect data under the CRA would also be 
required to collect data for open-end lines of credit in MSA and non-
MSA areas where they have no branch or home office. The Agencies 
estimate that this proposed change would not result in an increase in 
burden under the currently approved CRA information collections because 
the burden associated with the above-described requirement is accounted 
for under the HMDA information collections.\35\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ OMB Control Number 1557-0159 (OCC); OMB Control Number 
7100-0247 (Board); and OMB Control Number 3064-0046 (FDIC).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies have determined that the proposed revised definition 
of ``home mortgage loan'' to include home equity lines of credit and to 
exclude home improvement loans that are not secured by a dwelling 
(i.e., home improvement loans that are unsecured or that are secured by 
some other type of collateral) does not warrant a change to the current 
burden estimates.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collections of information are necessary for the 
proper performance of the Agencies' functions, including whether the 
information has practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the estimates of the burden of the information 
collections, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the information collections on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and
    (e) Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.
    All comments will become a matter of public record. Comments on 
aspects of this notice that may affect reporting, recordkeeping, or 
disclosure requirements and burden estimates should be sent to the 
addresses listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. A copy of 
the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk officer for the 
Agencies: By mail to U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th 
Street NW., #10235, Washington, DC 20503; by facsimile to (202) 395-
5806; or by email to: [email protected], Attention, Federal 
Banking Agency Desk Officer.

Proposed Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Reporting, Recordkeeping, and 
Disclosure Requirements Associated with the Community Reinvestment Act 
(CRA).
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Respondents:
    OCC: National banks, trust companies, savings associations (except 
special purpose savings associations pursuant to 12 CFR 195.11(c)(2)), 
insured Federal branches and any Federal branch that is uninsured that 
results from an acquisition described in section 5(a)(8) of the 
International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3103(a)(8)).
    Board: State member banks.
    FDIC: Insured state nonmember banks and insured state branches.
    Abstract: The CRA was enacted in 1977 and is implemented by 12 CFR 
parts 25, 195, 228, and 345. The CRA directs the Agencies to evaluate 
financial institutions' records of helping to meet the credit needs of 
their entire communities, including low- and moderate-income areas 
consistent with the safe and sound operation of the institutions. The 
CRA is implemented through regulations issued by the Agencies.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ As noted above in footnote 2, the Dodd-Frank Act 
transferred from the OTS all authorities (including rulemaking) 
relating to savings associations to the OCC and all authorities 
(including rulemaking) relating to savings and loan holding 
companies (SLHCs) to the Board on July 21, 2011.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In 1995, the federal banking agencies issued substantially 
identical regulations under CRA to reduce unnecessary compliance 
burden, promote consistency in CRA assessments, and encourage improved 
performance.\37\ As a result, the current reporting, recordkeeping, and 
disclosure requirements under the CRA regulations depend in part on a 
bank's size.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ See 60 FR 22156 (May 4, 1995).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the CRA regulations, large banks are defined as those with 
assets of $1.226 billion or more for the past two consecutive year-
ends; all other banks are considered small or intermediate.\38\ The 
banking agencies amend the definition of a small bank and an 
intermediate small bank in their CRA regulations each year when the 
asset thresholds are adjusted for inflation pursuant to the CRA 
regulations, most recently in January 2017.\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ Beginning January 18, 2017, banks and savings associations 
that, as of December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years, 
had assets of less than $1.226 billion are small banks or small 
savings associations. Small banks or small savings associations with 
assets of at least $307 million as of December 31 of both of the 
prior two calendar years, and less than $1.226 billion as of 
December 31 of either of the prior two calendar years, are 
intermediate small banks or intermediate small savings associations.
    \39\ See 82 FR 5354 (Jan. 18, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Other than the information collections pursuant to the CRA, the 
Agencies have no information collection that supplies data regarding 
the community reinvestment activities.

PRA Burden Estimates

OCC

    Number of respondents: Recordkeeping requirement, small business 
and small farm loan register, 142; Optional recordkeeping requirements, 
consumer loan data, 85, and other loan data, 25; Reporting 
requirements, assessment area delineation, 189; loan data: Small 
business and small farm, 142, community development, 142, and HMDA out 
of MSA, 142; Optional reporting requirements, data on lending by a 
consortium or third party, 31; affiliate lending data, 9; request for 
strategic plan approval, 5; request for designation as a wholesale or 
limited purpose bank, 12; Disclosure requirement, public file, 1,234.
    Estimated average hours per response: Recordkeeping requirement, 
small business and small farm loan register: 219 hours; Optional 
recordkeeping requirements, consumer loan data, 326 hours, and other 
loan data, 25 hours; Reporting requirements, assessment area 
delineation, 2 hours; loan data: Small business and small farm, 8 
hours, community development, 13 hours, and HMDA out of MSA, 253 hours; 
Optional reporting requirements, data on lending by a consortium or 
third party, 17 hours; affiliate lending data, 38 hours; request for 
strategic plan approval, 275 hours; request for designation as a 
wholesale or

[[Page 43918]]

limited purpose bank, 4 hours; Disclosure requirement, public file, 10 
hours.
    Estimated annual reporting hours: Recordkeeping requirement, small 
business and small farm loan register: 31,098 hours; Optional 
recordkeeping requirements, consumer loan data, 27,710 hours and other 
loan data, 625 hours; Reporting requirements, assessment area 
delineation, 378 hours; loan data: Small business and small farm, 1,136 
hours, community development, 1,846 hours, and HMDA out of MSA, 35,926 
hours; Optional reporting requirements, data on lending by a consortium 
or third party, 527 hours; affiliate lending data, 342 hours; request 
for strategic plan approval, 1,375 hours; request for designation as a 
wholesale or limited purpose bank, 48 hours; Disclosure requirement, 
public file, 12,340 hours.
    Total annual burden: 113,351 hours.

Board

    Number of respondents: Recordkeeping requirement, small business 
and small farm loan register, 94; Optional recordkeeping requirements, 
consumer loan data, 21, and other loan data, 15; Reporting 
requirements, assessment area delineation, 98; loan data: Small 
business and small farm, 94, community development, 98, and HMDA out of 
MSA, 89; Optional reporting requirements, data on lending by a 
consortium or third party, 9; affiliate lending data, 8; request for 
strategic plan approval, 2; request for designation as a wholesale or 
limited purpose bank, 1; Disclosure requirement, public file, 817.
    Estimated average hours per response: Recordkeeping requirement, 
small business and small farm loan register: 219 hours; Optional 
recordkeeping requirements, consumer loan data, 326 hours, and other 
loan data, 25 hours; Reporting requirements, assessment area 
delineation, 2 hours; loan data: Small business and small farm, 8 
hours, community development, 13 hours, and HMDA out of MSA, 253 hours; 
Optional reporting requirements, data on lending by a consortium or 
third party, 17 hours; affiliate lending data, 38 hours; request for 
strategic plan approval, 275 hours; request for designation as a 
wholesale or limited purpose bank, 4 hours; Disclosure requirement, 
public file, 10 hours.
    Estimated annual reporting hours: Recordkeeping requirement, small 
business and small farm loan register: 20,586 hours; Optional 
recordkeeping requirements, consumer loan data, 6,846 hours and other 
loan data, 375 hours; Reporting requirements, assessment area 
delineation, 196 hours; loan data: Small business and small farm, 752 
hours, community development, 1,274 hours, and HMDA out of MSA, 22,517 
hours; Optional reporting requirements, data on lending by a consortium 
or third party, 153 hours; affiliate lending data, 304 hours; request 
for strategic plan approval, 550 hours; request for designation as a 
wholesale or limited purpose bank, 4 hours; Disclosure requirement, 
public file, 8,170 hours.
    Total annual burden: 61,727 hours.

FDIC

    Number of respondents: Reporting requirements: Request for 
designation as a wholesale or limited purpose bank, 1 respondent; 
Strategic plan, 7 respondents; Small business/small farm loan data, 393 
respondents; Community development loan data, 393 respondents; Home 
mortgage loans, 393 respondents; Data on affiliate lending, 200 
respondents; Data on lending by a consortium or a third party, 75 
respondents; and Assessment area data, 393 respondents; Recordkeeping 
requirements: Small business/small farm loan register, 393 respondents; 
Optional consumer loan data, 75 respondents; and Other loan data, 100 
respondents; Disclosure requirements: Content and availability of 
public file, 3,971 respondents.
    Estimated average hours per response: Reporting requirements: 
Request for designation as a wholesale or limited purpose bank, 4 
hours; Strategic plan, 400 hours; Small business/small farm loan data, 
8 hours; Community development loan data, 13 hours; Home mortgage 
loans, 253 hours; Data on affiliate lending, 38 hours; Data on lending 
by a consortium or a third party, 17 hours; and Assessment area data, 2 
hours; Recordkeeping requirements: Small business/small farm loan 
register, 219 hours; Optional consumer loan data, 326 hours; and Other 
loan data, 25 hours; Disclosure requirements: Content and availability 
of public file, 10 hours.
    Estimated annual reporting hours: Reporting requirements: Request 
for designation as a wholesale or limited purpose bank, 4 hours; 
Strategic plan, 2,800 hours; Small business/small farm loan data, 3,144 
hours; Community development loan data, 5,109 hours; Home mortgage 
loans, 99,429 hours; Data on affiliate lending, 7,600 hours; Data on 
lending by a consortium or a third party, 1,275 hours; and Assessment 
area data, 786 hours; Recordkeeping requirements: Small business/small 
farm loan register, 86,067 hours; Optional consumer loan data, 24,450 
hours; and Other loan data, 2,500 hours; Disclosure requirements: 
Content and availability of public file, 39,710 hours.
    Total annual burden: 272,874 hours.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The OCC analyzed the proposed rule under the factors set forth in 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1532). Under 
this analysis, the OCC considered whether the proposed rule includes a 
Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and 
Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year (adjusted for inflation). The OCC has 
determined that this proposed rule would not result in expenditures by 
State, local, and Tribal governments, or the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year.\40\ Accordingly, the OCC has not 
prepared a written statement to accompany this notice of proposed 
rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ The OCC anticipates that the proposal would not impose 
costs on any OCC-supervised financial institutions since the 
proposed rule does not impose new requirements or include new 
mandates. Any burden that may be associated with changes made to 
Regulation C HMDA reporting are a result of CFPB rulemakings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires the Agencies to 
use plain language in all proposed and final rules published after 
January 1, 2000. The Agencies invite comment on how to make this 
proposed rule easier to understand.
    For example:
     Have the Agencies organized the material to inform your 
needs? If not, how could the Agencies present the proposed rule more 
clearly?
     Are the requirements in the proposed rule clearly stated? 
If not, how could the proposal be more clearly stated?
     Does the proposed regulation contain technical language or 
jargon that is not clear? If so, which language requires clarification?
     Would a different format (grouping and order of sections, 
use of headings, paragraphing) make the proposed regulation easier to 
understand? If so, what changes would achieve that?
     Is this section format adequate? If not, which of the 
sections should be changed and how?
     What other changes can the agencies incorporate to make 
the proposed regulation easier to understand?

[[Page 43919]]

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 25

    Community development, Credit, Investments, National banks, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 195

    Community development, Credit, Investments, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Savings associations.

12 CFR Part 228

    Banks, Banking, Community development, Credit, Investments, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

12 CFR Part 345

    Banks, Banking, Community development, Credit, Investments, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Chapter I

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons discussed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, 
the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency proposes to amend 12 CFR 
parts 25 and 195 as follows:

PART 25--COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT AND INTERSTATE DEPOSIT 
PRODUCTION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 25 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 21, 22, 26, 27, 30, 36, 93a, 161, 215, 
215a, 481, 1814, 1816, 1828(c), 1835a, 2901 through 2908, and 3101 
through 3111.


Sec.  25.12   [Amended]

0
2. Section 25.12 is amended:
0
a. By adding ``or'' at the end of paragraph (g)(3);
0
b. By removing ``; or'' at the end of (g)(4), and adding in its place 
``.'';
0
c. By removing paragraph (g)(5);
0
d. In paragraph (h)(2)(i), by removing the phrase ``unless it is a 
multifamily dwelling loan (as described in appendix A to part 1003 of 
this title)'' and adding in its place the phrase ``unless the loan is 
for a multifamily dwelling (as defined in Sec.  1003.2(n) of this 
title)'';
0
e. By removing paragraph (j)(3), and redesignating paragraph (j)(4) as 
paragraph (j)(3) and redesignating paragraph (j)(5) as paragraph 
(j)(4); and
0
f. In paragraph (l), by removing the phrase `` `home improvement loan,' 
`home purchase loan,' or a `refinancing' as defined in Sec.  1003.2 of 
this title'' and adding in its place the phrase ``closed-end mortgage 
loan or an open-end line of credit as these terms are defined under 
Sec.  1003.2 of this title, and that is not an excluded transaction 
under Sec.  1003.3(c)(1)-(10) and (13) of this title''.


Sec.  25.22   [Amended]

0
3. Section 25.22 is amended in paragraph (a)(1), by removing the phrase 
``home equity,'' after ``credit card.''


Sec.  25.42   [Amended]

0
4. Section 25.42 is amended in paragraph (c)(1), by removing the phrase 
``home equity,'' after ``credit card.''
0
5. Section 25.43 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  25.43  Content and availability of public file.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) Banks required to report Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) 
data. A bank required to report home mortgage loan data pursuant part 
1003 of this title shall include in its public file a written notice 
that the institution's HMDA Disclosure Statement may be obtained on the 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (Bureau's) Web site at 
www.consumerfinance.gov/hmda. In addition, a bank that elected to have 
the OCC consider the mortgage lending of an affiliate shall include in 
its public file the name of the affiliate and a written notice that the 
affiliate's HMDA Disclosure Statement may be obtained at the Bureau's 
Web site. The bank shall place the written notice(s) in the public file 
within three business days after receiving notification from the 
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council of the availability 
of the disclosure statement(s).
* * * * *

PART 195--COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT

0
6. The authority citation for part 195 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1462a, 1463, 1464, 1814, 1816, 1828(c), 
2901 through 2908, and 5412(b)(2)(B).


