83_FR_63667 83 FR 63431 - Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks (Regulation CC)

83 FR 63431 - Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks (Regulation CC)

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 236 (December 10, 2018)

Page Range63431-63444
FR Document2018-25746

The Board and the Bureau (Agencies) are proposing amendments to Regulation CC, which implements the Expedited Funds Availability Act (EFA Act) (2018 Proposal), and are also providing an additional opportunity for public comment on certain amendments to Regulation CC that the Board proposed in 2011 (2011 Funds Availability Proposal). In the 2018 Proposal, the Agencies are proposing a calculation methodology for implementing a statutory requirement to adjust the dollar amounts in the EFA Act every five years by the aggregate annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rounded to the nearest multiple of $25. The 2018 Proposal would also implement the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA) amendments to the EFA Act, which include extending coverage to American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam, and would make certain other technical amendments. With regard to reopening comments on the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal, the Board published proposed amendments to Regulation CC in the Federal Register on March 25, 2011. As discussed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, the Board and the Bureau now have joint rulemaking authority with respect to part of Regulation CC, related definitions, and appendices of the amendments that the Board proposed on that date. The Board and the Bureau are reopening the comment period for the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63431-63444]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25746]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 229

[Regulation CC; Docket No. R-1637]
RIN 7100-AF 28

BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

12 CFR Part 1030

[Docket No. CFPB-2018-0035]
RIN 3170-AA31


Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks (Regulation CC)

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) and 
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau).

ACTION: Proposed rule and reopening of comment period for existing 
proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Board and the Bureau (Agencies) are proposing amendments 
to Regulation CC, which implements the Expedited Funds Availability Act 
(EFA Act) (2018 Proposal), and are also providing an additional 
opportunity for public comment on certain amendments to Regulation CC 
that the Board proposed in 2011 (2011 Funds Availability Proposal). In 
the 2018 Proposal, the Agencies are proposing a calculation methodology 
for implementing a statutory requirement to adjust the dollar amounts 
in the EFA Act every five years by the aggregate annual percentage 
increase in the Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical 
Workers (CPI-W) rounded to the nearest multiple of $25. The 2018 
Proposal would also implement the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, 
and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA) amendments to the EFA Act, which 
include extending coverage to American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam, and would make certain other 
technical amendments.
    With regard to reopening comments on the 2011 Funds Availability 
Proposal, the Board published proposed amendments to Regulation CC in 
the Federal Register on March 25, 2011. As discussed in SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION, the Board and the Bureau now have joint rulemaking 
authority with respect to part of Regulation CC, related definitions, 
and appendices of the amendments that the Board proposed on that date. 
The Board and the Bureau are reopening the comment period for the 2011 
Funds Availability Proposal.

DATES: Comments on the 2018 Proposal and the 2011 Funds Availability 
Proposal must be received on or before February 8, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to:
    Board: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. R-1637; 
RIN 7100 AF-28, by any of the following methods:
     Agency website: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
     Email: [email protected]. Include the 
docket number and RIN 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.
    All public comments will be made available on the Board's website 
at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as 
submitted, unless modified for technical reasons or to remove 
personally identifiable information at the commenter's request. 
Accordingly, comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or 
contact information. Public comments may also be viewed electronically 
or in paper in Room 3515, 1801 K Street NW (between 18th and 19th 
Streets NW), between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
    Bureau: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CFPB-
2018-0035 or RIN 3170-AA31, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include Docket 
No. CFPB-2018-0035 or RIN 3170-AA31 in the subject line of the email.
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Comment Intake, Bureau of 
Consumer Financial Protection, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20552.
    Instructions: All submissions should include the agency name and 
docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. Because paper mail in the Washington, DC area and at the 
Bureau is subject to delay, commenters are encouraged to submit 
comments electronically. In general, all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov. In addition, 
comments will be available for public inspection and copying at 1700 G 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20552, on official business days between the 
hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You can make an appointment 
to inspect the documents by telephoning (202) 435-7275.
    All comments, including attachments and other supporting materials, 
will become part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. 
Sensitive personal information, such as account numbers or Social 
Security numbers, should not be included. Comments will not be edited 
to remove any identifying or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Board: Gavin L. Smith, Senior Counsel 
(202) 452-3474, Legal Division, or Ian C.B. Spear, Manager (202) 452-
3959, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems; for 
users of Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) only, contact 
(202) 263-4869.
    Bureau: Joseph Baressi and Marta Tanenhaus, Senior Counsels, Office 
of Regulations, at (202) 435-7700. If you require this document in an 
alternative electronic format, please contact 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. 2018 Proposal

A. Background

    Regulation CC (12 CFR part 229) implements the Expedited Funds 
Availability Act (EFA Act) and the Check Clearing for the 21st Century 
Act

[[Page 63432]]

(Check 21 Act).\1\ Subpart B of Regulation CC implements the 
requirements set forth in the EFA Act regarding the availability 
schedules within which banks must make funds available for withdrawal, 
exceptions to those schedules, disclosure of funds availability 
policies, and payment of interest. The EFA Act and subpart B of 
Regulation CC contain specified dollar amounts, including the minimum 
amount of deposited funds that banks must make available for withdrawal 
by opening of business on the next day for certain check deposits 
(``minimum amount''),\2\ the amount a bank must make available when 
using the EFA Act's permissive adjustment to the funds-availability 
rules for withdrawals by cash or other means (``cash withdrawal 
amount''),\3\ the amount of funds deposited by certain checks in a new 
account that are subject to next-day availability (``new-account 
amount''),\4\ the threshold for using an exception to the funds-
availability schedules when the aggregate amount of checks on any one 
banking day exceed the threshold amount (``large-deposit 
threshold''),\5\ the threshold for determining whether an account has 
been repeatedly overdrawn (``repeatedly overdrawn threshold''),\6\ and 
the civil liability amounts for failing to comply with the EFA Act's 
requirements.\7\
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    \1\ Expedited Funds Availability Act, 12 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.; 
Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, 12 U.S.C. 5001 et seq.
    \2\ The minimum amount is currently $200. See section 1086(e) of 
the Dodd-Frank Act; 12 U.S.C. 4002(a)(2)(D).
    \3\ The cash withdrawal amount is currently $400. 12 U.S.C. 
4002(b)(3)(B).
    \4\ The new-account amount is currently $5,000. 12 U.S.C. 
4003(a)(3).
    \5\ The large-deposit threshold is currently $5,000. 12 U.S.C. 
4003(b)(1).
    \6\ The repeatedly overdrawn threshold is currently $5,000. 12 
CFR 229.13(d). This dollar amount is not specified in the EFA Act, 
but is a result of the authority of the Board and the Bureau under 
section 604(b)(3) of the EFA Act (12 U.S.C. 4003(b)(3)) to establish 
reasonable exceptions to time limitations for deposit accounts that 
have been overdrawn repeatedly. The Board and the Bureau propose to 
use their authority under section 604(b)(3) and also their authority 
under section 609(a) (12 U.S.C. 4008(a)), which is discussed below, 
to index the repeatedly overdrawn threshold in the same manner as 
the other dollar amounts. The Board and the Bureau believe that 
indexing the repeatedly overdrawn threshold would be consistent with 
the need identified by Congress to prevent such dollar amounts from 
being eroded by inflation.
    \7\ The civil liability amounts are currently ``not less than 
$100 nor greater than $1,000'' for an individual action and ``not 
more than $500,000 or 1 percent of the net worth'' of a depository 
institution for a class action. 12 U.S.C. 4010(a).
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    The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act 
(Dodd-Frank Act) made certain amendments to the EFA Act, and these 
amendments were effective on a date designated by the Secretary of the 
Treasury, July 21, 2011.\8\ Section 609(a) of the EFA Act, as amended 
by section 1086(d) of the Dodd-Frank Act,\9\ provides that the Board 
and the Director of the Bureau shall jointly prescribe regulations to 
carry out the provisions of the EFA Act, to prevent the circumvention 
or evasion of such provisions, and to facilitate compliance with such 
provisions.
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    \8\ Public Law 111-203, sections 1062, 1086, 1100H, 124 Stat. 
2081 (2010); 75 FR 57252 (Sept. 20, 2010).
    \9\ 12 U.S.C. 4008(a).
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    Additionally, section 1086(f) of the Dodd-Frank Act added section 
607(f) of the EFA Act, which provides that the dollar amounts under the 
EFA Act shall be adjusted every five years after December 31, 2011, by 
the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban 
Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), as published by the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics, rounded to the nearest multiple of $25.\10\
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    \10\ 12 U.S.C. 4006(f).
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B. Proposed Effective Dates for Adjustments