Sec.  195.12   [Amended]

0
7. Section 195.12 is amended:
0
a. By adding ``or'' at the end of paragraph (g)(3);
0
b. By removing ``; or'' at the end of (g)(4), and adding in its place 
``.'';
0
c. By removing paragraph (g)(5);
0
d. In paragraph (h)(2)(i), by removing the phrase ``unless it is a 
multifamily dwelling loan (as described in appendix A to part 1003 of 
this title)'' and adding in its place the phrase ``unless the loan is 
for a multifamily dwelling (as defined in Sec.  1003.2(n) of this 
title)'';
0
e. By removing paragraph (j)(3), and redesignating paragraph (j)(4) as 
paragraph (j)(3) and redesignating (j)(5) as paragraph (j)(4); and
0
f. In paragraph (l), by removing the phrase `` `home improvement loan,' 
`home purchase loan,' or a `refinancing' as defined in Sec.  1003.2 of 
this title'' and adding in its place the phrase ``closed-end mortgage 
loan or an open-end line of credit as these terms are defined under 
Sec.  1003.2 of this title and that is not an excluded transaction 
under Sec.  1003.3(c)(1)-(10) and (13) of this title''.


Sec.  195.22   [Amended]

0
8. Section 195.22 is amended in paragraph (a)(1), by removing the 
phrase ``home equity,'' after ``credit card.''


Sec.  195.42   [Amended]

0
9. Section 195.42 is amended in paragraph (c)(1), by removing the 
phrase ``home equity,'' after ``credit card.''
0
10. Section 195.43 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  195.43  Content and availability of public file.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) Savings associations required to report Home Mortgage 
Disclosure Act (HMDA) data. A savings association required to report 
home mortgage loan data pursuant part 1003 of this title shall include 
in its public file a written notice that the institution's HMDA 
Disclosure Statement may be obtained on the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau's (Bureau's) Web site at www.consumerfinance.gov/hmda. In addition, a savings association that elected to have the 
appropriate Federal banking agency consider the mortgage lending of an 
affiliate shall include in its public file the name of the affiliate 
and a written notice that the affiliate's HMDA Disclosure Statement may 
be obtained at the Bureau's Web site. The savings association shall 
place the written notice(s) in the public file within three business 
days after receiving notification from the Federal Financial 
Institutions Examination Council of the availability of the disclosure 
statement(s).
* * * * *

Federal Reserve System

12 CFR Chapter II

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons discussed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, 
the

[[Page 43920]]

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System proposes to amend part 
228 of chapter II of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations as 
follows:

PART 228--COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT (REGULATION BB)

0
1. The authority citation for part 228 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 321, 325, 1828(c), 1842, 1843, 1844, and 
2901 et seq.


Sec.  228.12  [Amended]

0
2. Section 228.12 is amended:
0
a. By adding ``or'' at the end of paragraph (g)(3);
0
b. By removing ``; or'' at the end of (g)(4), and adding in its place 
``.'';
0
c. By removing paragraph (g)(5);
0
d. In paragraph (h)(2)(i), by removing the phrase ``unless it is a 
multifamily dwelling loan (as described in appendix A to part 1003 of 
this title)'' and adding in its place the phrase ``unless the loan is 
for a multifamily dwelling (as defined in Sec.  1003.2(n) of this 
title)'';
0
e. By removing paragraph (j)(3), and redesignating paragraph (j)(4) as 
paragraph (j)(3) and redesignating paragraph (j)(5) as paragraph 
(j)(4); and
0
f. In paragraph (l), by removing the phrase `` `home improvement loan,' 
`home purchase loan,' or a `refinancing' as defined in Sec.  1003.2 of 
this title'' and adding in its place the phrase, ``closed-end mortgage 
loan or an open-end line of credit as these terms are defined under 
Sec.  1003.2 of this title and that is not an excluded transaction 
under Sec.  1003.3(c)(1)-(10) and (13) of this title''.


Sec.  228.22  [Amended]

0
3. Section 228.22 is amended in paragraph (a)(1), by removing the 
phrase ``home equity,'' after ``credit card.''


Sec.  228.42  [Amended]

0
4. Section 228.42 is amended in paragraph (c)(1), by removing the 
phrase ``home equity,'' after ``credit card.''
0
5. Section 228.43 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(2), to read as 
follows:


Sec.  228.43  Content and availability of public file.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) Banks required to report Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) 
data. A bank required to report home mortgage loan data pursuant part 
1003 of this title shall include in its public file a written notice 
that the institution's HMDA Disclosure Statement may be obtained on the 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (Bureau's) Web site at 
www.consumerfinance.gov/hmda. In addition, a bank that elected to have 
the Board consider the mortgage lending of an affiliate shall include 
in its public file the name of the affiliate and a written notice that 
the affiliate's HMDA Disclosure Statement may be obtained at the 
Bureau's Web site. The bank shall place the written notice(s) in the 
public file within three business days after receiving notification 
from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council of the 
availability of the disclosure statement(s).
* * * * *

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

12 CFR Chapter III

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons discussed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, 
the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
proposes to amend part 345 of chapter III of title 12 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations to read as follows:

PART 345--COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 345 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1814-1817, 1819-1820, 1828, 1831u and 
2901-2908, 3103-3104, and 3108(a).


Sec.  345.12  [Amended]

0
2. Section 345.12 is amended:
0
a. By adding ``or'' at the end of paragraph (g)(3);
0
b. By removing ``; or'' at the end of (g)(4), and adding in its place 
``.'';
0
c. By removing paragraph (g)(5);
0
d. In paragraph (h)(2)(i), by removing the phrase ``unless it is a 
multifamily dwelling loan (as described in appendix A to part 1003 of 
this title)'' and adding in its place the phrase ``unless the loan is 
for a multifamily dwelling (as defined in Sec.  1003.2(n) of this 
title)'';
0
e. By removing paragraph (j)(3), and redesignating paragraph (j)(4) as 
paragraph (j)(3) and redesignating paragraph (j)(5) as paragraph 
(j)(4); and
0
f. In paragraph (l), by removing the phrase ```home improvement loan,' 
`home purchase loan,' or a `refinancing' as defined inSec.  1003.2 of 
this title'' and adding in its place the phrase, ``closed-end mortgage 
loan or an open-end line of credit as these terms are defined under 
Sec.  1003.2 of this title and that is not an excluded transaction 
under Sec.  1003.3(c)(1)-(10) and (13) of this title''.


Sec.  345.22   [Amended]

0
3. Section 345.22 is amended in paragraph (a)(1), by removing the 
phrase ``home equity,'' after ``credit card.''


Sec.  345.42   [Amended]

0
4. Section 345.42 is amended in paragraph (c)(1), by removing the 
phrase ``home equity,'' after ``credit card.''
0
5. Section 345.43 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(2), to read as 
follows:


Sec.  345.43  Content and availability of public file.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) Banks required to report Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) 
data. A bank required to report home mortgage loan data pursuant part 
1003 of this title shall include in its public file a written notice 
that the institution's HMDA Disclosure Statement may be obtained on the 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (Bureau's) Web site at 
www.consumerfinance.gov/hmda. In addition, a bank that elected to have 
the FDIC consider the mortgage lending of an affiliate shall include in 
its public file the name of the affiliate and a written notice that the 
affiliate's HMDA Disclosure Statement may be obtained at the Bureau's 
Web site. The bank shall place the written notice(s) in the public file 
within three business days after receiving notification from the 
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council of the availability 
of the disclosure statement(s).
* * * * *

    Dated: September 12, 2017.
Keith A. Noreika,
Acting Comptroller of the Currency.
    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, September 6, 2017.
Ann E. Misback,
Secretary of the Board.
By order of the Board of Directors.

    Dated at Washington, DC, this 31st day of August, of 2017.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-19765 Filed 9-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-33-P; 6210-01-P; 6714-01-P



                                                  43910

                                                  Proposed Rules                                                                                                Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                                Vol. 82, No. 181

                                                                                                                                                                Wednesday, September 20, 2017



                                                  This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    ADDRESSES:    Comments should be                      of the screen. Comments and supporting
                                                  contains notices to the public of the proposed          directed to:                                          materials can be viewed and filtered by
                                                  issuance of rules and regulations. The                     OCC: Because paper mail in the                     clicking on ‘‘View all documents and
                                                  purpose of these notices is to give interested          Washington, DC area and at the OCC is                 comments in this docket’’ and then
                                                  persons an opportunity to participate in the            subject to delay, commenters are                      using the filtering tools on the left side
                                                  rule making prior to the adoption of the final
                                                  rules.
                                                                                                          encouraged to submit comments                         of the screen.
                                                                                                          through the Federal eRulemaking Portal                   • Click on the ‘‘Help’’ tab on the
                                                                                                          or email, if possible. Please use the title           Regulations.gov home page to get
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                              ‘‘Community Reinvestment Act                          information on using Regulations.gov.
                                                                                                          Regulations’’ to facilitate the                       The docket may be viewed after the
                                                  Office of the Comptroller of the                        organization and distribution of the                  close of the comment period in the same
                                                  Currency                                                comments. You may submit comments                     manner as during the comment period.
                                                                                                          by any of the following methods:                         • Viewing Comments Personally: You
                                                  12 CFR Parts 25 and 195                                    Federal eRulemaking Portal—                        may personally inspect and photocopy
                                                                                                          ‘‘Regulations.gov’’: Go to                            comments at the OCC, 400 7th Street
                                                  [Docket ID OCC–2017–0008]
                                                                                                          www.regulations.gov. Enter ‘‘Docket ID                SW., Washington, DC 20219. For
                                                  RIN 1557–AE15                                           OCC–2017–0008’’ in the Search box and                 security reasons, the OCC requires that
                                                                                                          click ‘‘Search.’’ Click on ‘‘Comment                  visitors make an appointment to inspect
                                                  FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM                                  Now’’ to submit public comments.                      comments. You may do so by calling
                                                                                                             • Click on the ‘‘Help’’ tab on the                 (202) 649–6700 or, for persons who are
                                                  12 CFR Part 228                                         Regulations.gov home page to get                      deaf or hard of hearing, TTY, (202) 649–
                                                                                                          information on using Regulations.gov,                 5597. Upon arrival, visitors will be
                                                  [Docket No. R–1574]
                                                                                                          including instructions for submitting                 required to present valid government-
                                                  RIN 7100–AE84                                           public comments.                                      issued photo identification and submit
                                                                                                             • Email: regs.comments@                            to security screening in order to inspect
                                                  FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE                               occ.treas.gov.                                        and photocopy comments.
                                                  CORPORATION                                                • Mail: Legislative and Regulatory                    Board: When submitting comments,
                                                                                                          Activities Division, Office of the                    please consider submitting your
                                                  12 CFR Part 345                                         Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th                  comments by email or fax because paper
                                                                                                          Street SW., Suite 3E–218, Washington,                 mail in the Washington, DC area and at
                                                  RIN 3064–AE58
                                                                                                          DC 20219.                                             the Board may be subject to delay. You
                                                  Community Reinvestment Act                                 • Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th                   may submit comments, identified by
                                                  Regulations                                             Street SW., Suite 3E–218, Mail Stop                   Docket No. R–XXXX and RIN XXXX–
                                                                                                          9W–11, Washington, DC 20219.                          XXXX, by any of the following methods:
                                                  AGENCY:  Office of the Comptroller of the                  • Fax: (571) 465–4326.                                • Agency Web site: http://
                                                  Currency, Treasury; Board of Governors                     Instructions: You must include                     www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the
                                                  of the Federal Reserve System; and                      ‘‘OCC’’ as the agency name and ‘‘Docket               instructions for submitting comments at
                                                  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.                  ID OCC–2017–0008’’ in your comment.                   http://www.federalreserve.gov/general
                                                  ACTION: Joint notice of proposed                        In general, OCC will enter all comments               info/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
                                                  rulemaking; request for comment.                        received into the docket and publish                     • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                                                                                          them on the Regulations.gov Web site                  www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                  SUMMARY:    The Office of the Comptroller               without change, including any business                instructions for submitting comments.
                                                  of the Currency (OCC), the Board of                     or personal information that you                         • Email: regs.comments@
                                                  Governors of the Federal Reserve                        provide such as name and address                      federalreserve.gov. Include docket and
                                                  System (Board), and the Federal Deposit                 information, email addresses, or phone                RIN numbers in the subject line of the
                                                  Insurance Corporation (FDIC)                            numbers. Comments received, including                 message.
                                                  (collectively, the Agencies) propose to                 attachments and other supporting                         • Fax: (202) 452–3819 or (202) 452–
                                                  amend their regulations implementing                    materials, are part of the public record              3102.
                                                  the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)                    and subject to public disclosure. Do not                 • Mail: Ann E. Misback, Secretary,
                                                  to update the existing definitions of                   include any information in your                       Board of Governors of the Federal
                                                  ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ and ‘‘consumer                   comment or supporting materials that                  Reserve System, 20th Street and
                                                  loan,’’ related cross references, and the               you consider confidential or                          Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
                                                  public file content requirements to                     inappropriate for public disclosure.                  DC 20551.
                                                  conform recent revisions made by the                       You may review comments and other                     Instructions: All public comments
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau                    related materials that pertain to this                will be made available on the Board’s
                                                  (Bureau) to Regulation C, which                         rulemaking action by any of the                       Web site at http://www.federal
                                                  implements the Home Mortgage                            following methods:                                    reserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/
                                                  Disclosure Act (HMDA), and to remove                       • Viewing Comments Electronically:                 ProposedRegs.cfm as submitted, unless
                                                  obsolete references to the Neighborhood                 Go to www.regulations.gov. Enter                      modified for technical reasons.
                                                  Stabilization Program (NSP).                            ‘‘Docket ID OCC–2017–0008’’ in the                    Accordingly, your comments will not be
                                                  DATES: Comments must be received on                     Search box and click ‘‘Search.’’ Click on             edited to remove any identifying or
                                                  or before October 20, 2017.                             ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ on the right side              contact information. Public comments


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:23 Sep 19, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00001   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\20SEP1.SGM   20SEP1


                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                  43911

                                                  may also be viewed electronically or in                 Reserve System, 20th Street and                       Amendments To Conform the CRA
                                                  paper form in Room 3515, 1801 K Street                  Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,                  Regulations to Recent Revisions to the
                                                  NW. (between 18th and 19th Streets,                     DC 20551.                                             Bureau’s Regulation C
                                                  NW.), Washington, DC 20006 between                        FDIC: Patience R. Singleton, Senior
                                                                                                                                                                Conforming Changes to the ‘‘Home
                                                  9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.                    Policy Analyst, Supervisory Policy
                                                                                                                                                                Mortgage Loan’’ Definition
                                                  For security reasons, the Board requires                Branch, Division of Depositor and
                                                  that visitors make an appointment to                    Consumer Protection, (202) 898–6859;                     The CRA regulations specify the type
                                                  inspect comments. You may do so by                      Sharon B. Vejvoda, Senior Examination                 of lending and other activities that the
                                                  calling (202) 452–3684. Upon arrival,                   Specialist, Examination Branch,                       Agencies evaluate to assess a financial
                                                  visitors will be required to present valid              Division of Depositor and Consumer                    institution’s CRA performance. In 1995,
                                                  government-issued photo identification                  Protection, (202) 898–3881; Richard M.                the Agencies substantively amended
                                                  and to submit to security screening in                  Schwartz, Counsel, Legal Division (202)               their CRA regulations to clarify the
                                                  order to inspect and photocopy                          898–7424; or Sherry Ann Betancourt,                   methods that examiners use to assess
                                                  comments.                                               Counsel, Legal Division (202) 898–6560,               financial institutions’ CRA performance
                                                     FDIC: You may submit comments,                       Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,                (1995 CRA Rule).2 These amended
                                                  identified by RIN 3064–AE62, by any of                  550 17th Street NW., Washington, DC                   regulations added the definition of
                                                  the following methods:                                  20429.                                                ‘‘home mortgage loan,’’ to describe a
                                                     • Agency Web site: http://                           SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                                category of loans that examiners
                                                  www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/                                                                        evaluate when assessing a financial
                                                  propose.html. Follow instructions for                   Background                                            institution’s performance under the
                                                  submitting comments on the Agency                          The Board, the FDIC, and the OCC                   retail lending test. As part of efforts to
                                                  Web site.                                               implement the CRA (12 U.S.C. 2901 et                  produce a less-burdensome CRA
                                                     • Email: Comments@fdic.gov. Include                  seq.) through their CRA regulations. See              assessment process, the Agencies relied
                                                  the RIN 3064–AE62 on the subject line                   12 CFR parts 25, 195, 228, and 345. The               on the scope of loans reported under the
                                                  of the message.                                         CRA is designed to encourage regulated                Board’s Regulation C, which
                                                     • Mail: Robert E. Feldman, Executive                 financial institutions to help meet the               implemented HMDA at the time, to
                                                  Secretary, Attention: Comments, Federal                 credit needs of the local communities in              define ‘‘home mortgage loan.’’ (12 CFR
                                                  Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th                 which an institution is chartered. The                part 203 (1995)).3 The Board’s
                                                  Street NW., Washington, DC 20429.                       CRA regulations establish the                         Regulation C required a HMDA reporter
                                                     • Hand Delivery: Comments may be                     framework and criteria by which the                   to report data to its supervisory agency
                                                  hand delivered to the guard station at                  Agencies assess a financial institution’s             on originations, purchases, and
                                                  the rear of the 550 17th Street Building                record of helping to meet the credit                  applications for loans that were made
                                                  (located on F Street) on business days                  needs of its community, including low-                for one of two purposes: Home purchase
                                                  between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.                         and moderate-income neighborhoods,                    or home improvement. (See 12 CFR
                                                     Instructions: All comments received                  consistent with safe and sound                        203.1(c) (1995)). As a result, the 1995
                                                  must include the agency name and RIN                    operations. Under the CRA regulations,                CRA Rule defined ‘‘home mortgage
                                                  3064–AE62 for this rulemaking. All                      the Agencies apply different evaluation               loan’’ to mean ‘‘home purchase loan’’ or
                                                  comments received will be posted                        standards for financial institutions of               ‘‘home improvement loan,’’ as those
                                                  without change to http://www.fdic.gov/                  different asset sizes and types.                      terms were defined in the Board’s
                                                  regulations/laws/federal/propose.html,                     The Agencies also publish the                      Regulation C in 12 CFR 203.2.
                                                  including any personal information                      Interagency Questions and Answers                        On February 15, 2002, the Board
                                                  provided. Paper copies of public                        Regarding Community Reinvestment                      made substantial revisions to its
                                                  comments may be ordered from the                        (Questions and Answers) 1 to provide                  Regulation C (2002 HMDA Rule),
                                                  FDIC Public Information Center, 3501                    guidance on the interpretation and                    including, among other things, changing
                                                  North Fairfax Drive, Room E–1002,                       application of the CRA regulations to                 the scope of loans reported under
                                                  Arlington, VA 22226 by telephone at                     agency personnel, financial institutions,             Regulation C to include all refinancings,
                                                  (877) 275–3342 or (703) 562–2200.                       and the public.
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                                 2 60 FR 22156 (May 4, 1995). The CRA regulations
                                                                                                          Introduction                                          were also issued by the Office of Thrift Supervision
                                                     OCC: Emily R. Boyes, Attorney,
                                                                                                                                                                (OTS). In 2010, the OTS was integrated with the
                                                  Community and Consumer Law                                The Agencies jointly propose to                     OCC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
                                                  Division, (202) 649–6350; Allison                       amend their regulations implementing                  Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank
                                                  Hester-Haddad, Counsel, Legislative and                 the CRA (12 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.). This                Act) (15 U.S.C. 5413), and the regulation of thrifts
                                                  Regulatory Activities Division, (202)                   proposed rulemaking amends the                        was transferred to the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC
                                                                                                                                                                (15 U.S.C. 5412).
                                                  649–5490; for persons who are deaf or                   current definitions of ‘‘home mortgage                   3 The Agencies originally proposed that the
                                                  hard of hearing, TTY, (202) 649–5597;                   loan’’ and ‘‘consumer loan’’ and the                  definition of ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ include all
                                                  or Vonda J. Eanes, Director for CRA and                 public file content requirements to                   mortgage loans reportable under both the HMDA
                                                  Fair Lending Policy, Compliance Risk                    conform to recent revisions made by the               statute and its implementing regulations (see 58 FR
                                                                                                          Bureau to its Regulation C, which                     67466, at 67473, Dec. 21, 1993). However, some
                                                  Policy Division, (202) 649–6907, Office                                                                       commenters noted that the Board had already
                                                  of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400                 implements HMDA, makes technical                      refined the definition of home mortgage loan in its
                                                  7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.                   amendments to remove unnecessary                      HMDA regulations (12 CFR part 203). These
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                     Board: Amal S. Patel, Senior                         cross references as a result of the                   commenters indicated it would be preferable and,
                                                                                                          amended definitions, and removes an                   perhaps, less confusing if the Agencies only
                                                  Supervisory Consumer Financial                                                                                referred to the Board’s HMDA regulations, rather
                                                  Services Analyst, Division of Consumer                  obsolete reference to the NSP.                        than both the HMDA statute and the regulation. As
                                                  and Community Affairs, (202) 912–                                                                             a result of these comments, the Agencies amended
                                                                                                             1 ‘‘Questions and Answers’’ refers to the          the proposed definition in the 1995 CRA Rule and
                                                  7879; Cathy Gates, Senior Project
                                                                                                          ‘‘Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding         defined ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ as a ‘‘home
                                                  Manager, Division of Consumer and                       Community Reinvestment’’ in its entirety; ‘‘Q&A’’     improvement loan’’ or a ‘‘home purchase loan,’’ as
                                                  Community Affairs, (202) 452–2099,                      refers to an individual question and answer within    those terms were defined in 12 CFR 203.2 of the
                                                  Board of Governors of the Federal                       the Questions and Answers.                            Board’s Regulation C.



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                                                  43912             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  regardless of purpose.4 Prior to this                   consumer-purpose transactions, the                       Commercial-purpose loans or lines of
                                                  amendment, lenders were able to select                  2015 HMDA Rule changes the                               credit that are not for home purchase,
                                                  from among four scenarios to decide                     traditional purpose-based reporting                      home improvement, or refinancing will
                                                  which refinancings to report. The 2002                  approach 10 to a dwelling-secured                        continue to be excluded from the
                                                  HMDA Rule revised Regulation C to                       standard for all closed-end loans and                    regulation’s coverage under the 2015
                                                  define and include ‘‘refinancings’’ in the              open-end lines of credit that are for                    HMDA Rule, as are all primarily
                                                  scope of loans that were reportable                     personal, family, or household purposes                  agricultural-purpose transactions.15
                                                  under HMDA and Regulation C. 12 CFR                     (i.e., consumer purpose).11 As a result,                    Effective January 1, 2018, Regulation
                                                  203.1(c) (2004). As a result of this                    most consumer-purpose transactions,                      C will require covered financial
                                                  change, any closed-end home purchase                    including closed-end mortgage loans,                     institutions to report applications for,
                                                  or refinancing was reported if it was                   closed-end home equity loans, home-                      and originations and purchases of,
                                                  dwelling-secured and home                               equity lines of credit, and reverse                      ‘‘covered loans’’ that are secured by a
                                                  improvement loans were reported                         mortgages, will be reportable under                      dwelling. A ‘‘covered loan’’ is defined
                                                  whether or not they were dwelling-                      HMDA if they are secured by a                            in 12 CFR 1003.2(e) to mean a closed-
                                                  secured. To keep the CRA regulations                    dwelling.12 Home improvement loans                       end mortgage loan, as defined in
                                                  aligned with the scope of loans                         that are not secured by a dwelling (i.e.,                § 1003.2(d), or an open-end line of
                                                  reportable under HMDA and Regulation                    home improvement loans that are                          credit, as defined in § 1003.2(o), that is
                                                  C, on March 28, 2005, the Agencies                      unsecured or that are secured by some                    not an excluded transaction under 12
                                                  issued a final rule to change the                       other type of collateral), however, will                 CFR 1003.3(c).16 To conform to the new
                                                  definition of ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ in                 now be excluded from Regulation C
                                                  their CRA regulations to mean not only                  coverage.13                                              would be a reportable transaction under the 2015
                                                  a ‘‘home improvement loan’’ or a ‘‘home                                                                          HMDA Rule. See Comment 3(c)(10)—3.i. A closed-
                                                                                                             The 2015 HMDA Rule retains the                        end mortgage loan or an open-end line of credit
                                                  purchase loan,’’ but also a ‘‘refinancing’’             traditional purpose-based reporting                      whose funds will be used primarily to improve or
                                                  as that term was defined in 12 CFR                      approach for all commercial-purpose                      expand a business, for example, to renovate a
                                                  203.2 of the Board’s Regulation C.5                     transactions. Thus, if a dwelling-                       family restaurant that is not located in a dwelling
                                                     On July 21, 2011, rulemaking                                                                                  or to purchase a warehouse, business equipment, or
                                                                                                          secured, commercial loan has the                         inventory, would not be a reportable transaction.
                                                  authority for HMDA transferred from                     purpose of home purchase, home                           See Comment 3(c)(10)—4.i.
                                                  the Board to the Bureau pursuant to the                 improvement, or refinancing, the loan                       15 Id. Note that under current Regulation C, a loan