    The Agencies believe that section 607(f) is reasonably interpreted 
to provide for five years to elapse between a given set of adjustments 
and the next set of adjustments, with the first set of adjustments 
occurring sometime after December 31, 2011. As regulators of financial 
institutions, the Agencies are familiar with the challenges that 
institutions can face if changes to regulatory requirements are too 
frequent or abrupt. The Agencies believe that Congress intended to 
balance that concern with the need to prevent the EFA Act's dollar 
amounts from being eroded by inflation. Congress did so by providing 
that the adjustments would be effective at five-year intervals; by 
providing that the first set of adjustments would not occur until after 
December 31, 2011, which ensured that at least a full calendar year 
would elapse after the Dodd-Frank Act's enactment in mid-2010; and by 
providing that the adjustments would be rounded to the nearest multiple 
of $25. Several years have now elapsed since December 31, 2011, and the 
Agencies intend to move towards issuing a final rule implementing 
section 607(f), while providing appropriate time after the issuance of 
that final rule for implementation by institutions.
    The Agencies anticipate publishing the first set of adjustments as 
a final rule in the first quarter of 2019. They propose that the first 
set of adjustments have an effective date of April 1, 2020. The 
Agencies anticipate publishing the second set of adjustments in the 
first quarter of 2024. They propose that the second set of adjustments 
have an effective date of April 1, 2025. The Agencies propose that each 
subsequent set of adjustments have an effective date of April 1 of 
every fifth year after 2025.
    The proposed effective dates should provide institutions with 
sufficient time to make any necessary disclosure and software 
changes.\11\ The Agencies request comment on the proposed effective 
dates for the adjustments. The Agencies request that entities affected 
by the adjustments provide details of the measures that would be 
necessary to implement them.
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    \11\ The proposed effective dates would be consistent with 
section 302 of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory 
Improvement Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-325, 108 Stat. 2160, 12 U.S.C. 
4802). That section provides that new regulations and amendments to 
regulations prescribed by Federal banking agencies, including the 
Board, that impose additional reporting, disclosures, or other new 
requirements on insured depository institutions shall take effect on 
the first day of a calendar quarter which begins on or after the 
date on which the regulations are published in final form (with 
certain exceptions).
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C. Proposed Methodology for Adjustments

    Section 607(f) does not specify which month's CPI-W should be used 
to measure inflation. The Agencies propose to use the July CPI-W, which 
is released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in August. The Agencies 
propose to use the aggregate percentage change in the CPI-W from July 
2011 to July 2018 as the initial inflation measurement period for the 
first set of adjustments. (As discussed above, the Agencies anticipate 
that the first set of adjustments would be published as a final rule in 
the first quarter of 2019 and propose that it have an effective date of 
April 1, 2020.) The second set of adjustments would be based on the 
aggregate percentage change in the CPI-W for an inflation measurement 
period that begins in July 2018 and ends in July 2023. (As discussed 
above, the Agencies anticipate that the second set of adjustments would 
be published in the first quarter of 2024 and have a proposed effective 
date of April 1, 2025.) Each subsequent set of adjustments would be 
based on the aggregate percentage change in the CPI-W for an inflation 
measurement period that begins in July of every fifth year after 2018 
and ends in July of every fifth year after 2023. This use of July CPI-
W, starting with the July 2011 CPI-W, would align with section 607(f)'s 
effective date of July 21, 2011, and the Agencies expect it to provide 
a

[[Page 63433]]

reasonable period of time after the CPI-W data becomes available for 
the Agencies to publish the requisite adjustments and for financial 
institutions to implement them. The Agencies request comment on this 
approach and its interaction with the proposed effective dates 
discussed above.
    If there is an aggregate percentage increase in any inflation 
measurement period, then the aggregate percentage change would be 
applied to the dollar amounts in Regulation CC, and those amounts would 
be rounded to the nearest multiple of $25 to determine the new adjusted 
dollar amounts.\12\ Section 607(f) of the EFA Act provides that the 
adjustments are to be based on the ``annual percentage increase'' in 
the CPI-W, but does not specify how the adjustment is to be made in the 
event that the CPI-W is negative for one or more years in the inflation 
measurement period. The Agencies believe it is a reasonable 
interpretation of section 607(f) to account for negative movements in 
the CPI-W on a year-to-year basis and to factor those movements into 
the calculation. The Agencies believe that the purpose of section 
607(f) is to keep the dollar amounts in the EFA Act on a pace with 
inflation, as represented by the CPI-W. The funds-availability 
provisions of the EFA Act represent a balancing of interests--the 
interests of account customers in receiving prompt availability of 
their deposited funds and the interests of depository institutions in 
minimizing the risks from making funds available before learning of 
checks or other items being returned.\13\ Accounting for upward and 
downward movements in the CPI-W in calculating any cumulative increase 
to the dollar amounts is consistent with the approach Congress took in 
the EFA Act of balancing the interests of depository institutions and 
their customers.
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    \12\ For example, if the CPI-W in July of the year the last 
publication of an adjusted dollar amount occurred and the CPI-W in 
July of the year that is five years later were 100 and 114.7, 
respectively, the aggregate percentage change that results from 
changes in the CPI-W for each year of the period using the CPI-W 
values in July would be 14.7%. If the applicable dollar amount was 
$200 for the prior period, then the adjusted figure would become 
$225 as the change of $29.40 results in rounding to $25.
    \13\ The EFA Act's legislative history shows that one intent of 
the Act was to ``provide a fairer balance between the banks' 
interest in avoiding fraud and consumers' interests in having speedy 
access to their funds.'' S. Rep. No. 100-19, at 28 (1987); see also 
H.R. Rep. No. 100-52, at 14 (1987) (describing the efforts ``to 
protect depository institutions while furthering the original goals 
of the legislation to provide shorter time periods for funds 
availability.'')
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    Under the proposed calculation methodology, the dollar amount 
adjustments would always be zero or positive.\14\ If there is no 
aggregate percentage increase during the inflation measurement period 
(zero increase or net decrease) or if the aggregate percentage change 
when applied to the dollar amount does not result in a change because 
of rounding, the Agencies would not adjust that dollar amount. 
Moreover, in either of those situations, the aggregate percentage 
change would be calculated either from the CPI-W in July of the year 
that corresponds with the last publication of an adjusted dollar amount 
or, if there has never been an adjusted dollar amount, from the CPI-W 
in July 2011.\15\
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    \14\ Since 1939, no aggregate change in the CPI-W across a five-
year period has been negative. However, the proposed rule would also 
cover this potential scenario.
    \15\ For example, if the aggregate percentage change in the CPI-
W for an inflation measurement period was 4.0% and the applicable 
dollar amount was $200 from the prior period, then the adjusted 
figure would remain $200, as the change of $8.00 does not result in 
rounding to $25. However, if over the next inflation measurement 
period the aggregate percentage change for the five-year period was 
again 4.0%, then the adjusted figure would become $225, as the 
change of $16.32 does result in rounding to $25. The Board and 
Bureau calculate this adjustment by using the aggregate CPI-W change 
over two (or more) inflation measurement periods until the 
cumulative change results in publication of an adjusted dollar 
amount in the regulation.
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    The Agencies are proposing a new Sec.  229.11 and accompanying 
commentary to implement the CPI-W index calculation method to be used 
by the Agencies to adjust the dollar amounts in the EFA Act. The new 
Sec.  229.11 provides for the CPI-W calculation for the dollar amounts 
in Sec.  229.10(c)(1)(vii) regarding the minimum amount, Sec.  
229.12(d) for the cash withdrawal amount, Sec.  229.13(a) for the new-
account amount, Sec.  229.13(b) for the large-deposit threshold, Sec.  
229.13(d) for repeatedly overdrawn threshold, and Sec.  229.21(a) for 
the civil liability amounts.
    The Agencies request comment on the proposed calculation 
methodology to be applied to the dollar amounts in Regulation CC.

D. First Set of Adjustments

    As discussed above, for the first set of adjustments, the Agencies 
propose to use CPI-W data from July 2011 through July 2018.\16\ (As 
discussed above, the Agencies are proposing that this first set of 
adjustments have an effective date of April 1, 2020). In order to 
inform this rulemaking more fully, the Agencies have applied the 
proposed inflation calculation methodology to calculate the adjusted 
amounts that would result if the methodology is finalized.\17\ 
Specifically, if the proposed adjustment methodology is finalized, the 
adjusted amounts, based on the change in CPI-W from 222.686 in July 
2011 to 246.155 in July 2018, would be as follows:
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    \16\ As is discussed below, the agencies propose that five years 
of CPI data be used for all subsequent sets of adjustments.
    \17\ With respect to subsequent calculations such as the 
calculations that will be conducted in 2023, the Agencies expect to 
find that notice and opportunity for public comment for the 
calculations is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest, because the calculations would be technical and 
non-discretionary. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B).
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     The minimum amount in Sec.  229.10(c)(1)(vii) would be 
adjusted to $225, as the change of $21.00 results in a rounding to the 
nearest multiple of $25;
     The cash withdrawal amount in Sec.  229.12(d) of $400 
would be adjusted to $450, as the change of $42.00 results in a 
rounding to the nearest multiple of $25;
     The new-account amount of $5,000 in Sec.  229.13(a), the 
large-deposit threshold of $5,000 in Sec.  229.13(b), and the 
repeatedly overdrawn threshold of $5,000 in Sec.  229.13(d) would each 
be adjusted to $5,525, as the change of $525 results in a rounding to 
the nearest multiple of $25; and
     In Sec.  229.21(a) the civil liability amount of $100 
would remain the same, as the change of $10.50 does not result in a 
rounding to $25, while the other civil liability amounts of $1,000 and 
$500,000 would be adjusted to $1,100 and $552,500, as the changes of 
$105 and $52,500, respectively, result in a rounding to the nearest 
multiple of $25.

E. Technical Amendments to Regulation CC and EGRRCPA Amendments

    The Agencies also propose amending the commentary to each of the 
sections containing dollar amounts by inserting a cross-reference to 
the new Sec.  229.11 containing the calculation method for indexing 
those dollar amounts every five years. In addition, the Agencies are 
proposing to update the dollar amounts with the adjusted dollar amounts 
throughout subpart B of Regulation CC, and the commentary thereto, and 
reflect these updates by the date on which depository institutions must 
comply with the adjusted dollar amounts.
    The Board and Bureau are proposing a technical change to Sec.  
229.1(a), which sets forth the authority and purpose of Regulation CC, 
to explain that the Board and Bureau have joint rulemaking authority 
under certain provisions of the EFA Act.
    In addition, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer 
Protection Act (EGRRCPA) made

[[Page 63434]]

amendments to the EFA Act to extend its application to American Samoa, 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.\18\ The 
effect of these statutory amendments is to subject banks in American 
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam to 
the EFA Act's requirements related to funds availability, payment of 
interest, and disclosures. Banks in those territories would be able to 
avail themselves of the one-day extension of the availability schedules 
permitted by the EFA Act and Sec.  229.12(e) of Regulation CC. 
Accordingly, the Board and the Bureau are proposing to update Sec.  
229.2(ff), and (jj) (definitions of ``state,'' and ``United States''), 
as well as Sec.  229.12(e) and its corresponding commentary, to 
implement the statutory amendments. Specifically, the Board and the 
Bureau are proposing to add American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam to the definitions of ``state'' and 
``United States'' in Sec.  229.2 (ff) & (jj) of Regulation CC, 
respectively. The Board and the Bureau are also proposing to remove 
Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands from the list of 
territories in its definition of ``state'' for purposes of subpart D, 
as those territories are now included in the definition of State for 
Regulation CC generally. The Board and the Bureau are also proposing to 
add American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
and Guam to the list of States and territories in Sec.  229.12(e), 
229.12(e)(1), and its corresponding commentary.
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    \18\ Public Law 115-174, section 208 (2018).
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    Because American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, and Guam are considered to be in the United States under the 
EGRRCPA amendments, banks located in those territories would be 
considered ``banks'' under Regulation CC and checks drawn on those 
banks would meet the Regulation CC definition of ``check.'' Thus, the 
provisions of subpart C of Regulation CC with respect to check 
collection and return, including warranties and indemnities, would 
apply with respect to those banks and the checks deposited in and drawn 
on them. (The provisions of subpart D of Regulation CC with respect to 
substitute checks already apply to checks drawn on banks in these 
territories due to the broader definition of ``State'' in the Check 21 
Act.) The Board had promulgated Sec.  229.43 in subpart C to address 
how Regulation CC applied to checks drawn on banks located in Guam, 
American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands when those checks are 
handled by other U.S. banks.\19\ As those territories are now covered 
by the EFA Act, and subpart C of Regulation CC would apply by its terms 
to checks drawn on banks in those territories, Sec.  229.43 is no 
longer necessary. Accordingly, the Board is proposing to delete Sec.  
229.43 and its corresponding commentary from subpart C of Regulation 
CC.
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    \19\ See 62 FR 13808, 13807 (March 24, 1997).
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    The EGRRCPA also amended the EFA Act's definition of ``receiving 
depository institution'' by adding ``located in the United States'' 
after ``proprietary ATM.'' \20\ Regulation CC uses the term 
``depositary bank'' instead of ``receiving depository institution,'' 
contains a separate definition of ``ATM,'' and establishes rules for 
determining when deposits at ATMs are received by the depositary 
bank.\21\ To implement the EGRRCPA provision, the Board and the Bureau 
are proposing to insert ``located in the United States'' in the 
definition of ``ATM'' in Sec.  229.2(c) and its corresponding 
commentary.
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    \20\ The definition of ``receiving depository institution'' in 
the EFA Act now reads ``the branch of a depository institution or 
the proprietary ATM located in the United States in which a check is 
first deposited.'' 12 U.S.C. 4001(20).
    \21\ See 12 CFR 229.2(o), 229.2(b), and 229.19(a), respectively, 
and associated commentary.
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F. Technical Amendments to the Bureau's Regulation DD

    The Bureau is proposing a technical, non-substantive amendment to 
its Regulation DD, 12 CFR part 1030, to add a new paragraph (e) to 
Sec.  1030.1 that would cross-reference the Bureau's joint authority 
with the Board to issue regulations under certain provisions of the EFA 
Act that are codified within Regulation CC. The Bureau is also 
proposing related technical, non-substantive amendments to Sec.  
1030.7(c), and the commentary thereto, which states that interest shall 
begin to accrue not later than the business day specified for interest-
bearing accounts in the EFA Act and Regulation CC. In addition, the 
Bureau is proposing to fix technical errors in Appendix A to Regulation 
DD within the formulas that demonstrate how to calculate annual 
percentage yield (APY) and annual percentage yield earned (APYE). 
Specifically, certain terms within the formulas should be shown as 
exponents but currently are erroneously not shown as exponents. These 
typographical errors were inadvertently introduced into the APY and 
APYE formulas in Appendix A when the Bureau issued its restatement of 
Regulation DD in December 2011.\22\ As the preamble to the restated 
Regulation DD explained, it was intended to substantially duplicate the 
prior Regulation DD. The Bureau considers these typographical errors in 
the restated Regulation DD to be scrivener's errors that should be read 
as exponents. In now proposing to correct these typographical errors, 
the Bureau intends no change to how institutions should comply with 
Regulation DD. These technical, non-substantive amendments to 
Regulation DD would be effective thirty days after publication of a 
final rule.
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    \22\ 76 FR 79276 (Dec. 21, 2011).
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G. Bureau's Dodd-Frank Act Section 1022(b)(2)(A) Analysis

1. Overview
    Section 1022(b)(2)(A) of the Dodd-Frank Act provides that in 
prescribing a rule under the Federal consumer financial laws, the 
Bureau shall consider the potential benefits and costs to consumers and 
covered persons, including the potential reduction of access by 
consumers to consumer financial products or services resulting from 
such rule; the impact on depository institutions and credit unions with 
$10 billion or less in total assets as described in section 1026 of the 
Dodd-Frank Act; and the impact on consumers in rural areas.\23\
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    \23\ 12 U.S.C. 5512(b)(2)(A). Although the manner and extent to 
which section 1022(b)(2)(A) applies to a rulemaking of this kind is 
unclear, in order to inform this rulemaking more fully the Bureau 
performed the described analysis.
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    This analysis focuses on the benefits, costs, and impacts of the 
2018 Proposal. The Bureau is using a pre-statutory baseline to assess 
the impact of the 2018 Proposal. That is, the Bureau's analysis below 
considers the benefits, costs, and impacts of the relevant provisions 
of the EGRRCPA combined with the 2018 Proposal relative to the 
regulatory regime that pre-dates the EGRRCPA.\24\
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    \24\ The Bureau has discretion in future rulemakings to choose 
the most appropriate baseline for that particular rulemaking. Also 
note that the Bureau's analysis excludes the Board's proposed 
amendments to subpart C of Regulation CC.
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2. Potential Benefits and Costs to Consumers and Covered Persons
    This proposed rule, if implemented, adjusts for inflation the funds 
that must be available as required by the EFA Act and Regulation CC. 
Moreover, depository institutions located in American Samoa, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam will now be required to comply with 
the provisions in the EFA Act and subpart B of Regulation CC related to 
funds availability, payment of interest, and disclosures to their