                                                  Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and                       will be subject to Regulation C.14                       to purchase property used primarily for agricultural
                                                  Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank                                                                              purposes, is not a home purchase loan. However,
                                                                                                                                                                   under certain circumstances a refinance with a
                                                  Act).6 On October 15, 2015, the Bureau                  at least 25 closed-end mortgage loans or at least 100    primarily agricultural purpose could be reported as
                                                  issued a final rule substantially revising              open-end lines of credit in each of the two              a refinancing on the HMDA Loan Application
                                                  Regulation C (12 CFR 1003), in part, to                 preceding calendar years. The open-end lines of          Register (LAR). For purposes of CRA, this loan
                                                  implement amendments to HMDA                            credit threshold will increase from 100 to 500 loans     could be captured as both a ‘‘refinancing’’ under the
                                                                                                          on a temporary basis for a period of two years           CRA definition of ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ and,
                                                  required by section 1094 of the Dodd-                   (calendar years 2018 and 2019) pursuant to the           because the refinancing would be for an agricultural
                                                  Frank Act (2015 HMDA Rule).7 The                        2017 HMDA Rule. The Bureau is not making the             loan, the loan would also be captured on the Call
                                                  2015 HMDA Rule, which in relevant                       threshold increase for open-end lines of credit          Report as a refinance of a small farm loan. Under
                                                  part has a January 1, 2018, effective                   permanent at this time. Absent further action by the     the 2015 HMDA Rule, all loans with a primarily
                                                                                                          Bureau, effective January 1, 2020, the open-end          agricultural purpose, whether they are for home
                                                  date, revises the scope of transactions                 threshold will be restored to the 2015 HMDA Rule         purchase, home improvement, refinancing, or
                                                  reportable under Regulation C.8 In some                 level of 100 open-end lines of credit, and creditors     another purpose, will no longer be reported on the
                                                  cases, the revised scope of loans                       originating between 100 and 499 open-end lines of        HMDA LAR. As a result, for purposes of CRA, the
                                                  reportable under HMDA is broader, and                   credit will need to begin collecting and reporting       likelihood of double counting primarily agricultural
                                                                                                          HMDA data for open-end lines of credit at this time.     purpose loans as both a ‘‘refinancing’’ under the
                                                  in other cases, it is more limited.9 For                While depository financial institutions with more        definition of ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ and a
                                                                                                          than 100 open-end lines of credit (500 open-end          refinancing of small farm loans is decreased. The
                                                     4 67 FR 7222 (Feb. 15, 2002). The 2002 HMDA          lines of credit for 2018 and 2019) will have to report   Agencies do not believe the proposed change in
                                                  Rule revisions became effective on January 1, 2004.     HMDA data, fewer depository financial institutions       transactional coverage for commercial loans and
                                                     5 70 FR 15570 (Mar. 28, 2005).                       will report closed-end mortgage data under HMDA          loans with a primarily agricultural purpose will
                                                     6 Public Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010),         when the revised rule becomes effective.                 negatively impact a financial institution’s CRA
                                                  codified in relevant part at 12 U.S.C. 5301, 5481–         10 Under current Regulation C, loans that are         rating.
                                                                                                                                                                      16 The 2015 HMDA Rule retains existing
                                                  5603, and in laws amended (Title X); and 12 U.S.C.      made primarily for personal, family or household
                                                  5481 note, 15 U.S.C. 1601 note, 1602, and 1631 et       purposes (i.e., consumer purpose) and that are           categories of excluded transactions, clarifies some
                                                  seq. (Title XIV). The Bureau’s Regulation C is          secured by a dwelling are reportable if they are         categories of excluded transactions, and expands
                                                  located at 12 CFR part 1003.                            made for the purpose of home-purchase or                 the existing exclusion for agricultural-purpose
                                                     7 80 FR 66127 (Oct. 28, 2015). On August 24,         refinancing. Loans that are made for the purpose of      transactions. Effective January 1, 2018, the
                                                  2017, the Bureau issued a final rule (2017 HMDA         home improvement are reported regardless of              following transactions will not be reportable under
                                                  Rule) amending the 2015 HMDA Rule. The 2017             whether they are secured by a dwelling. The 2015         Regulation C:
                                                  HMDA Rule finalizes a proposal issued by the            HMDA Rule modifies the types of transactions that           1. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line
                                                  Bureau on April 25, 2017 (82 FR 19142), to address      are subject to Regulation C by changing this             of credit originated or purchased by a financial
                                                  technical errors, ease the burden on certain            traditional ‘‘purpose-based’’ reporting approach to      institution acting in a fiduciary capacity;
                                                  reporting requirements, and clarify some key terms.     generally adopting a dwelling secured standard for          2. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line
                                                  The 2017 HMDA Rule also finalizes a proposal            transactional coverage.                                  of credit secured by a lien on unimproved land;
                                                                                                             11 80 FR at 66128.                                       3. Temporary financing;
                                                  issued by the Bureau on July 14, 2017 (82 FR
                                                  33455), to temporarily increase the institutional and      12 Id.                                                   4. The purchase of an interest in a pool of closed-
                                                  transactional coverage thresholds for open-end lines       13 Id.                                                end mortgage loans or open-end lines of credit;
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                                                  of credit. See http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/         14 Id. Under the 2015 HMDA Rule, dwelling-               5. The purchase solely of the right to service
                                                  documents/201708_cfpb_final-rule_home-                  secured commercial-purpose transactions will be          closed-end mortgage loans or open-end lines of
                                                  mortgage-disclosure_regulation-c.pdf                    covered only if they are for home purchase, home         credit;
                                                     8 80 FR at 66128.
                                                                                                          improvement, or refinancing purposes. A closed-             6. The purchase of closed-end mortgage loans or
                                                     9 The 2015 HMDA Rule revises the scope of            end mortgage loan or an open-end line of credit to       open-end lines of credit as part of a merger or
                                                  transactions as well as financial institutions that     purchase or to improve a multifamily dwelling or         acquisition, or as part of the acquisition of all of the
                                                  must collect and report HMDA data. Under the            a single-family investment property, or a                assets and liabilities of a branch office as defined
                                                  revised rule, a financial institution that meets all    refinancing of a closed-end mortgage loan or an          in 12 CFR 1003.2(c);
                                                  other requirements for financial institution coverage   open-end line of credit secured by a multifamily            7. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line
                                                  is required to report HMDA data only if it originates   dwelling or a single-family investment property,         of credit, or an application of a closed-end mortgage



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                                                                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                        43913

                                                  revisions in Regulation C, the proposed                  CRA regulations since 1995. The                      institution’s CRA performance
                                                  rule would revise the current definition                 Agencies will review any amendments                  evaluation, the performance context of
                                                  of ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ in their CRA                   made to the cross-referenced definitions             the institution will affect how the
                                                  regulations, also effective on January 1,                in HMDA to ensure that such cross-                   Agencies will consider home equity
                                                  2018, to mean a ‘‘closed-end mortgage                    referenced terms continue to meet the                lines of credit. Performance context
                                                  loan’’ or an ‘‘open-end line of credit,’’ as             statutory objectives of the CRA.                     includes a broad range of economic,
                                                  those terms are defined under new 12                        As a result of the proposed revisions             demographic, and financial institution
                                                  CFR 1003.2(d) and (o), respectively, and                 to the ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ definition,            and community-specific information
                                                  as may be amended from time to time,                     the manner in which some loan                        that the Agencies use to understand the
                                                  and that is not an excluded transaction                  transactions are considered under CRA                circumstances in which a financial
                                                  under new 12 CFR 1003.3(c)(1)–(10) and                   will be affected. Effective January 1,               institution’s record of performance
                                                  (13), as may be amended from time to                     2018, home improvement loans that are                should be evaluated. Performance
                                                  time.17 The Agencies have used the                       not secured by a dwelling, which are                 context information is used by the
                                                  scope of HMDA reportable transactions                    currently required to be reported under              Agencies to support a financial
                                                  to define ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ in the                  Regulation C, will no longer be                      institution’s level of performance and
                                                                                                           reportable transactions under the 2015               CRA performance rating. For financial
                                                  loan or open-end line of credit, for which the total     HMDA Rule. Therefore, also effective                 institutions that would not be required
                                                  dollar amount is less than $500;                         January 1, 2018, for purposes of CRA,                to report these transactions under
                                                     8. The purchase of a partial interest in a closed-    home improvement loans that are not                  Regulation C, examiners may review the
                                                  end mortgage loan or open-end line of credit;
                                                     9. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line
                                                                                                           secured by a dwelling may be                         relevant files and consider these loans
                                                  of credit used primarily for agricultural purposes;      considered at the option of the financial            for CRA performance on a sampling
                                                     10. A closed-end mortgage loan or open-end line       institution. A financial institution that            basis under the home mortgage loan
                                                  of credit that is or will be made primarily for a        opts to have its home improvement                    category.
                                                  business or commercial purpose, unless the closed-       loans considered would need to collect                  The Agencies request comment on
                                                  end mortgage loan or open-end equity line of credit
                                                  is a home improvement loan under § 1003.2(i), a          and maintain data on these loans in                  their proposal to amend the definition
                                                  home purchase under § 1003.2(j), or a refinancing        machine readable form under the                      of ‘‘home mortgage loan,’’ including
                                                  under § 1003.2(p);                                       category of ‘‘other secured consumer                 how the amended definition may
                                                     11. A closed-end mortgage loan, if the financial      loan’’ or ‘‘other unsecured consumer                 impact a financial institution’s CRA
                                                  institution originated fewer than 25 closed-end
                                                  mortgage loans in either of the two preceding
                                                                                                           loan,’’ as appropriate. See 12 CFR ll                performance.
                                                  calendar years; a financial institution may collect,     .12(j)(3) or (4). The Agencies note that,
                                                                                                                                                                Conforming Changes to the ‘‘Consumer
                                                  record, report, and disclose information, as             notwithstanding an institution’s option,
                                                  described in §§ 1003.4 and 1003.5, for such an                                                                Loan’’ Definition
                                                                                                           home improvement loans that are not
                                                  excluded closed-end mortgage loan as though it                                                                   The CRA regulations currently define
                                                  were a covered loan, provided that the financial
                                                                                                           secured by a dwelling may still be
                                                  institution complies with such requirements for all      evaluated by the Agencies under the                  ‘‘consumer loan’’ as a loan to one or
                                                  applications for closed-end mortgage loans that it       lending test set out under 12 CFR ll                 more individuals for household, family,
                                                  receives, closed-end mortgage loans that it              .22(a)(1), in circumstances where the                or other personal expenditures and that
                                                  originates, and closed-end mortgage loans that it                                                             is not a home mortgage, small business,
                                                  purchases that otherwise would have been covered
                                                                                                           consumer lending is so significant a
                                                  loans during the calendar year during which final        portion of an institution’s lending by               or small farm loan under 12 CFR
                                                  action is taken on the excluded closed-end               activity and dollar volume of loans that             ll.12(j). A ‘‘home equity loan’’ is one
                                                  mortgage loan; or                                        the lending test evaluation would not                of five loan categories listed under the
                                                     12. An open-end equity line of credit, if the         meaningfully reflect lending                         definition of ‘‘consumer loan’’ and is
                                                  financial institution originated fewer than 500                                                               defined as a ‘‘consumer loan secured by
                                                  open-end equity lines of credit in either of the two     performance if consumer loans were
                                                  preceding calendar years; a financial institution        excluded.18                                          a residence of the borrower’’ under 12
                                                  may collect, record, report, and disclose                   Home equity lines of credit secured               CFR ll.12(j)(3). As noted above, the
                                                  information, as described in §§ 1003.4 and 1003.5,       by a dwelling, which are currently                   proposed CRA definition of ‘‘home
                                                  for such an excluded open-end line of credit as
                                                  though it were a covered loan, provided that the         reported at the option of the financial              mortgage loan’’ would refer to ‘‘closed-
                                                  financial institution complies with such                 institution under Regulation C, will be              end mortgage loans’’ and ‘‘open-end
                                                  requirements for all applications for open-end lines     covered loans under the 2015 HMDA                    lines of credit’’ as those terms are
                                                  of credit that it receives, open-end lines of credit     Rule. Effective January 1, 2018, financial           defined in §§ 1003.2(d) and 1003.2(o),
                                                  that it originates, and open-end lines of credit that
                                                  it purchases that otherwise would have been              institutions that meet the reporting                 respectively, of Regulation C. Under
                                                  covered loans during the calendar year during            requirements under the 2015 HMDA                     Regulation C, a closed-end mortgage
                                                  which final action is taken on the excluded open-        Rule will be required to collect,                    loan is defined ‘‘as an extension of
                                                  end line of credit (as noted above, the increased        maintain, and report data on home                    credit secured by a lien on a dwelling,’’
                                                  threshold from 100 to 500 open-end lines of credit
                                                  is temporary and applies only to calendar years          equity lines of credit secured by a                  and therefore, includes a home equity
                                                  2018 and 2019; absent action from the Bureau, the        dwelling. For purposes of CRA                        loan secured by a dwelling per 12 CFR
                                                  threshold for reporting open-end lines of credit         consideration, in the case of financial              1003.2(d), effective January 1, 2018.
                                                  reverts to 100 effective January 1, 2020); or            institutions that report closed-end                  Thus, the Agencies believe it is no
                                                     13. A transaction that provided or, in the case of                                                         longer necessary to separately categorize
                                                  an application, proposed to provide new funds to
                                                                                                           mortgage loans and/or home equity
                                                  the applicant or borrower in advance of being            lines of credit under the 2015 HMDA                  home equity loans under the CRA
                                                  consolidated in a New York State consolidation,          Rule, those loans would be considered                definition of ‘‘consumer loan’’ because
                                                  extension, and modification agreement classified as      as home mortgage loans under the                     both home equity loans and home
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  a supplemental mortgage under New York Tax Law           proposed amended definition of ‘‘home                equity lines of credit would be
                                                  section 255; the transaction is excluded only if final
                                                  action on the consolidation was taken in the same        mortgage loan.’’ The effect of the                   specifically included in the proposed
                                                  calendar year as final action on the new funds           proposed change will vary depending                  revised CRA definition of ‘‘home
                                                  transaction.                                             upon the amount and characteristics of               mortgage loan.’’ Accordingly, the
                                                     17 The 2017 HMDA Rule adds a new exclusion
                                                                                                           the financial institution’s mortgage loan            proposed rule would remove the term
                                                  from reporting HMDA data for certain transactions
                                                  concerning New York consolidation, extension, and        portfolio. As with all aspects of an                 ‘‘home equity loan’’ from the list of
                                                  modification agreements (also known as NY                                                                     consumer loan categories provided
                                                  CEMAs) under new § 1003.3(c)(13).                         18 Q&A   § ll.22(a)(1)—2.                           under the definition of ‘‘consumer loan’’