[[Page 63435]]

customers. The Board and the Bureau are proposing to hold the real 
expected losses to depository institutions fixed by adjusting for 
inflation the funds that must be available. Thus, the Bureau does not 
expect any potential benefits, costs, or impacts to consumers or 
covered persons as a result of the adjustment methodology, other than 
the paperwork costs discussed below. The adjustments and methodology in 
this proposed rule are technical, and they merely apply the statutory 
method for adjusting amounts that must be available to consumers.
    The Bureau estimates that covered persons will face an average 
paperwork cost of $398.04 every five years to update notices already 
sent to consumers. The Bureau believes that the average depository 
institution will use 12 hours of compliance officer time at a mean 
hourly rate of $33.17.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Occupational 
Employment and Wage Estimates (May 2016), available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, the EGRRCPA made amendments to the EFA Act to extend 
its application to American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and Guam.\26\ The 2018 Proposal implements the EGRRCPA 
by extending the application of Regulation CC's requirements related to 
funds availability, payment of interest, and disclosures to 
institutions in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and Guam. Consumers of depository institutions in 
American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands will generally 
receive the same benefits of consumers of institutions already 
complying with subpart B of Regulation CC. This includes policy and 
other disclosures regarding funds availability and timely access to 
their funds. Consumers will generally not experience any costs 
associated with receiving these disclosures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Public Law 115-174, section 208 (2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Bureau has identified five institutions located in American 
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam that 
are newly subject to Regulation CC as a result of the amendments made 
to the EFA Act by the EGRRCPA, and that will therefore face compliance 
costs associated with the 2018 Proposal should it be finalized. 
Although these institutions will incur costs to comply with the 
requirements of Regulation CC, the Bureau does not have data on the 
impact of the requirements of the 2018 Proposal on these institutions. 
The Bureau specifically requests information from commenters on the 
costs of complying with Regulation CC for institutions in American 
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam and 
on those institutions' pre-statutory practices regarding funds 
availability.
    The Bureau requests comment on the analysis above and requests any 
relevant data.
3. Impact on Depository Institutions With No More Than $10 Billion in 
Assets
    The proposed rule will impact all depository institutions, 
including those with no more than $10 billion in assets. The Bureau 
expects that all depository institutions will experience an average 
cost of $398.04 to update quinquennial notices.
    The EGRRCPA amended the EFA Act to extend its application to 
institutions in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and Guam. The Bureau identified five institutions that 
are now required to comply with Regulation CC, and all have no more 
than $10 billion in assets. The Bureau requests information from 
commenters on the total cost experienced by these depository 
institutions to comply with Regulation CC.
4. Impact on Access to Credit
    The Bureau does not expect this proposed rule, if implemented, to 
affect consumers' access to credit. The scope of this rulemaking is 
limited to funds available in depository accounts and is not directly 
related to credit access.
5. Impact on Rural Areas
    The Bureau does not believe that this proposed rule, if 
implemented, will have a unique impact on consumers in rural areas.

H. Interagency Consultations

    The Board and the Bureau have performed interagency consultations 
regarding this proposed rule consistent with section 609(e) of the EFA 
Act and section 1022(b)(2)(B) of the Dodd-Frank Act. Section 609(e) of 
the EFA Act provides that in prescribing regulations under section 
609(a), the Board and the Director of the Bureau shall consult with the 
Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Directors of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the National Credit Union 
Administration Board.\27\ Section 1022(b)(2)(B) of the Dodd-Frank Act 
provides that in prescribing a rule under the Federal consumer 
financial laws, the Bureau shall consult with the appropriate 
prudential regulators or other Federal agencies prior to proposing a 
rule and during the comment process regarding consistency with 
prudential, market, or systemic objectives administered by such 
agencies.\28\
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    \27\ 12 U.S.C. 4008(a).
    \28\ 12 U.S.C. 5512(b)(2)(B). Although the manner and extent to 
which section 1022(b)(2)(B) applies to a rulemaking of this kind is 
unclear, in order to inform this rulemaking more fully the Bureau 
performed the described consultations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Board: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 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. Based on its 
analysis, and for the reasons stated below, the Board believes that the 
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 
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.
    1. Statement of the need for, and objectives of, the proposed rule. 
The proposed rule would memorialize the calculation method used to 
adjust the EFA Act dollar amounts every five years in accordance with 
section 607(f) of the EFA Act, as amended by section 1086(f) of the 
Dodd-Frank Act. The proposed rule would also implement statutory 
amendments to the EFA Act to extend its application to American Samoa, 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
    2. Small entities affected by the proposed rule. The proposed rule 
would apply to all depository institutions regardless of their size. 
Pursuant to regulations issued by the Small Business Administration (13 
CFR 121.201), a ``small banking organization'' includes a depository 
institution with $550 million or less in total assets. Based on call 
report data, there are approximately 9,631 depository institutions that 
have total domestic assets of $550 million or less and thus are 
considered small entities for purposes of the RFA. All institutions 
will be required to update existing disclosures to their customers with 
any adjustments in the dollar amounts and update their software to 
adjust the availability amounts where necessary. The Board does not 
believe the proposed rule will have a significant

[[Page 63436]]

economic impact on the entities that it affects. Nevertheless, the 
Board invites comment on the effect of the proposed rule on small 
entities. Specifically, the extent of impact on small entities may 
depend on the contents of the institution's funds availability policy 
and the frequency of the institution's regularly scheduled re-prints of 
its availability policy disclosures. Small depository institutions that 
already make funds available the next day and do not utilize the 
exceptions for new accounts, large deposits, or repeated overdrafts may 
be less affected by the proposed rule. The economic impact on small 
entities from the proposed rule may include technology, labor, and 
other associated costs incurred to update their disclosures with the 
adjusted dollar amounts, if those cannot be accomplished within the 
institution's regular cycle. Moreover, depository institutions located 
in American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam will now be 
required to comply with the provisions in the EFA Act and Regulation CC 
related to funds availability, payment of interest, and disclosures to 
their customers.
    3. Recordkeeping, reporting, and compliance requirements. The 
proposed rule would require institutions to update their existing EFA 
Act disclosures to their customers with the adjusted dollar amount as 
well as update software that determines availability, as applicable. No 
other additional recordkeeping, reporting, or compliance requirements 
would be required by the proposed rule.
    4. Other Federal rules. The Board has not identified any likely 
duplication, overlap and/or potential conflict between the proposed 
rule and any Federal rule.
    5. Significant alternatives to the proposed revisions. The Board 
solicits comment on any significant alternatives that would reduce the 
regulatory burden of this proposed rule on small entities.
    Bureau: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an 
agency to conduct an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) and 
a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) of any rule subject to 
notice-and-comment rulemaking requirements.\29\ These analyses must 
``describe the impact of the proposed rule on small entities.'' \30\ 
Neither an IRFA nor FRFA is required if the agency certifies that the 
rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.\31\ The Bureau also is subject to certain 
additional procedures under the RFA involving the convening of a panel 
to consult with small business representatives prior to proposing a 
rule for which an IRFA is required.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    \30\ Id. at 603(a). For purposes of assessing the impacts of the 
proposed rule on small entities, ``small entities'' is defined in 
the RFA to include small businesses, small not-for-profit 
organizations, and small government jurisdictions. Id. at 601(6). A 
``small business'' is determined by application of Small Business 
Administration regulations and reference to the North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS) classifications and size 
standards. Id. at 601(3). A ``small organization'' is any ``not-for-
profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is 
not dominant in its field.'' Id. at 601(4). A ``small governmental 
jurisdiction'' is the government of a city, county, town, township, 
village, school district, or special district with a population of 
less than 50,000. Id. at 601(5).
    \31\ Id. at 605(b).
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    An IRFA is not required for this proposal because, if adopted, it 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. As discussed in the Bureau's section 1022(b)(2) 
Analysis above, the Bureau believes the proposed rule's inflation 
adjustments hold real expected losses fixed by adjusting for inflation 
the amount of funds that must be made available for withdrawal in 
accordance with the EFA Act and Regulation CC. Accordingly, these 
adjustments for inflation do not introduce costs for entities, 
including small entities. In addition, the proposed rule would 
implement in Regulation CC the EGRRCPA extension of the EFA Act's 
requirements to institutions in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. The Bureau identified five 
institutions that will be required to comply with Regulation CC due to 
the EGRRCPA amendments to the EFA Act. Thus, the Bureau concludes that 
a substantial number of small entities is not impacted by the proposal 
to implement in Regulation CC the EGRRCPA amendments to the EFA Act.
    The Bureau recognizes that the proposed rule will have some impact 
on some entities, including those that are small. The Small Business 
Administration (SBA) defines small depository institutions as those 
with less than $550 million in assets.\32\ Following guidance from the 
Small Business Administration, the Bureau averaged the total assets 
reported in quarterly call reports during quarters 1 through 4 of 2017. 
The Bureau identified 9,631 entities that had average total assets less 
than $550 million. These are considered small for the purposes of the 
RFA. Using the methodology outlined in the Board's Paperwork Reduction 
Act analysis, the Bureau estimates that the quinquennial adjustments 
will have an average quinquennial cost of $398.04 for depository 
institutions. The Bureau estimates that about 1% of small entities face 
a significant economic impact from the quinquennial proposed 
information collection.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ Small Business Administration, Table of Small Business 
Standards (2016), available at https://www.sba.gov/contracting/getting-started-contractor/make-sure-you-meet-sba-size-standards/table-small-business-size-standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Bureau estimates the impact of all subpart B 
provisions for those covered persons required to comply with subpart B 
of Regulation CC as a result of the amendments the EGRRCPA made to the 
EFA Act. The EGRRCPA amended the EFA Act to extend its application to 
institutions in American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and Guam. The Bureau identified five institutions that 
will be required to comply with Regulation CC due to the EGRRCPA 
amendments to the EFA Act. Thus, the Bureau concludes that a 
substantial number of small entities is not impacted by the proposal to 
implement the EGRRCPA amendments to the EFA Act in Regulation CC.
    Accordingly, the Bureau Director, by signing below, certifies that 
this proposal, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities.
    The Bureau requests comment on the analysis above and requests any 
relevant data.

J. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Board: 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 Board 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 OMB control number for the Board is 7100-0235 
and will be extended, with revision. The Board reviewed the proposed 
rule under the authority delegated to the Board by OMB. Comments are 
invited on: (a) Whether the collections of information are necessary 
for the proper performance of the Board's 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

[[Page 63437]]

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 Board 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: Disclosure Requirements Associated 
with Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks (Regulation CC).
    Frequency of Response: Quinquennial.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Respondents: State member banks and uninsured state branches and 
agencies of foreign banks.
    Abstract: Regulation CC (12 CFR part 229) implements the Expedited 
Funds Availability Act of 1987 (EFA Act) and the Check Clearing for the 
21st Century Act of 2003 (Check 21 Act).
    The EFA Act was enacted to provide depositors of checks with prompt 
funds availability and to foster improvements in the check collection 
and return processes. Subpart B of Regulation CC implements the EFA 
Act's funds-availability provisions and specifies availability 
schedules within which banks must make funds available for withdrawal. 
Subpart B also implements the EFA Act's rules regarding exceptions to 
the schedules, disclosure of funds-availability policies, and payment 
of interest.
    Current Action: The Agencies are adding section 229.11 to provide 
the CPI-W calculation methodology, which includes an explanation of how 
annual and cumulative changes (positive or negative) in the CPI-W will 
be taken into account, for the dollar amounts in section 
229.10(c)(1)(vii) regarding the minimum amount, section 229.12(d) for 
the cash withdrawal amount, section 229.13(a) for the new-account 
amount, section 229.13(b) for the large-deposit threshold, section 
229.13(d) for repeatedly overdrawn threshold, and section 229.21(a) for 
the civil liability amounts.
PRA Burden Estimates
    Number of respondents: 959 respondents (100 respondents for changes 
in policy).
    Estimated average hours per response: Specific availability policy 
disclosure and initial disclosures, .02 hours; Notice in specific 
policy disclosure, .05 hours; Notice of exceptions, .05 hours; 
Locations where employees accept consumer deposits, .25 hours; 
Quinquennial inflation adjustments for disclosures (annualized), 8 
hours; Annual notice of new ATMs, 5 hours; Changes in policy, 20 hours; 
Notification of quinquennial inflation adjustments, 4 hours; Notice of 
nonpayment on paying bank, .02 hours; Notification to customer, .02 
hours; Expedited recredit for consumers, .25 hours; Expedited recredit 
for banks, .25 hours; Consumer awareness, .02 hours; and Expedited 
recredit claim notice, .25 hours.
    Estimated annual burden hours: Specific availability policy 
disclosure and initial disclosures, 9,590 hours; Notice in specific 
policy disclosure, 33,565 hours; Notice of exceptions, 95,900 hours; 
Locations where employees accept consumer deposits, 240 hours; 
Quinquennial inflation adjustments for disclosures (annualized), 7,672 
hours; Annual notice of new ATMs, 4,795 hours; Changes in policy, 4,000 
hours; Notification of quinquennial inflation adjustments, 3,836 hours; 
Notice of nonpayment on paying bank, 671 hours; Notification to 
customer, 7,097 hours; Expedited recredit for consumers, 8,391 hours; 
Expedited recredit for banks, 3,596 hours; Consumer awareness, 5,754 
hours; and Expedited recredit claim notice, 5,994 hours.
    Current Total Estimated Annual Burden: 179,593 hours.
    Proposed Total Estimated Annual Burden: 191,101 hours.
    Bureau: The Bureau is not seeking OMB approval for the information 
collection requirements already accounted for by the Board above, or 
for which other agencies are responsible. Moreover, the Bureau's 
technical, non-substantive amendments to Regulation DD do not impose 
any new or additional information collection requirements that would 
require OMB approval.

K. Solicitation of Comments on Use of Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (Pub. L. 106-102, 113 
Stat. 1338, 1471, 12 U.S.C. 4809) requires the Federal banking agencies 
to use plain language in all proposed and final rules published after 
January 1, 2000. The Board has sought to present the proposed rule in a 
simple and straightforward manner, and invites comment on the use of 
plain language and whether any part of the proposed rule could be more 
clearly stated.

II. Reopening of the Comment Period for the 2011 Funds Availability 
Proposal

    On March 25, 2011, the Board proposed amendments to Regulation CC 
(76 FR 16862). Pursuant to sections 1086 and 1100H of the Dodd-Frank 
Act, effective July 21, 2011, the Board and the Bureau assumed joint 
rulemaking authority with respect to some of those proposed amendments, 
including the proposed amendments to the funds availability provisions 
of subpart B of Regulation CC and the definitions and appendices 
applicable to subpart B.\33\ This Federal Register document refers to 
the portion of the proposed amendments published on March 25, 2011, 
that are now subject to the joint rulemaking authority of the Board and 
the Bureau as the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal. The Board has 
conducted a separate rulemaking process to address other proposed 
amendments published on that date that remain within its sole 
rulemaking authority, principally the proposed amendments to the check 
collection provisions of subpart C of Regulation CC.\34\
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    \33\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 2085-86, 2113 (2010); 75 FR 
57252 (Sep. 20, 2010).
    \34\ The Board requested comment a second time on the subpart C 
amendments (79 FR 6673 (Feb. 4, 2014)) and adopted final amendments 
in June 2017 (82 FR 27552 (June 15, 2017)). The Board also requested 
comment on additional amendments to subpart C in June 2017 (82 FR 
25539 (June 2, 2017)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Agencies recognize there may have been important changes in 
markets, technology, or industry practice since the public submitted 
comments seven years ago in response to the Board's 2011 Funds 
Availability Proposal. The Board and the Bureau therefore are now 
reopening the comment period in order to provide an opportunity for the 
public to provide comments with new, additional, or different views on 
the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal. In taking this step, the Agencies 
have not made any decision on whether to pursue any particular course 
with regard to the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal, including whether 
to make it or any aspects of it final. Instead, reopening the comment 
period will provide the Agencies with up-to-date public input to 
consider in deciding on a future

[[Page 63438]]

course with regard to the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal. Comments on 
the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal that were previously submitted 
during the initial comment period, which ended on June 3, 2011, remain 
part of the rulemaking docket. To assist with reconciling comments from 
parties who submitted comments in 2011 and who again submit comments in 
2018 that reflect changes to their previous viewpoints, the Agencies 
request that such commenters clarify the relationship between their two 
comments. Specifically, the Agencies request that the commenters 
clarify whether their 2018 comments in part or in whole supersede their 
previously submitted comments.
    The Board and the Bureau are aware of various issues that were not 
raised by the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal. For example, some 
members of the public have suggested that the Agencies clarify how the 
funds availability provisions in subpart B of Regulation CC apply to 
prepaid accounts and to checks deposited electronically through a 
process known as ``remote deposit capture.'' In addition, the Agencies 
have received requests to clarify the relationship between Regulation 
CC availability requirements and banks' responsibilities related to 
deposit reconciliation. At this time, the Agencies are requesting 
comment only on the issues raised by the 2011 Funds Availability 
Proposal and the 2018 Proposal. The Agencies will consider whether 
further action is appropriate with respect to new topics in the future.

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 229

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

12 CFR Part 1030

    Advertising, Banks, Banking, Consumer protection, National banks, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Savings associations.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board of Governors 
of the Federal Reserve System proposes to amend Regulation CC, 12 CFR 
part 229, as set forth below:

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

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

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

Subpart A--General

* * * * *
0
2. Section 229.1 paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  229.1  Authority and purpose; organization

    (a) Authority and purpose. (1) In general. This part is issued by 
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) to 
implement the Expedited Funds Availability Act (12 U.S.C. 4001-4010) 
(EFA Act) and the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (12 U.S.C. 
5001-5018) (Check 21 Act).
    (2) Joint authority of the Bureau. The Board issues regulations 
under Sections 603(d)(1), 604, 605, and 609(a) of the EFA Act (12 
U.S.C. 4002(d)(1), 4003, 4004, 4008(a)) jointly with the Director of 
the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau).
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  229.2, revise paragraphs (c), (ff), and (jj) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  229.2  Definitions

* * * * *
    (c) Automated teller machine or ATM means an electronic device 
located in the United States at which a natural person may make 
deposits to an account by cash or check and perform other account 
transactions.
* * * * *
    (ff) State means a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, 
or the U.S. Virgin Islands. For purposes of subpart D of this part and, 
in connection therewith, this subpart A, state also means the Trust 
Territory of the Pacific Islands and any other territory of the United 
States.
* * * * *
    (jj) United States means the states, including the District of 
Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of 
the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
* * * * *