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                                                  43914             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  in 12 CFR ll.12(j). The Agencies                        loan’’ currently included under 12 CFR                 December 20, 2010, the Agencies issued
                                                  request comment on their proposal to                    ll.12(j)(3) from the categories of                     a joint final rule amending the
                                                  amend the definition of ‘‘consumer                      consumer loans listed in 12 CFR ll                     definition of ‘‘community development’’
                                                  loan.’’                                                 .12(j). Based on the new proposed                      to include qualifying NSP-related
                                                                                                          definition of ‘‘consumer loan,’’ any                   activities that benefit low-, moderate-,
                                                  Changes to the Content of the Public                    cross-references to home equity loans as               and middle-income individuals and
                                                  File                                                    a category of ‘‘consumer loans’’ in the                geographies in NSP-target areas.20
                                                     The CRA regulations currently                        CRA regulations would be invalid. As a                 Under the joint final rule, NSP-eligible
                                                  provide that financial institutions shall               result, the proposed rule would amend                  activities would receive consideration if
                                                  maintain a public file of certain                       12 CFR ll.22, Lending Test, and 12                     conducted no later than two years after
                                                  information and specify, among other                    CFR l.42, Data Collection, Reporting,                  the last date appropriated funds for the
                                                  things, the information that should be                  and Disclosure, to remove the term                     program were required to be spent by
                                                  maintained and made available to the                    ‘‘home equity’’ each time it appears as                the grantees. After the two-year period,
                                                  public upon request under 12 CFRll                      a category of consumer loans.                          the rule would cease to apply. The last
                                                  .43(a)–(d). Currently, a financial                                                                             date appropriated funds were required
                                                                                                          Technical Revision to the ‘‘Community
                                                  institution that is required to report                                                                         to be spent by grantees was March
                                                                                                          Development Loan’’ Definition
                                                  HMDA data under Regulation C must                                                                              2014.21 Thus, pursuant to 12 CFR ll
                                                  include a copy of the HMDA disclosure                     The CRA regulations under 12 CFR                     .12(g)(5)(ii), after March 2016, NSP-
                                                  statement that is provided to each                      ll.12(h) currently define ‘‘community                  eligible activities no longer receive
                                                  financial institution by the Federal                    development loan’’ as a loan that,                     consideration as ‘‘community
                                                  Financial Institutions Examination                         (1) Has as its primary purpose, community           development’’ under the CRA
                                                  Council in the institution’s CRA public                 development; and                                       regulations. On that basis, the proposed
                                                  file for each of the prior two calendar                    (2) Except in the case of a wholesale or            rule would amend 12 CFR 25.12,
                                                  years per 12 CFR ll.43(b)(2).                           limited purpose bank:                                  195.12, 228.12, and 345.12 to revise the
                                                                                                             (i) Has not been reported or collected by           definition of ‘‘community development’’
                                                  However, pursuant to changes to
                                                                                                          the bank or an affiliate for consideration in
                                                  Regulation C under the 2015 HMDA                                                                               to remove qualifying NSP-related
                                                                                                          the bank’s assessment as a home mortgage,
                                                  Rule, which becomes effective January                   small business, small farm, or consumer loan,          activities that benefit low-, moderate-,
                                                  1, 2018, financial institutions will no                 unless it is a multifamily dwelling loan (as           and middle-income individuals and
                                                  longer be required to provide this                      described in appendix A to part 1003 of this           geographies in NSP-targeted areas.
                                                  HMDA disclosure statement directly to                   title); and                                               The Agencies request comment on
                                                  the public. Instead, pursuant to                           (ii) Benefits the bank’s assessment area(s)         their proposal to make the technical
                                                  Regulation C, a financial institution will              or a broader statewide or regional area that           amendments described above.
                                                                                                          includes the bank’s assessment area(s).                   The Agencies note that they plan to
                                                  only be required to provide a notice that
                                                  clearly conveys to the public that they                    Effective January 1, 2019, the 2015                 make conforming changes to the
                                                  can obtain a copy of the financial                      HMDA Rule removes appendix A from                      relevant Interagency CRA Q&As if the
                                                  institution’s disclosure statement on the               Regulation C. The instructions for                     proposed changes to the CRA
                                                  Bureau’s Web site under 12 CFR                          completion of the HMDA LAR currently                   regulations become final.
                                                  1003.5(b). As a result, the proposed rule               found in part 1 of that appendix A will                Effective Date
                                                  would amend the CRA public file                         not apply to data collected pursuant to
                                                                                                          the amendments to Regulation C that are                   The proposed rule would have an
                                                  content requirements under 12 CFRll
                                                                                                          effective January 1, 2018. The                         effective date of January 1, 2018, to
                                                  .43(b)(2) for consistency and to reduce
                                                                                                          substantive requirements found in                      conform to the effective date of the
                                                  burden. Specifically, under the
                                                                                                          existing appendix A will be moved to                   revisions resulting from the Bureau’s
                                                  proposal, institutions that are required
                                                                                                          the text and commentary of Regulation                  Regulation C. The Agencies request
                                                  to report HMDA data would need to
                                                                                                          C and going forward, any reference to                  comment on the proposed effective date.
                                                  only maintain the notice required under
                                                  Regulation C in their CRA public file,                  appendix A will become obsolete. As a                  Regulatory Analysis
                                                  rather than a copy of the HMDA                          result, the Agencies believe that the
                                                                                                          reference to appendix A of Regulation C                Regulatory Flexibility Act
                                                  disclosure statement. The Agencies
                                                  request comment on their proposal to                    in the ‘‘community development loan’’                     OCC: In general, the Regulatory
                                                  amend the CRA public file content                       definition in the CRA regulations needs                Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et
                                                  requirements.                                           to be removed. Moreover, effective                     seq.) requires that in connection with a
                                                     As explained in more detail under the                January 1, 2018, the term ‘‘multifamily                rulemaking, an agency prepare and
                                                  Regulatory Analysis section of this                     dwelling’’ will be specifically defined                make available for public comment a
                                                  proposal, the Agencies expect the                       under 12 CFR 1003.2(n). Accordingly,                   regulatory flexibility analysis that
                                                  proposed changes to the CRA                             the proposed rule would remove the                     describes the impact of the rule on small
                                                  definitions and to the content of the                   reference to appendix A in the                         entities. Under section 605(b) of the
                                                  public file, to reflect revisions made to               definition of ‘‘community development                  RFA, this analysis is not required if an
                                                  the Bureau’s Regulation C, to generally                 loan’’ and replace it with a reference to              agency certifies that the rule will not
                                                  have little economic effect and believe                 the definition of ‘‘multifamily dwelling’’             have a significant economic impact on
                                                  the proposed changes would not create                   under new 12 CFR 1003.2(n).                            a substantial number of small entities
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  additional regulatory burden on                         Removal of Obsolete Language Related                   and publishes its certification and a
                                                  financial institutions.                                 to the NSP                                             brief explanatory statement in the
                                                                                                                                                                 Federal Register along with its rule.
                                                  Technical Amendments                                      The NSP was authorized by the                           The OCC currently supervises
                                                                                                          Housing and Economic Recovery Act 19                   approximately 956 small entities.
                                                  ‘‘Home Equity’’ When Used as a                          to stabilize communities suffering from
                                                  Category of Consumer Loans                              foreclosures and abandonment. On                         20 75
                                                                                                                                                                      FR 79278 (Dec. 20, 2010).
                                                   As indicated above, the proposed rule                                                                           21 See
                                                                                                                                                                       https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/
                                                  would remove the term ‘‘home equity                       19 Public   Law 110–289, 122 Stat. 2654 (2008).      documents/NSP3_100_Expenditure_Deadline.pdf.



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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                 43915

                                                  Although the proposed rule would                           covered financial institutions.                       revised scope of the CRA definitions is
                                                  apply to all OCC-supervised financial                      Additionally, the Board expects that the              broader, and in other cases, it is more
                                                  institutions, we anticipate that the                       proposed changes to definitions within                limited. These changes could affect
                                                  proposal would not impose costs on any                     the CRA performance standards will                    supervisory assessment of CRA
                                                  OCC-supervised financial institutions                      have little impact on supervisory                     performance for small entities.
                                                  since the proposed rule does not impose                    assessments of CRA performance                        However, it is unlikely that small
                                                  new requirements or include new                            generally, but could affect some                      financial institutions will be
                                                  mandates. Any burden that may be                           financial institutions more than others               significantly affected given that HMDA
                                                  associated with changes made to                            depending upon the amount and                         reporting will be limited to financial
                                                  Regulation C HMDA reporting are a                          characteristics of their loan portfolio.              institutions that originate more than 25
                                                  result of Bureau rulemakings. However,                        The proposed rule changes the CRA                  home mortgage loans or 100 home
                                                  the proposed rule may reduce regulatory                    public file notification requirements for             equity lines of credit each year.28 There
                                                  costs for covered financial institutions                   covered financial institutions. Financial             could be a net effect on CRA
                                                  that are required to report HMDA data                      institutions that are required to report              examination results for some small
                                                  because those institutions would no                        HMDA data can maintain the notice                     entities which may, in turn, affect the
                                                  longer be required to keep two years of                    required under Regulation C in their                  future behavior of those financial
                                                  HMDA disclosure statements in their                        CRA public file of their branch office,               institutions. But, it is difficult to
                                                  CRA public file. Instead, covered                          rather than the HMDA Disclosure                       accurately determine the likelihood and
                                                  financial institutions would provide a                     Statement. By allowing covered                        degree of aggregate lending or economic
                                                  notice in the public file with a Web site                  financial institutions to utilize the same            effects that may result because they are
                                                  address indicating where the HMDA                          disclosure for both purposes, the                     dependent upon firm-specific business
                                                  disclosure statements can be accessed.                     proposed rule will reduce compliance                  plans and propensities to lend.
                                                  Among the small entities that the OCC                      burden. As previously stated, there are                  Finally, Board-supervised small
                                                  currently supervises, 518 are HMDA                         566 Board-supervised entities that are                entities will likely benefit from the
                                                  reporters. By not having to keep paper                     identified as small entities by the terms             harmonization of definitions for CRA
                                                  copies of the HMDA disclosure                              of the RFA. Of those, 304 were HMDA                   performance standards with HMDA data
                                                  statements in their CRA public file, the                   filers in 2016.24 All FDIC-insured                    reporting requirements by avoiding
                                                  OCC estimates that the savings for these                   financial institutions reported having                unnecessary confusion and costs.
                                                  small entities will be less than $1,142                    31,096 branch offices, for an average of              Inconsistencies between CRA
                                                  (10 hours × $114.20 per hour) per entity.                  7.9 branches per financial institution.25             examination metrics and the HMDA
                                                  Therefore, the proposal will not have a                    The Board assumes it takes one                        data, which is used to assess
                                                  significant economic impact on a                           employee 10 minutes at a rate of $76.61               performance, could lead to misleading
                                                  substantial number of small entities.                      an hour 26 to print and file the CRA                  results causing small entities to change
                                                  Accordingly, the OCC certifies that the                    notification and an additional 10                     future lending behavior.
                                                  joint proposed rule, if promulgated, will                  minutes to print and file the HMDA                       1. Statement of the need for, and
                                                  not have a significant economic impact                     notification per year. This equates to an             objectives of, the proposed rule. The
                                                  on a substantial number of small OCC-                      estimated annual printing and filing                  proposed rule makes revisions to certain
                                                  supervised entities.                                       cost of $25.54 per branch office.                     definitions in the current CRA
                                                     Board: The RFA (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)                   Therefore, complying with the new rule                regulations and the public file content
                                                  generally requires an agency to publish                                                                          requirements to conform to recent
                                                                                                             will save small entities an estimated
                                                  an initial regulatory flexibility analysis                                                                       changes made by the Bureau to
                                                                                                             $61,336.86 in costs per year.27
                                                  with a proposed rule or certify that the                                                                         Regulation C, removes cross references
                                                                                                                The Board expects the proposed
                                                  proposed rule will not have a significant                                                                        related to the proposed definitional
                                                                                                             changes to definitions within the CRA
                                                  economic impact on a substantial                                                                                 changes, and removes an obsolete
                                                                                                             performance standards to generally have
                                                  number of small entities.22 Based on its                                                                         reference to the NSP.
                                                                                                             little economic effect for small entities,
                                                  analysis, and for the reasons stated                                                                                2. Small entities affected by the
                                                                                                             however the amendments could pose
                                                  below, the Board believes that this                                                                              proposed rule. State member banks that
                                                                                                             some effects for individual entities
                                                  proposed rule will not have a significant                                                                        are subject to the Board’s CRA
                                                                                                             depending upon the amount and
                                                  economic impact on a substantial                                                                                 regulation would be affected. The Board
                                                  number of small entities. Nevertheless,                    characteristics of their loan portfolio. As
                                                                                                             noted previously, in some cases the                   currently supervises approximately 566
                                                  the Board is publishing an initial                                                                               small entities, and does not believe the
                                                  regulatory flexibility analysis and                          24 2016 HMDA Data and Call Report Data as of        proposed rule will have a significant
                                                  requests public comment on all aspects                     June 30, 2017.                                        economic impact on these entities. As
                                                  of its analysis. The Board will, if                          25 2015 Summary of Deposits Data.
                                                                                                                                                                   noted, the Board believes that the
                                                  necessary, conduct a final regulatory                        26 Estimated total hourly compensation for
                                                                                                                                                                   proposed changes to the definition of
                                                  flexibility analysis after considering the                 Compliance Officers in the Depository Credit
                                                                                                                                                                   ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ and ‘‘consumer
                                                  comments received during the public                        Intermediation sector as of December 2016. The
                                                                                                             estimate includes the May 2015 90th percentile        loan’’ will have minimal impact on
                                                  comment period.                                            hourly wage rate reported by the Bureau of Labor
                                                     There are 820 Board-supervised state                    Statistics, National Industry-Specific Occupational     28 The open-end lines of credit threshold will

                                                  member banks, and 566 are identified as                    Employment, and Wage Estimates. This wage rate        increase from 100 to 500 loans on a temporary basis
                                                  small entities according to the RFA.23                     has been adjusted for changes in the Consumer         for a period of two years (calendar years 2018 and
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                             Price Index for all Urban Consumers between May       2019) pursuant to the 2017 HMDA Rule. The
                                                  The Board estimates that the proposed                      2015 and December 2016 (2.5 percent) and grossed      Bureau is not making the threshold increase for
                                                  rule will have generally small economic                    up by 54.3 percent to account for non-monetary        open-end lines of credit permanent at this time.
                                                  effects for small entities. The new CRA                    compensation as reported by the December 2016         Absent further action by the Bureau, effective
                                                  public file disclosure statement option                    Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Data.        January 1, 2020, the open-end threshold will be
                                                                                                               27 Assuming that each covered institution will no   restored to the 2015 HMDA Rule level of 100 open-
                                                  will reduce recordkeeping burden for                       longer have to print and file the CRA notification,   end lines of credit, and creditors originating
                                                                                                             the recordkeeping burden for each branch office       between 100 and 499 open-end lines of credit will
                                                    22 See    5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.                           declines by 10 minutes for all 7.9 branch offices,    need to begin collecting and reporting HMDA data
                                                    23 Call   Report Data as of June 30, 2017.               for all 304 small entities that are HMDA filers.      for open-end lines of credit at this time.