Subpart B--Availability of Funds and Disclosure of Funds 
Availability Policies


Sec. Sec.  229.10, 229.12, 229.13, and 229.21  [Amended]

0
4. In Sec.  229.10, 229.12, 229.13, remove the following dollar amount 
``$100'' wherever it appears and replace with the following dollar 
amount ``$225.''
0
5. In Appendix E to Part 229, remove the following dollar amounts 
wherever they appear in the appendix, and replace them as indicated in 
the table below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Section                      Remove            Add
------------------------------------------------------------------------
229.10(d)...............................          $5,000          $5,525
229.12(d)...............................             400             450
229.13(a)...............................           5,000           5,525
229.13(b)...............................           5,000           5,525
229.13(d)...............................           5,000           5,525
229.21(a)...............................           1,000           1,100
                                                 500,000         552,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
0
6. Section 229.11 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  229.11  Adjustment of dollar amounts

    (a) Dollar amounts indexed. The dollar amounts specified in 
Sec. Sec.  229.10(c)(1)(vii), 229.12(d), 229.13(a), 229.13(b), 229. 
13(d), and 229.21(a) shall be adjusted effective on April 1, 2020, on 
April 1, 2025, and on April 1 of every fifth year after 2025, in 
accordance with the procedure set forth in Sec.  229.11(b) using the 
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-
W), as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    (b) Indexing procedure.
    1. Inflation measurement periods. For dollar amount adjustments 
that are effective on April 1, 2020, the inflation measurement period 
begins in July 2011 and ends in July 2018. For dollar amount 
adjustments that are effective on April 1, 2025, the inflation 
measurement period begins in July 2018 and ends in July 2023. For 
dollar amount adjustments that are effective on April 1 of every fifth 
year after 2025, the

[[Page 63439]]

inflation measurement period begins in July of every fifth year after 
2018 and ends in July of every fifth year after 2023.
    2. Percentage change. Any dollar amount adjustment under this 
section shall be calculated across an inflation measurement period by 
the aggregate percentage change in the CPI-W, including both positive 
and negative percentage changes. The aggregate percentage change over 
the inflation measurement period will be rounded to one decimal place, 
using the CPI-W value for July (which is generally released by the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics in August).
    3. Adjustment amount. The adjustment amount for each dollar amount 
listed in Sec.  229.11(a) shall be equal to the aggregate percentage 
change multiplied by the existing dollar amount listed in Sec.  
229.11(c) and rounded to the nearest multiple of $25. The adjusted 
dollar amount will be equal to the sum of the existing dollar amount 
and the adjustment amount. No dollar adjustment will be made when the 
aggregate percentage change is zero or a negative percentage change, or 
when the aggregate percentage change multiplied by the existing dollar 
amount listed in Sec.  229.11(c) and rounded to the nearest multiple of 
$25 results in no change.
    4. Carry-forward. When there is an aggregate negative percentage 
change over an inflation measurement period, or when an aggregate 
positive percentage change over an inflation measurement period 
multiplied by the existing dollar amount listed in Sec.  229.11(c) and 
rounded to the nearest multiple of $25 results in no change, the 
aggregate percentage change over the inflation measurement period will 
be included in the calculation to determine the percentage change at 
the end of the subsequent inflation measurement period. That is, the 
cumulative change in the CPI-W over the two (or more) inflation 
measurement periods will be used in the calculation until the 
cumulative change results in publication of an adjusted dollar amount 
in the regulation.
    (c) Amounts.
    1. For purposes of Sec.  229.10(c)(1)(vii), the dollar amount in 
effect during a particular period is the amount stated below for that 
period.
    i. Prior to July 21, 2011, the amount is $100.
    ii. From July 21, 2011, through March 31, 2020, by operation of 
section 603(a)(2)(D) of the EFA Act (12 U.S.C. 4002(a)(2)(D)) the 
amount is $200.
    iii. Effective April 1, 2020, the amount is $225.
    2. For purposes of Sec.  229.12(d), the dollar amount in effect 
during a particular period is the amount stated below for that period.
    i. Prior to April 1, 2020, the amount is $400.
    ii. Effective April 1, 2020, the amount is $450.
    3. For purposes of Sec. Sec.  229.13(a), 229.13(b), and 229.13(d), 
the dollar amount in effect during a particular period is the amount 
stated below for that period.
    i. Prior to April 1, 2020, the amount is $5,000.
    ii. Effective April 1, 2020, the amount is $5,525.
    4. For purposes of Sec.  229.21(a), the dollar amounts in effect 
during a particular period are the amounts stated below for the period.
    i. Prior to April 1, 2020, the amounts are $100, $1,000, and 
$500,000 respectively.
    ii. Effective April 1, 2020, the amounts are $100, $1,100, and 
$552,500 respectively.
0
7. Amend Sec.  229.12 by:
0
a. Removing the following dollar amount ``$100'' wherever it appears 
and replace with the following dollar amount ``$225'' and
0
b. Revising paragraphs (e) and (e)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  229.12  Availability Schedule

* * * * *
    (e) Extension of schedule for certain deposits in Alaska, Hawaii, 
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The depositary bank may 
extend the time periods set forth in this section by one business day 
in the case of any deposit, other than a deposit described in Sec.  
229.10, that is--
    (1) Deposited in an account at a branch of a depositary bank if the 
branch is located in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin 
Islands; and
* * * * *


Sec.  229.21  Civil Liability [Amended]

0
8. In Sec.  229.21, remove the following dollar amount `` $100'' 
wherever it appears and replace with the following dollar amount 
``$225.''

Appendix E to Part 229--Commentary

* * * * *
0
 9. Amend Appendix E to Part 229 to read as follows:
0
A. In Section II.D, revise paragraph 1.
0
B. In Section IV.D, revise paragraph 5 and add paragraph 7.
0
C. Section V is revised.
0
D. In Section VI.B, paragraph 4 is added.
0
E In Section VI.E paragraphs 1 and 2 are revised.
0
F. Section VII.C, paragraph 2 is revised and paragraph 4 is added.
0
G. In Section VII.E, paragraph 5 is added.
0
H. In Section VII.H, paragraph 2(b) is revised.
0
I. In Section XIV.C, paragraph 2 is revised.
0
J. In Section XV.A, paragraph 2 is added.
0
K. Section XXIX is removed and reserved.
    The additions and revisions read as follows:

Appendix E to Part 229--Commentary

II. Section 229.2 Definitions

* * * * *

D. 229.2(c) Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

    1. ATM is not defined in the EFA Act. The regulation defines an 
ATM as an electronic device located in the United States at which a 
natural person may make deposits to an account by cash or check and 
perform other account transactions. Point-of-sale terminals, 
machines that only dispense cash, night depositories, and lobby 
deposit boxes are not ATMs within the meaning of the definition, 
either because they do not accept deposits of cash or checks (e.g., 
point-of-sale terminals and cash dispensers) or because they only 
accept deposits (e.g., night depositories and lobby boxes) and 
cannot perform other transactions. A lobby deposit box or similar 
receptacle in which written payment orders or deposits may be placed 
is not an ATM.
* * * * *

IV. Section 229.10 Next-Day Availability

* * * * *

D. 229.10(c) Certain Check Deposits [Amended]

* * * * *

5. First $225

    a. The EFA Act and regulation also require that up to $225 of 
the aggregate deposit by check or checks not subject to next-day 
availability on any one banking day be made available on the next 
business day. For example, if $70 were deposited in an account by 
check(s) on a Monday, the entire $70 must be available for 
withdrawal at the start of business on Tuesday. If $400 were 
deposited by check(s) on a Monday, this section requires that $225 
of the funds be available for withdrawal at the start of business on 
Tuesday. The portion of the customer's deposit to which the $225 
must be applied is at the discretion of the depositary bank, as long 
as it is not applied to any checks subject to next-day availability. 
The $225 next-day availability rule does not apply to deposits at 
nonproprietary ATMs.
    b. The $225 that must be made available under this rule is in 
addition to the amount that must be made available for withdrawal

[[Page 63440]]

on the business day after deposit under other provisions of this 
section. For example, if a customer deposits a $1,000 Treasury check 
and a $1,000 local check in its account on Monday, $1,225 must be 
made available for withdrawal on Tuesday--the proceeds of the $1,000 
Treasury check, as well as the first $225 of the local check.
    c. A depositary bank may aggregate all local and nonlocal check 
deposits made by a customer on a given banking day for the purposes 
of the $225 next-day availability rule. Thus, if a customer has two 
accounts at the depositary bank, and on a particular banking day 
makes deposits to each account, $225 of the total deposited to the 
two accounts must be made available on the business day after 
deposit. Banks may aggregate deposits to individual and joint 
accounts for the purposes of this provision.
    d. If the customer deposits a $500 local check and gets $225 
cash back at the time of deposit, the bank need not make an 
additional $225 available for withdrawal on the following day. 
Similarly, if the customer depositing the local check has a negative 
book balance, or negative available balance in its account at the 
time of deposit, the $225 that must be available on the next 
business day may be made available by applying the $225 to the 
negative balance, rather than making the $225 available for 
withdrawal by cash or check on the following day.
* * * * *
    7. Dollar Amount Adjustment--See section 229.11 for the rules 
regarding adjustments for inflation every five years to the dollar 
amounts used in this section.
* * * * *

V. Section 229.11 Adjustment of Dollar Amounts

    1. Example of a positive adjustment. If the CPI-W for July (and 
released in August) of the base year and the adjustment year were 
100 and 114.7, respectively, the aggregate percentage change for the 
period would be 14.7%. If the applicable dollar amount was $200 for 
the prior period, then the adjusted figure would become $225, as the 
change of $29.40 results in rounding to $25.
    2. Example of no adjustment. If the CPI-W for July (and released 
in August) of the base year and the adjustment year were 100 and 
104, respectively, the aggregate percentage change would be 4.0%. If 
the applicable dollar amount was $200 for the prior period, then the 
adjusted figure would remain $200, as the change of $8.00 does not 
result in rounding to $25.
    3. Example of accounting for aggregate decrease in subsequent 
period. If the CPI-W for July (and released in August) of the base 
year and the adjustment year were 100 and 95, respectively, the 
aggregate percentage change would be -5%, and no adjustment to the 
dollar amounts would occur. The CPI-W for July (and released in 
August) of the base year would be the starting point for calculating 
any CPI-W increase across subsequent five-year periods. Therefore, 
if the CPI-W in July (and released in August) of the base year and 
the CPI-W in July (and released in August) of the years at the end 
of the next two five-year periods were 100, 95, and 109, 
respectively, the aggregate percentage change for the entire period 
would be 9.0%. If the applicable dollar amount was $5,000 for the 
prior period, then the adjusted figure would become $5,450 as the 
change of $450 does not require rounding because it is a multiple of 
$25.
    4. Example of accounting for aggregate lack of dollar amount 
change in subsequent period. If the CPI-W for July (and released in 
August) of the base year and the year at the end of the subsequent 
five-year period were 100 and 105, respectively, the aggregate 
change over the five-year period would be 5%, and no adjustment to 
the $200 amount would occur, as the change of $10 does not result in 
rounding to $225. Nonetheless, the CPI-W for July (and released in 
August) of the base year would be the starting point for calculating 
any CPI-W percentage increase across the subsequent five-year 
period. Therefore, if the CPI-W in July (and released in August) of 
the base year and the CPI-W in July (and released in August) of the 
years at the end of the next two five-year periods were 100, 105, 
and 112.6, respectively, the aggregate percentage change for the 
entire period would be 12.6%. If the applicable dollar amount was 
$200 for the prior period, then the adjusted figure would become 
$225 as the change of $25.20 results in rounding to $225, the 
nearest multiple of $25.
* * * * *

VI. Section 229.12 Availability Schedule

A. 229.12(a) Effective Date

* * * * *

B. 229.12(d) Time Period Adjustment for Withdrawal by Cash or 
Similar Means

* * * * *
    4. Dollar Amount Adjustment--See section 229.11 for the rules 
regarding adjustments for inflation every five years to the dollar 
amounts in this section.
* * * * *

E. 229.12(e) Extension of Schedule for Certain Deposits in Alaska, 
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

    1. The EFA Act and regulation provide an extension of the 
availability schedules for check deposits at a branch of a bank if 
the branch is located in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, American 
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or 
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    The schedules for local checks, nonlocal checks (including 
nonlocal checks subject to the reduced schedules of appendix B), and 
deposits at nonproprietary ATMs are extended by one business day for 
checks deposited to accounts in banks located in these jurisdictions 
that are drawn on or payable at or through a paying bank not located 
in the same jurisdiction as the depositary bank. For example, a 
check deposited in a bank in Hawaii and drawn on a San Francisco 
paying bank must be made available for withdrawal not later than the 
third business day following deposit. This extension does not apply 
to deposits that must be made available for withdrawal on the next 
business day.
    2. The Congress did not provide this extension of the schedules 
to checks drawn on a paying bank located in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto 
Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands and deposited in an 
account at a depositary bank in the 48 contiguous states. Therefore, 
a check deposited in a San Francisco bank drawn on a Hawaii paying 
bank must be made available for withdrawal not later than the second 
rather than the third business day following deposit.

VII. Section 229.13 Exceptions

B. 229.13(a) New Accounts

* * * * *
    4. Dollar Amount Adjustment--See section 229.11 for the rules 
regarding adjustments for inflation every five years to the dollar 
amounts in this section.
* * * * *

C. 229.13(b) Large Deposits

* * * * *
    2. The following example illustrates the operation of the large-
deposit exception. If a customer deposits $2,000 in cash and a 
$9,000 local check on a Monday, $2,225 (the proceeds of the cash 
deposit and $225 from the local-check deposit) must be made 
available for withdrawal on Tuesday. An additional $5,300 of the 
proceeds of the local check must be available for withdrawal on 
Wednesday in accordance with the local schedule, and the remaining 
$3,475 may be held for an additional period of time under the large-
deposit exception.
* * * * *
    4. Dollar Amount Adjustment--See section 229.11 for the rules 
regarding adjustments for inflation every five years to the dollar 
amounts in this section.
* * * * *

E. 229.13(d) Repeated Overdrafts

* * * * *
    5. Dollar Amount Adjustment--See section 229.11 for the 
calculation method used to adjust the dollar amounts in this section 
every five years.
* * * * *

H. 229.13(g) Notice of Exception

* * * * *

2. One-Time Exception Notice

* * * * *
    b. In the case of a deposit of multiple checks, the depositary 
bank has the discretion to place an exception hold on any 
combination of checks in excess of $5,525. The notice should enable 
a customer to determine the availability of the deposit in the case 
of a deposit of multiple checks. For example, if a customer deposits 
a $5,525 local check and a $5,525 nonlocal check, under the large-
deposit exception, the depositary bank may make funds available in 
the amount of (1) $225 on the first business day after deposit, 
$5,300 on the second business day after deposit (local check), and 
$5,525 on the eleventh business day after deposit (nonlocal check 
with six-day exception hold), or (2) $225 on the first

[[Page 63441]]

business day after deposit, $5,300 on the fifth business day after 
deposit (nonlocal check), and $5,525 on the seventh business day 
after deposit (local check with five-day exception hold). The notice 
should reflect the bank's priorities in placing exception holds on 
next-day (or second-day), local, and nonlocal checks.
* * * * *

XIV. Section 229.20 Relation to State Law

* * * * *

C. 229.20(c) Standards for Preemption

* * * * *
    2. Under a state law, some categories of deposits could be 
available for withdrawal sooner or later than the time required by 
this subpart, depending on the composition of the deposit. For 
example, the EFA Act and this regulation (Sec.  229.10(c)(1)(vii)) 
require next-day availability for the first $225 of the aggregate 
deposit of local or nonlocal checks on any day, and a state law 
could require next-day availability for any check of $200 or less 
that is deposited. Under the EFA Act and this regulation, if either 
one $300 check or three $100 checks are deposited on a given day, 
$225 must be made available for withdrawal on the next business day, 
and $75 must be made available in accordance with the local or 
nonlocal schedule. Under the state law, however, the two deposits 
would be subject to different availability rules. In the first case, 
none of the proceeds of the deposit would be subject to next-day 
availability; in the second case, the entire proceeds of the deposit 
would be subject to next-day availability. In this example, because 
the state law would, in some situations, permit a hold longer than 
the maximum permitted by the EFA Act, this provision of state law is 
inconsistent and preempted in its entirety.
* * * * *

XV. Section 229.21 Civil Liability

A. 229.21(a) Civil Liability

* * * * *
    2. Dollar Amount Adjustment--See section 229.11 for the rules 
regarding adjustments for inflation every five years to the dollar 
amounts in this section.
* * * * *

XXIX. Section 229.43 Checks Payable in Guam, American Samoa, and the 
Northern Mariana Islands [Removed and Reserved]

* * * * *

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Bureau of Consumer 
Financial Protection proposes to amend Regulation DD, 12 CFR part 1030, 
as follows:

PART 1030--TRUTH IN SAVINGS (REGULATION DD)

0
10. The authority citation for part 1030 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4302-4304, 4308, 5512, 5581.

0
11. Section 1030.1 is amended by adding paragraph (e) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1030.1  Authority, purpose, coverage, and effect on state laws.

* * * * *
    (e) Relationship to Regulation CC. The Director of the Bureau and 
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System jointly issue 
regulations under sections 603(d)(1), 604, 605, and 609(a) of the 
Expedited Funds Availability Act (12 U.S.C. 4002(d)(1), 4003, 4004, 
4008(a)) that are codified within Regulation CC (12 CFR part 229).
0
12. Section 1030.7 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1030.7  Payment of interest.