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                                                  43916             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  supervisory assessments of a financial                  together with the proposed rule. For the              entities an estimated $187,214 in costs
                                                  institution’s CRA performance                           reasons provided below, the FDIC                      per year.33
                                                  generally, but could affect some                        certifies that the proposed rule will not                The FDIC expects the proposed
                                                  financial institutions more than others                 have a significant economic impact on                 changes to definitions within the CRA
                                                  depending on the characteristics of their               a substantial number of small entities.               performance standards to generally have
                                                  loan portfolios. For example, home                         There are 3,787 FDIC-supervised                    little economic effect for small entities,
                                                  improvement loans that are not secured                  financial institutions, and 3,080 are                 however the amendments could pose
                                                  by a dwelling, which are currently                      identified as small entities according to             some effects for individual entities
                                                  required to be reported under                           the RFA.29 The FDIC estimates that the                depending upon the amount and
                                                  Regulation C, will no longer be                         proposed rule would have generally                    characteristics of their loan portfolio. As
                                                  reportable transactions under HMDA,                     small economic effects for small                      noted previously, in some cases the
                                                  effective January 1, 2018. A financial                  entities. The new proposed CRA public                 revised scope of the CRA definitions is
                                                  institution that opts to have these loans               file disclosure statement option would                broader, and in other cases, it is more
                                                  considered would need to collect and                    reduce regulatory costs for covered                   limited. These changes could affect
                                                  maintain data on these loans in machine                 financial institutions. Additionally, the             supervisory assessment of CRA
                                                  readable form under the category of                     FDIC expects that the proposed changes                performance for small entities.
                                                  ‘‘other secured consumer loan’’ or                      to definitions within the CRA                         However, it is unlikely that small
                                                  ‘‘other unsecured consumer loan,’’ as                   performance standards would have little               financial institutions would be
                                                  appropriate.                                            impact on supervisory assessments of                  significantly affected given that HMDA
                                                     The Board invites comment on the                     CRA performance generally, but could                  reporting will be limited to financial
                                                  effect of the proposed rule on small                    affect some financial institutions more               institutions that originate more than 25
                                                  entities.                                               than others depending upon the amount                 home mortgage loans or 100 home
                                                     3. Recordkeeping, reporting, and                     and characteristics of their loan                     equity lines of credit each year.34 There
                                                  compliance requirements. The proposed                   portfolio.                                            could be a net effect on CRA
                                                  rule would impose minor                                    The proposed rule changes the CRA                  examination results for some small
                                                  recordkeeping, reporting, or compliance                 public file notification requirements for             entities which may, in turn, affect the
                                                  requirements on some entities.                          covered financial institutions. Financial             future behavior of those financial
                                                  Additionally, it is anticipated that by                 institutions required to report HMDA                  institutions. But, it is difficult to
                                                  allowing covered financial institutions                 data can maintain the notice required                 accurately determine the likelihood and
                                                  to utilize the Regulation C notice that                 under Regulation C in the CRA public                  degree of aggregate lending or economic
                                                  clearly conveys to the public that they                 file of their branch office, rather than              effects that may result because they are
                                                  can obtain a copy of the financial                      the HMDA Disclosure Statement. By                     dependent upon firm-specific business
                                                  institution’s HMDA disclosure                                                                                 plans and propensities to lend.
                                                                                                          allowing covered financial institutions
                                                  statement at the Bureau’s Web site to                                                                            Finally, FDIC-supervised small
                                                                                                          to utilize the same disclosure for both
                                                  satisfy the associated CRA public file                                                                        entities would likely benefit from the
                                                                                                          purposes, the proposed rule would
                                                  content requirements the proposed rule                                                                        harmonization of definitions for CRA
                                                                                                          reduce regulatory costs. As previously
                                                  will reduce compliance burden.                                                                                performance standards with HMDA data
                                                     4. Other federal rules. The Board has                stated, there are 3,080 FDIC-supervised
                                                                                                          entities that are identified as small                 reporting requirements by avoiding
                                                  not identified any federal rules that                                                                         unnecessary confusion and costs.
                                                  duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the                entities by the terms of the RFA. Of
                                                                                                          those, 1,856 were HMDA filers in                      Inconsistencies between CRA
                                                  proposed rule.                                                                                                examination metrics and the HMDA
                                                     5. Significant alternatives to the                   2015.30 All FDIC-insured financial
                                                                                                          institutions reported having 31,096                   data which is used to assess
                                                  proposed revisions. The Board is not                                                                          performance could lead to misleading
                                                  aware of any significant alternatives that              branch offices, for an average of 7.9
                                                                                                          branches per financial institution.31 The             results causing small entities to change
                                                  would further minimize the impact on
                                                                                                          FDIC assumes it takes one employee 10                 future lending behavior.
                                                  small entities of the proposed rule, but
                                                  solicits comment on any significant                     minutes at a rate of $76.61 an hour 32 to             Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
                                                  alternatives that would reduce the                      print and file the CRA notification and
                                                                                                                                                                  Certain provisions of the proposed
                                                  regulatory burden associated on small                   an additional 10 minutes to print and
                                                                                                                                                                rule contain ‘‘collection of information’’
                                                  entities with this proposed rule.                       file the HMDA notification per year.
                                                                                                                                                                requirements within the meaning of the
                                                     FDIC: The RFA (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)                 This equates to an estimated annual
                                                                                                                                                                Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995
                                                  generally requires that, in connection                  printing and filing cost of $25.54 per
                                                                                                                                                                (44 U.S.C. 3501–3521). In accordance
                                                  with a notice of proposed rulemaking,                   branch office. Therefore, complying
                                                                                                                                                                with the requirements of the PRA, the
                                                  an agency prepare and make available                    with the new rule would save small
                                                  for public comment an initial regulatory                                                                        33 Assuming that each covered institution will no
                                                  flexibility analysis that describes the                   29 Call Report Data as of Dec. 31, 2016.            longer have to print and file the CRA notification,
                                                                                                            30 2015  HMDA Data and Call Report Data as of
                                                  impact of a proposed rule on small                                                                            the recordkeeping burden for each branch office
                                                                                                          Dec. 31, 2015.                                        declines by 10 minutes for all 7.9 branch offices,
                                                  entities (defined in regulations                          31 2015 Summary of Deposits Data.                   for all 1,856 small entities that are HMDA filers.
                                                  promulgated by the Small Business                         32 Estimated total hourly compensation for            34 The open-end lines of credit threshold will
                                                  Administration to include banking                       Compliance Officers in the Depository Credit          increase from 100 to 500 loans on a temporary basis
                                                  organizations with total assets of less                 Intermediation sector as of December 2016. The        for a period of two years (calendar years 2018 and
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  than or equal to $550 million). A                       estimate includes the May 2015 90th percentile        2019) pursuant to the 2017 HMDA Rule. The
                                                                                                          hourly wage rate reported by the Bureau of Labor      Bureau is not making the threshold increase for
                                                  regulatory flexibility analysis, however,               Statistics, National Industry-Specific Occupational   open-end lines of credit permanent at this time.
                                                  is not required if the agency certifies                 Employment, and Wage Estimates. This wage rate        Absent further action by the Bureau, effective
                                                  that the rule will not have a significant               has been adjusted for changes in the Consumer         January 1, 2020, the open-end threshold will be
                                                  economic impact on a substantial                        Price Index for all Urban Consumers between May       restored to the 2015 HMDA Rule level of 100 open-
                                                                                                          2015 and December 2016 (2.5 percent) and grossed      end lines of credit, and creditors originating
                                                  number of small entities, and publishes                 up by 54.3 percent to account for non-monetary        between 100 and 499 open-end lines of credit will
                                                  its certification and a short explanatory               compensation as reported by the December 2016         need to begin collecting and reporting HMDA data
                                                  statement in the Federal Register                       Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Data.        for open-end lines of credit at this time.



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                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                    43917

                                                  Agencies may not conduct or sponsor,                    maintenance, and purchase of services                 reporting, recordkeeping, and disclosure
                                                  and the respondent is not required to                   to provide information.                               requirements under the CRA regulations
                                                  respond to, an information collection                     All comments will become a matter of                depend in part on a bank’s size.
                                                  unless it displays a currently-valid                    public record. Comments on aspects of                   Under the CRA regulations, large
                                                  Office of Management and Budget                         this notice that may affect reporting,                banks are defined as those with assets
                                                  (OMB) control number. The information                   recordkeeping, or disclosure                          of $1.226 billion or more for the past
                                                  collection requirements contained in                    requirements and burden estimates                     two consecutive year-ends; all other
                                                  this proposed rulemaking have been                      should be sent to the addresses listed in             banks are considered small or
                                                  submitted by the OCC and FDIC to OMB                    the ADDRESSES section of this document.               intermediate.38 The banking agencies
                                                  for review and approval under section                   A copy of the comments may also be                    amend the definition of a small bank
                                                  3507(d) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3507(d))                  submitted to the OMB desk officer for                 and an intermediate small bank in their
                                                  and section 1320.11 of the OMB’s                        the Agencies: By mail to U.S. Office of               CRA regulations each year when the
                                                  implementing regulations (5 CFR 1320).                  Management and Budget, 725 17th                       asset thresholds are adjusted for
                                                  The OMB control number for the OCC                      Street NW., #10235, Washington, DC                    inflation pursuant to the CRA
                                                  is 1557–0160 and the FDIC is 3064–                      20503; by facsimile to (202) 395–5806;                regulations, most recently in January
                                                  0092. The OMB control number for the                    or by email to: oira_submission@                      2017.39
                                                  Board is 7100–0197 and will be                          omb.eop.gov, Attention, Federal                         Other than the information collections
                                                  extended, with revision. The Board                      Banking Agency Desk Officer.                          pursuant to the CRA, the Agencies have
                                                  reviewed the proposed rule under the                                                                          no information collection that supplies
                                                  authority delegated to the Board by                     Proposed Information Collection                       data regarding the community
                                                  OMB.                                                       Title of Information Collection:                   reinvestment activities.
                                                     Under this proposal, effective January               Reporting, Recordkeeping, and                         PRA Burden Estimates
                                                  1, 2018, financial institutions required                Disclosure Requirements Associated
                                                  to collect data under the CRA would                     with the Community Reinvestment Act                   OCC
                                                  also be required to collect data for open-              (CRA).                                                   Number of respondents:
                                                  end lines of credit in MSA and non-                        Frequency of Response: Annually.                   Recordkeeping requirement, small
                                                  MSA areas where they have no branch                        Affected Public: Businesses or other               business and small farm loan register,
                                                  or home office. The Agencies estimate                   for-profit.                                           142; Optional recordkeeping
                                                  that this proposed change would not                        Respondents:                                       requirements, consumer loan data, 85,
                                                  result in an increase in burden under                      OCC: National banks, trust                         and other loan data, 25; Reporting
                                                  the currently approved CRA information                  companies, savings associations (except               requirements, assessment area
                                                  collections because the burden                          special purpose savings associations                  delineation, 189; loan data: Small
                                                  associated with the above-described                     pursuant to 12 CFR 195.11(c)(2)),                     business and small farm, 142,
                                                  requirement is accounted for under the                  insured Federal branches and any                      community development, 142, and
                                                  HMDA information collections.35                         Federal branch that is uninsured that                 HMDA out of MSA, 142; Optional
                                                     The agencies have determined that                    results from an acquisition described in              reporting requirements, data on lending
                                                  the proposed revised definition of                      section 5(a)(8) of the International                  by a consortium or third party, 31;
                                                  ‘‘home mortgage loan’’ to include home                  Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C.                        affiliate lending data, 9; request for
                                                  equity lines of credit and to exclude                   3103(a)(8)).                                          strategic plan approval, 5; request for
                                                  home improvement loans that are not                        Board: State member banks.                         designation as a wholesale or limited
                                                  secured by a dwelling (i.e., home                          FDIC: Insured state nonmember banks                purpose bank, 12; Disclosure
                                                  improvement loans that are unsecured                    and insured state branches.                           requirement, public file, 1,234.
                                                  or that are secured by some other type                     Abstract: The CRA was enacted in                      Estimated average hours per response:
                                                  of collateral) does not warrant a change                1977 and is implemented by 12 CFR                     Recordkeeping requirement, small
                                                  to the current burden estimates.                        parts 25, 195, 228, and 345. The CRA                  business and small farm loan register:
                                                     Comments are invited on:                             directs the Agencies to evaluate                      219 hours; Optional recordkeeping
                                                     (a) Whether the collections of                       financial institutions’ records of helping            requirements, consumer loan data, 326
                                                  information are necessary for the proper                to meet the credit needs of their entire              hours, and other loan data, 25 hours;
                                                  performance of the Agencies’ functions,                 communities, including low- and                       Reporting requirements, assessment area
                                                  including whether the information has                   moderate-income areas consistent with                 delineation, 2 hours; loan data: Small
                                                  practical utility;                                      the safe and sound operation of the                   business and small farm, 8 hours,
                                                     (b) The accuracy of the estimates of                 institutions. The CRA is implemented                  community development, 13 hours, and
                                                  the burden of the information                           through regulations issued by the                     HMDA out of MSA, 253 hours; Optional
                                                  collections, including the validity of the                                                                    reporting requirements, data on lending
                                                                                                          Agencies.36
                                                  methodology and assumptions used;                          In 1995, the federal banking agencies              by a consortium or third party, 17 hours;
                                                     (c) Ways to enhance the quality,                                                                           affiliate lending data, 38 hours; request
                                                                                                          issued substantially identical
                                                  utility, and clarity of the information to                                                                    for strategic plan approval, 275 hours;
                                                                                                          regulations under CRA to reduce
                                                  be collected;                                                                                                 request for designation as a wholesale or
                                                     (d) Ways to minimize the burden of                   unnecessary compliance burden,
                                                  the information collections on                          promote consistency in CRA
                                                                                                                                                                  38 Beginning January 18, 2017, banks and savings
                                                  respondents, including through the use                  assessments, and encourage improved
                                                                                                                                                                associations that, as of December 31 of either of the
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  of automated collection techniques or                   performance.37 As a result, the current               prior two calendar years, had assets of less than
                                                  other forms of information technology;                     36 As noted above in footnote 2, the Dodd-Frank
                                                                                                                                                                $1.226 billion are small banks or small savings
                                                  and                                                                                                           associations. Small banks or small savings
                                                                                                          Act transferred from the OTS all authorities          associations with assets of at least $307 million as
                                                     (e) Estimates of capital or start-up                 (including rulemaking) relating to savings            of December 31 of both of the prior two calendar
                                                  costs and costs of operation,                           associations to the OCC and all authorities           years, and less than $1.226 billion as of December
                                                                                                          (including rulemaking) relating to savings and loan   31 of either of the prior two calendar years, are
                                                    35 OMB Control Number 1557–0159 (OCC); OMB            holding companies (SLHCs) to the Board on July 21,    intermediate small banks or intermediate small
                                                  Control Number 7100–0247 (Board); and OMB               2011.                                                 savings associations.
                                                  Control Number 3064–0046 (FDIC).                           37 See 60 FR 22156 (May 4, 1995).                    39 See 82 FR 5354 (Jan. 18, 2017).




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                                                  43918             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  limited purpose bank, 4 hours;                          Reporting requirements, assessment area               2,500 hours; Disclosure requirements:
                                                  Disclosure requirement, public file, 10                 delineation, 196 hours; loan data: Small              Content and availability of public file,
                                                  hours.                                                  business and small farm, 752 hours,                   39,710 hours.
                                                     Estimated annual reporting hours:                    community development, 1,274 hours,                     Total annual burden: 272,874 hours.
                                                  Recordkeeping requirement, small                        and HMDA out of MSA, 22,517 hours;
                                                  business and small farm loan register:                  Optional reporting requirements, data                 Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
                                                  31,098 hours; Optional recordkeeping                    on lending by a consortium or third
                                                                                                                                                                  The OCC analyzed the proposed rule
                                                  requirements, consumer loan data,                       party, 153 hours; affiliate lending data,
                                                                                                                                                                under the factors set forth in the
                                                  27,710 hours and other loan data, 625                   304 hours; request for strategic plan
                                                  hours; Reporting requirements,                                                                                Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
                                                                                                          approval, 550 hours; request for
                                                  assessment area delineation, 378 hours;                                                                       (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1532). Under this
                                                                                                          designation as a wholesale or limited
                                                  loan data: Small business and small                                                                           analysis, the OCC considered whether
                                                                                                          purpose bank, 4 hours; Disclosure
                                                  farm, 1,136 hours, community                                                                                  the proposed rule includes a Federal
                                                                                                          requirement, public file, 8,170 hours.
                                                  development, 1,846 hours, and HMDA                        Total annual burden: 61,727 hours.                  mandate that may result in the
                                                  out of MSA, 35,926 hours; Optional                                                                            expenditure by State, local, and Tribal
                                                                                                          FDIC                                                  governments, in the aggregate, or by the
                                                  reporting requirements, data on lending
                                                  by a consortium or third party, 527                        Number of respondents: Reporting                   private sector, of $100 million or more
                                                  hours; affiliate lending data, 342 hours;               requirements: Request for designation as              in any one year (adjusted for inflation).
                                                  request for strategic plan approval,                    a wholesale or limited purpose bank, 1                The OCC has determined that this
                                                  1,375 hours; request for designation as                 respondent; Strategic plan, 7                         proposed rule would not result in
                                                  a wholesale or limited purpose bank, 48                 respondents; Small business/small farm                expenditures by State, local, and Tribal
                                                  hours; Disclosure requirement, public                   loan data, 393 respondents; Community                 governments, or the private sector, of
                                                  file, 12,340 hours.                                     development loan data, 393                            $100 million or more in any one year.40
                                                     Total annual burden: 113,351 hours.                  respondents; Home mortgage loans, 393                 Accordingly, the OCC has not prepared
                                                                                                          respondents; Data on affiliate lending,               a written statement to accompany this
                                                  Board                                                   200 respondents; Data on lending by a                 notice of proposed rulemaking.
                                                     Number of respondents:                               consortium or a third party, 75                       Plain Language
                                                  Recordkeeping requirement, small                        respondents; and Assessment area data,
                                                  business and small farm loan register,                  393 respondents; Recordkeeping                           Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-
                                                  94; Optional recordkeeping                              requirements: Small business/small                    Bliley Act requires the Agencies to use
                                                  requirements, consumer loan data, 21,                   farm loan register, 393 respondents;                  plain language in all proposed and final
                                                  and other loan data, 15; Reporting                      Optional consumer loan data, 75                       rules published after January 1, 2000.
                                                  requirements, assessment area                           respondents; and Other loan data, 100                 The Agencies invite comment on how to
                                                  delineation, 98; loan data: Small                       respondents; Disclosure requirements:                 make this proposed rule easier to
                                                  business and small farm, 94, community                  Content and availability of public file,              understand.
                                                  development, 98, and HMDA out of                        3,971 respondents.                                       For example:
                                                  MSA, 89; Optional reporting                                Estimated average hours per response:
                                                  requirements, data on lending by a                      Reporting requirements: Request for                      • Have the Agencies organized the
                                                  consortium or third party, 9; affiliate                 designation as a wholesale or limited                 material to inform your needs? If not,
                                                  lending data, 8; request for strategic                  purpose bank, 4 hours; Strategic plan,                how could the Agencies present the
                                                  plan approval, 2; request for designation               400 hours; Small business/small farm                  proposed rule more clearly?
                                                  as a wholesale or limited purpose bank,                 loan data, 8 hours; Community                            • Are the requirements in the
                                                  1; Disclosure requirement, public file,                 development loan data, 13 hours; Home                 proposed rule clearly stated? If not, how
                                                  817.                                                    mortgage loans, 253 hours; Data on                    could the proposal be more clearly
                                                     Estimated average hours per response:                affiliate lending, 38 hours; Data on                  stated?
                                                  Recordkeeping requirement, small                        lending by a consortium or a third party,                • Does the proposed regulation
                                                  business and small farm loan register:                  17 hours; and Assessment area data, 2                 contain technical language or jargon that
                                                  219 hours; Optional recordkeeping                       hours; Recordkeeping requirements:                    is not clear? If so, which language
                                                  requirements, consumer loan data, 326                   Small business/small farm loan register,              requires clarification?
                                                  hours, and other loan data, 25 hours;                   219 hours; Optional consumer loan
                                                                                                                                                                   • Would a different format (grouping
                                                  Reporting requirements, assessment area                 data, 326 hours; and Other loan data, 25
                                                                                                                                                                and order of sections, use of headings,
                                                  delineation, 2 hours; loan data: Small                  hours; Disclosure requirements: Content
                                                                                                                                                                paragraphing) make the proposed
                                                  business and small farm, 8 hours,                       and availability of public file, 10 hours.
                                                                                                             Estimated annual reporting hours:                  regulation easier to understand? If so,
                                                  community development, 13 hours, and
                                                                                                          Reporting requirements: Request for                   what changes would achieve that?
                                                  HMDA out of MSA, 253 hours; Optional
                                                  reporting requirements, data on lending                 designation as a wholesale or limited                    • Is this section format adequate? If
                                                  by a consortium or third party, 17 hours;               purpose bank, 4 hours; Strategic plan,                not, which of the sections should be
                                                  affiliate lending data, 38 hours; request               2,800 hours; Small business/small farm                changed and how?
                                                  for strategic plan approval, 275 hours;                 loan data, 3,144 hours; Community                        • What other changes can the
                                                  request for designation as a wholesale or               development loan data, 5,109 hours;                   agencies incorporate to make the
                                                  limited purpose bank, 4 hours;                          Home mortgage loans, 99,429 hours;                    proposed regulation easier to
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  Disclosure requirement, public file, 10                 Data on affiliate lending, 7,600 hours;               understand?
                                                  hours.                                                  Data on lending by a consortium or a
                                                     Estimated annual reporting hours:                    third party, 1,275 hours; and                            40 The OCC anticipates that the proposal would

                                                  Recordkeeping requirement, small                        Assessment area data, 786 hours;                      not impose costs on any OCC-supervised financial
                                                  business and small farm loan register:                  Recordkeeping requirements: Small                     institutions since the proposed rule does not
                                                                                                                                                                impose new requirements or include new
                                                  20,586 hours; Optional recordkeeping                    business/small farm loan register,                    mandates. Any burden that may be associated with
                                                  requirements, consumer loan data, 6,846                 86,067 hours; Optional consumer loan                  changes made to Regulation C HMDA reporting are
                                                  hours and other loan data, 375 hours;                   data, 24,450 hours; and Other loan data,              a result of CFPB rulemakings.



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                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                             43919

                                                  List of Subjects                                        as defined in § 1003.2 of this title’’ and            in its place the phrase ‘‘unless the loan
                                                                                                          adding in its place the phrase ‘‘closed-              is for a multifamily dwelling (as defined
                                                  12 CFR Part 25
                                                                                                          end mortgage loan or an open-end line                 in § 1003.2(n) of this title)’’;
                                                    Community development, Credit,                        of credit as these terms are defined                  ■ e. By removing paragraph (j)(3), and
                                                  Investments, National banks, Reporting                  under § 1003.2 of this title, and that is             redesignating paragraph (j)(4) as
                                                  and recordkeeping requirements.                         not an excluded transaction under                     paragraph (j)(3) and redesignating (j)(5)
                                                  12 CFR Part 195                                         § 1003.3(c)(1)–(10) and (13) of this title’’.         as paragraph (j)(4); and
                                                                                                                                                                ■ f. In paragraph (l), by removing the
                                                    Community development, Credit,                        § 25.22    [Amended]                                  phrase ‘‘ ‘home improvement loan,’
                                                  Investments, Reporting and                              ■  3. Section 25.22 is amended in                     ‘home purchase loan,’ or a ‘refinancing’
                                                  recordkeeping requirements, Savings                     paragraph (a)(1), by removing the phrase              as defined in § 1003.2 of this title’’ and
                                                  associations.                                           ‘‘home equity,’’ after ‘‘credit card.’’               adding in its place the phrase ‘‘closed-
                                                  12 CFR Part 228                                         § 25.42    [Amended]                                  end mortgage loan or an open-end line
                                                                                                                                                                of credit as these terms are defined
                                                    Banks, Banking, Community                             ■  4. Section 25.42 is amended in
                                                                                                                                                                under § 1003.2 of this title and that is
                                                  development, Credit, Investments,                       paragraph (c)(1), by removing the phrase
                                                                                                                                                                not an excluded transaction under
                                                  Reporting and recordkeeping                             ‘‘home equity,’’ after ‘‘credit card.’’
                                                                                                          ■ 5. Section 25.43 is amended by
                                                                                                                                                                § 1003.3(c)(1)–(10) and (13) of this title’’.
                                                  requirements.
                                                                                                          revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as                  § 195.22   [Amended]
                                                  12 CFR Part 345                                         follows:                                              ■  8. Section 195.22 is amended in
                                                    Banks, Banking, Community
                                                                                                          § 25.43    Content and availability of public         paragraph (a)(1), by removing the phrase
                                                  development, Credit, Investments,
                                                                                                          file.                                                 ‘‘home equity,’’ after ‘‘credit card.’’
                                                  Reporting and recordkeeping
                                                  requirements.                                           *      *     *     *     *                            § 195.42   [Amended]
                                                                                                             (b) * * *
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                                 (2) Banks required to report Home                  ■  9. Section 195.42 is amended in
                                                                                                          Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data.                  paragraph (c)(1), by removing the phrase
                                                  Office of the Comptroller of the                                                                              ‘‘home equity,’’ after ‘‘credit card.’’
                                                  Currency                                                A bank required to report home
                                                                                                                                                                ■ 10. Section 195.43 is amended by
                                                                                                          mortgage loan data pursuant part 1003
                                                  12 CFR Chapter I                                        of this title shall include in its public             revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as
                                                  Authority and Issuance                                  file a written notice that the institution’s          follows:
                                                    For the reasons discussed in the                      HMDA Disclosure Statement may be                      § 195.43   Content and availability of public
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, the                  obtained on the Consumer Financial                    file.
                                                  Office of the Comptroller of the                        Protection Bureau’s (Bureau’s) Web site               *      *    *      *    *
                                                  Currency proposes to amend 12 CFR                       at www.consumerfinance.gov/hmda. In                      (b) * * *
                                                  parts 25 and 195 as follows:                            addition, a bank that elected to have the                (2) Savings associations required to
                                                                                                          OCC consider the mortgage lending of                  report Home Mortgage Disclosure Act
                                                  PART 25—COMMUNITY                                       an affiliate shall include in its public              (HMDA) data. A savings association
                                                  REINVESTMENT ACT AND                                    file the name of the affiliate and a                  required to report home mortgage loan
                                                  INTERSTATE DEPOSIT PRODUCTION                           written notice that the affiliate’s HMDA              data pursuant part 1003 of this title
                                                  REGULATIONS                                             Disclosure Statement may be obtained at               shall include in its public file a written
                                                                                                          the Bureau’s Web site. The bank shall                 notice that the institution’s HMDA
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 25                 place the written notice(s) in the public             Disclosure Statement may be obtained
                                                  continues to read as follows:                           file within three business days after                 on the Consumer Financial Protection
                                                    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 21, 22, 26, 27, 30, 36,          receiving notification from the Federal               Bureau’s (Bureau’s) Web site at
                                                  93a, 161, 215, 215a, 481, 1814, 1816, 1828(c),          Financial Institutions Examination                    www.consumerfinance.gov/hmda. In
                                                  1835a, 2901 through 2908, and 3101 through              Council of the availability of the                    addition, a savings association that
                                                  3111.                                                   disclosure statement(s).                              elected to have the appropriate Federal
                                                  § 25.12   [Amended]                                     *      *     *     *     *                            banking agency consider the mortgage
                                                  ■  2. Section 25.12 is amended:                                                                               lending of an affiliate shall include in
                                                                                                          PART 195—COMMUNITY                                    its public file the name of the affiliate
                                                  ■  a. By adding ‘‘or’’ at the end of
                                                                                                          REINVESTMENT                                          and a written notice that the affiliate’s
                                                  paragraph (g)(3);
                                                  ■ b. By removing ‘‘; or’’ at the end of                 ■ 6. The authority citation for part 195              HMDA Disclosure Statement may be
                                                  (g)(4), and adding in its place ‘‘.’’;                  continues to read as follows:                         obtained at the Bureau’s Web site. The
                                                  ■ c. By removing paragraph (g)(5);                                                                            savings association shall place the
                                                                                                            Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1462a, 1463, 1464,
                                                  ■ d. In paragraph (h)(2)(i), by removing                                                                      written notice(s) in the public file
                                                                                                          1814, 1816, 1828(c), 2901 through 2908, and
                                                  the phrase ‘‘unless it is a multifamily                 5412(b)(2)(B).                                        within three business days after
                                                  dwelling loan (as described in appendix                                                                       receiving notification from the Federal
                                                  A to part 1003 of this title)’’ and adding              § 195.12    [Amended]                                 Financial Institutions Examination
                                                  in its place the phrase ‘‘unless the loan               ■ 7. Section 195.12 is amended:                       Council of the availability of the
                                                  is for a multifamily dwelling (as defined                 a. By adding ‘‘or’’ at the end of                   disclosure statement(s).
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                                                                          ■
                                                  in § 1003.2(n) of this title)’’;                        paragraph (g)(3);                                     *      *    *      *    *
                                                  ■ e. By removing paragraph (j)(3), and                  ■ b. By removing ‘‘; or’’ at the end of
                                                  redesignating paragraph (j)(4) as                       (g)(4), and adding in its place ‘‘.’’;                Federal Reserve System
                                                  paragraph (j)(3) and redesignating                      ■ c. By removing paragraph (g)(5);                    12 CFR Chapter II
                                                  paragraph (j)(5) as paragraph (j)(4); and               ■ d. In paragraph (h)(2)(i), by removing
                                                  ■ f. In paragraph (l), by removing the                  the phrase ‘‘unless it is a multifamily               Authority and Issuance
                                                  phrase ‘‘ ‘home improvement loan,’                      dwelling loan (as described in appendix                   For the reasons discussed in the
                                                  ‘home purchase loan,’ or a ‘refinancing’                A to part 1003 of this title)’’ and adding            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION      section, the


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                                                  43920             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 181 / Wednesday, September 20, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                  Board of Governors of the Federal                       Board consider the mortgage lending of                § 345.42   [Amended]
                                                  Reserve System proposes to amend part                   an affiliate shall include in its public              ■  4. Section 345.42 is amended in
                                                  228 of chapter II of title 12 of the Code               file the name of the affiliate and a                  paragraph (c)(1), by removing the phrase
                                                  of Federal Regulations as follows:                      written notice that the affiliate’s HMDA              ‘‘home equity,’’ after ‘‘credit card.’’
                                                                                                          Disclosure Statement may be obtained at               ■ 5. Section 345.43 is amended by
                                                  PART 228—COMMUNITY                                      the Bureau’s Web site. The bank shall                 revising paragraph (b)(2), to read as
                                                  REINVESTMENT (REGULATION BB)                            place the written notice(s) in the public             follows:
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 228                file within three business days after
                                                                                                                                                                § 345.43   Content and availability of public
                                                  continues to read as follows:                           receiving notification from the Federal               file.
                                                                                                          Financial Institutions Examination
                                                    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 321, 325, 1828(c),               Council of the availability of the                    *      *     *     *     *
                                                  1842, 1843, 1844, and 2901 et seq.                                                                               (b) * * *
                                                                                                          disclosure statement(s).                                 (2) Banks required to report Home
                                                  § 228.12   [Amended]                                    *      *     *     *    *                             Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data.
                                                  ■  2. Section 228.12 is amended:                        Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation                 A bank required to report home
                                                  ■  a. By adding ‘‘or’’ at the end of                                                                          mortgage loan data pursuant part 1003
                                                  paragraph (g)(3);                                       12 CFR Chapter III                                    of this title shall include in its public
                                                  ■ b. By removing ‘‘; or’’ at the end of                 Authority and Issuance                                file a written notice that the institution’s
                                                  (g)(4), and adding in its place ‘‘.’’;                                                                        HMDA Disclosure Statement may be
                                                  ■ c. By removing paragraph (g)(5);                        For the reasons discussed in the                    obtained on the Consumer Financial
                                                  ■ d. In paragraph (h)(2)(i), by removing                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION    section, the             Protection Bureau’s (Bureau’s) Web site
                                                  the phrase ‘‘unless it is a multifamily                 Board of Directors of the Federal                     at www.consumerfinance.gov/hmda. In
                                                  dwelling loan (as described in appendix                 Deposit Insurance Corporation proposes                addition, a bank that elected to have the
                                                  A to part 1003 of this title)’’ and adding              to amend part 345 of chapter III of title             FDIC consider the mortgage lending of
                                                  in its place the phrase ‘‘unless the loan               12 of the Code of Federal Regulations to              an affiliate shall include in its public
                                                  is for a multifamily dwelling (as defined               read as follows:                                      file the name of the affiliate and a
                                                  in § 1003.2(n) of this title)’’;                                                                              written notice that the affiliate’s HMDA
                                                  ■ e. By removing paragraph (j)(3), and                  PART 345—COMMUNITY                                    Disclosure Statement may be obtained at
                                                  redesignating paragraph (j)(4) as                       REINVESTMENT                                          the Bureau’s Web site. The bank shall
                                                  paragraph (j)(3) and redesignating                      ■ 1. The authority citation for part 345              place the written notice(s) in the public
                                                  paragraph (j)(5) as paragraph (j)(4); and               continues to read as follows:                         file within three business days after
                                                  ■ f. In paragraph (l), by removing the                                                                        receiving notification from the Federal
                                                  phrase ‘‘ ‘home improvement loan,’                        Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1814–1817, 1819–
                                                                                                                                                                Financial Institutions Examination
                                                  ‘home purchase loan,’ or a ‘refinancing’                1820, 1828, 1831u and 2901–2908, 3103–
                                                                                                          3104, and 3108(a).                                    Council of the availability of the
                                                  as defined in § 1003.2 of this title’’ and                                                                    disclosure statement(s).
                                                  adding in its place the phrase, ‘‘closed-               § 345.12    [Amended]                                 *      *     *     *     *
                                                  end mortgage loan or an open-end line
                                                                                                          ■  2. Section 345.12 is amended:                        Dated: September 12, 2017.
                                                  of credit as these terms are defined
                                                                                                          ■ a. By adding ‘‘or’’ at the end of                   Keith A. Noreika,
                                                  under § 1003.2 of this title and that is
                                                  not an excluded transaction under                       paragraph (g)(3);                                     Acting Comptroller of the Currency.
                                                  § 1003.3(c)(1)–(10) and (13) of this title’’.           ■ b. By removing ‘‘; or’’ at the end of                 By order of the Board of Governors of the
                                                                                                          (g)(4), and adding in its place ‘‘.’’;                Federal Reserve System, September 6, 2017.
                                                  § 228.22   [Amended]                                    ■ c. By removing paragraph (g)(5);                    Ann E. Misback,
                                                  ■  3. Section 228.22 is amended in                      ■ d. In paragraph (h)(2)(i), by removing              Secretary of the Board.
                                                  paragraph (a)(1), by removing the phrase                the phrase ‘‘unless it is a multifamily               By order of the Board of Directors.
                                                  ‘‘home equity,’’ after ‘‘credit card.’’                 dwelling loan (as described in appendix                 Dated at Washington, DC, this 31st day of
                                                  § 228.42   [Amended]
                                                                                                          A to part 1003 of this title)’’ and adding            August, of 2017.
                                                                                                          in its place the phrase ‘‘unless the loan             Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
                                                  ■  4. Section 228.42 is amended in                      is for a multifamily dwelling (as defined             Robert E. Feldman,
                                                  paragraph (c)(1), by removing the phrase                in § 1003.2(n) of this title)’’;
                                                  ‘‘home equity,’’ after ‘‘credit card.’’                                                                       Executive Secretary.
                                                                                                          ■ e. By removing paragraph (j)(3), and                [FR Doc. 2017–19765 Filed 9–19–17; 8:45 am]
                                                  ■ 5. Section 228.43 is amended by
                                                  revising paragraph (b)(2), to read as                   redesignating paragraph (j)(4) as                     BILLING CODE 4810–33–P; 6210–01–P; 6714–01–P
                                                  follows:                                                paragraph (j)(3) and redesignating
                                                                                                          paragraph (j)(5) as paragraph (j)(4); and
                                                  § 228.43   Content and availability of public           ■ f. In paragraph (l), by removing the                DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
                                                  file.                                                   phrase ‘‘‘home improvement loan,’
                                                  *      *     *     *     *                              ‘home purchase loan,’ or a ‘refinancing’              Internal Revenue Service
                                                     (b) * * *                                            as defined in§ 1003.2 of this title’’ and
                                                     (2) Banks required to report Home                    adding in its place the phrase, ‘‘closed-             26 CFR Parts 1, 31, and 301
                                                  Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data.                    end mortgage loan or an open-end line                 [REG–105004–16]
                                                  A bank required to report home                          of credit as these terms are defined
sradovich on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                  mortgage loan data pursuant part 1003                   under § 1003.2 of this title and that is              RIN 1545–BN35
                                                  of this title shall include in its public               not an excluded transaction under                     Use of Truncated Taxpayer
                                                  file a written notice that the institution’s            § 1003.3(c)(1)–(10) and (13) of this title’’.         Identification Numbers on Forms W–2,
                                                  HMDA Disclosure Statement may be
                                                                                                          § 345.22    [Amended]                                 Wage and Tax Statement, Furnished to
                                                  obtained on the Consumer Financial
                                                                                                                                                                Employees
                                                  Protection Bureau’s (Bureau’s) Web site                 ■  3. Section 345.22 is amended in
                                                  at www.consumerfinance.gov/hmda. In                     paragraph (a)(1), by removing the phrase              AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
                                                  addition, a bank that elected to have the               ‘‘home equity,’’ after ‘‘credit card.’’               Treasury.


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Document Created: 2018-10-24 14:21:07
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 14:21:07
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
ActionJoint notice of proposed rulemaking; request for comment.
DatesComments must be received on or before October 20, 2017.
ContactOCC: Emily R. Boyes, Attorney, Community and Consumer Law Division, (202) 649-6350; Allison Hester-Haddad, Counsel, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, (202) 649-5490; for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, TTY, (202) 649-5597; or Vonda J. Eanes, Director for CRA and Fair Lending Policy, Compliance Risk Policy Division, (202) 649-6907, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20219.
FR Citation82 FR 43910 
RIN Number1557-AE15, 7100-AE84 and 3064-AE58
CFR Citation12 CFR 195
12 CFR 228
12 CFR 25
12 CFR 345
CFR AssociatedSavings Associations; Banks; Banking; Community Development; Credit; Investments; National Banks and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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