* * * * *
    (c) Date interest begins to accrue. Interest shall begin to accrue 
not later than the business day specified for interest-bearing accounts 
in section 606 of the Expedited Funds Availability Act (12 U.S.C. 4005) 
and in Sec.  229.14 of that act's implementing Regulation CC (12 CFR 
part 229). Interest shall accrue until the day funds are withdrawn.
0
13. Appendix A to part 1030 is revised to read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 1030--Annual Percentage Yield Calculation

    The annual percentage yield measures the total amount of 
interest paid on an account based on the interest rate and the 
frequency of compounding. The annual percentage yield reflects only 
interest and does not include the value of any bonus (or other 
consideration worth $10 or less) that may be provided to the 
consumer to open, maintain, increase or renew an account. Interest 
or other earnings are not to be included in the annual percentage 
yield if such amounts are determined by circumstances that may or 
may not occur in the future. The annual percentage yield is 
expressed as an annualized rate, based on a 365-day year. 
Institutions may calculate the annual percentage yield based on a 
365-day or a 366-day year in a leap year. Part I of this appendix 
discusses the annual percentage yield calculations for account 
disclosures and advertisements, while Part II discusses annual 
percentage yield earned calculations for periodic statements.

Part I. Annual Percentage Yield for Account Disclosures and Advertising 
Purposes

    In general, the annual percentage yield for account disclosures 
under Sec. Sec.  1030.4 and 1030.5 and for advertising under Sec.  
1030.8 is an annualized rate that reflects the relationship between 
the amount of interest that would be earned by the consumer for the 
term of the account and the amount of principal used to calculate 
that interest. Special rules apply to accounts with tiered and 
stepped interest rates, and to certain time accounts with a stated 
maturity greater than one year.

A. General Rules

    Except as provided in Part I.E. of this appendix, the annual 
percentage yield shall be calculated by the formula shown below. 
Institutions shall calculate the annual percentage yield based on 
the actual number of days in the term of the account. For accounts 
without a stated maturity date (such as a typical savings or 
transaction account), the calculation shall be based on an assumed 
term of 365 days. In determining the total interest figure to be 
used in the formula, institutions shall assume that all principal 
and interest remain on deposit for the entire term and that no other 
transactions (deposits or withdrawals) occur during the term. This 
assumption shall not be used if an institution requires, as a 
condition of the account, that consumers withdraw interest during 
the term. In such a case, the interest (and annual percentage yield 
calculation) shall reflect that requirement. For time accounts that 
are offered in multiples of months, institutions may base the number 
of days on either the actual number of days during the applicable 
period, or the number of days that would occur for any actual 
sequence of that many calendar months. If institutions choose to use 
the latter rule, they must use the same number of days to calculate 
the dollar amount of interest earned on the account that is used in 
the annual percentage yield formula (where ``Interest'' is divided 
by ``Principal'').
    The annual percentage yield is calculated by use of the 
following general formula (``APY'' is used for convenience in the 
formulas):
    APY=100 [(1+Interest/Principal)(365/Days in term)-1],
    ``Principal'' is the amount of funds assumed to have been 
deposited at the beginning of the account.
    ``Interest'' is the total dollar amount of interest earned on 
the Principal for the term of the account.
    ``Days in term'' is the actual number of days in the term of the 
account. When the ``days in term'' is 365 (that is, where the stated 
maturity is 365 days or where the account does not have a stated 
maturity), the annual percentage yield can be calculated by use of 
the following simple formula:
    APY=100 (Interest/Principal)

Examples

    (1) If an institution pays $61.68 in interest for a 365-day year 
on $1,000 deposited into a NOW account, using the general formula 
above, the annual percentage yield is 6.17%:
    APY=100[(1+61.68/1,000)(365/365)-1]
    APY=6.17%
    Or, using the simple formula above (since, as an account without 
a stated term, the term is deemed to be 365 days):
    APY=100(61.68/1,000)
    APY=6.17%
    (2) If an institution pays $30.37 in interest on a $1,000 six-
month certificate of deposit (where the six-month period used by the 
institution contains 182 days), using the general formula above, the 
annual percentage yield is 6.18%:
    APY=100[(1+30.37/1,000)(365/182)-1]

[[Page 63442]]

    APY=6.18%

B. Stepped-Rate Accounts (Different Rates Apply in Succeeding 
Periods)

    For accounts with two or more interest rates applied in 
succeeding periods (where the rates are known at the time the 
account is opened), an institution shall assume each interest rate 
is in effect for the length of time provided for in the deposit 
contract.

Examples

    (1) If an institution offers a $1,000 6-month certificate of 
deposit on which it pays a 5% interest rate, compounded daily, for 
the first three months (which contain 91 days), and a 5.5% interest 
rate, compounded daily, for the next three months (which contain 92 
days), the total interest for six months is $26.68 and, using the 
general formula above, the annual percentage yield is 5.39%:
    APY=100[(1+26.68/1,000)(365/183)-1]
    APY=5.39%
    (2) If an institution offers a $1,000 two-year certificate of 
deposit on which it pays a 6% interest rate, compounded daily, for 
the first year, and a 6.5% interest rate, compounded daily, for the 
next year, the total interest for two years is $133.13, and, using 
the general formula above, the annual percentage yield is 6.45%:
    APY=100[(1+133.13/1,000)(365/730)-1]
    APY=6.45%

C. Variable-Rate Accounts

    For variable-rate accounts without an introductory premium or 
discounted rate, an institution must base the calculation only on 
the initial interest rate in effect when the account is opened (or 
advertised), and assume that this rate will not change during the 
year.
    Variable-rate accounts with an introductory premium (or 
discount) rate must be calculated like a stepped-rate account. Thus, 
an institution shall assume that: (1) The introductory interest rate 
is in effect for the length of time provided for in the deposit 
contract; and (2) the variable interest rate that would have been in 
effect when the account is opened or advertised (but for the 
introductory rate) is in effect for the remainder of the year. If 
the variable rate is tied to an index, the index-based rate in 
effect at the time of disclosure must be used for the remainder of 
the year. If the rate is not tied to an index, the rate in effect 
for existing consumers holding the same account (who are not 
receiving the introductory interest rate) must be used for the 
remainder of the year.
    For example, if an institution offers an account on which it 
pays a 7% interest rate, compounded daily, for the first three 
months (which, for example, contain 91 days), while the variable 
interest rate that would have been in effect when the account was 
opened was 5%, the total interest for a 365-day year for a $1,000 
deposit is $56.52 (based on 91 days at 7% followed by 274 days at 
5%). Using the simple formula, the annual percentage yield is 5.65%:
    APY=100(56.52/1,000)
APY=5.65%

D. Tiered-Rate Accounts (Different Rates Apply to Specified Balance 
Levels)

    For accounts in which two or more interest rates paid on the 
account are applicable to specified balance levels, the institution 
must calculate the annual percentage yield in accordance with the 
method described below that it uses to calculate interest. In all 
cases, an annual percentage yield (or a range of annual percentage 
yields, if appropriate) must be disclosed for each balance tier.
    For purposes of the examples discussed below, assume the 
following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Deposit balance required to
        Interest rate (percent)                     earn rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.25...................................  Up to but not exceeding $2,500.
5.50...................................  Above $2,500 but not exceeding
                                          $15,000.
5.75...................................  Above $15,000.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Tiering Method A. Under this method, an institution pays on the 
full balance in the account the stated interest rate that 
corresponds to the applicable deposit tier. For example, if a 
consumer deposits $8,000, the institution pays the 5.50% interest 
rate on the entire $8,000.
    When this method is used to determine interest, only one annual 
percentage yield will apply to each tier. Within each tier, the 
annual percentage yield will not vary with the amount of principal 
assumed to have been deposited.
    For the interest rates and deposit balances assumed above, the 
institution will state three annual percentage yields--one 
corresponding to each balance tier. Calculation of each annual 
percentage yield is similar for this type of account as for accounts 
with a single interest rate. Thus, the calculation is based on the 
total amount of interest that would be received by the consumer for 
each tier of the account for a year and the principal assumed to 
have been deposited to earn that amount of interest.
    First tier. Assuming daily compounding, the institution will pay 
$53.90 in interest on a $1,000 deposit. Using the general formula, 
for the first tier, the annual percentage yield is 5.39%:

APY=100[(1+53.90/1,000)(365/365)-1]
APY=5.39%

    Using the simple formula:
APY=100(53.90/1,000)

APY=5.39%

    Second tier. The institution will pay $452.29 in interest on an 
$8,000 deposit. Thus, using the simple formula, the annual 
percentage yield for the second tier is 5.65%:
APY=100(452.29/8,000)
APY=5.65%

    Third tier. The institution will pay $1,183.61 in interest on a 
$20,000 deposit. Thus, using the simple formula, the annual 
percentage yield for the third tier is 5.92%:

APY=100(1,183.61/20,000)
APY=5.92%

    Tiering Method B. Under this method, an institution pays the 
stated interest rate only on that portion of the balance within the 
specified tier. For example, if a consumer deposits $8,000, the 
institution pays 5.25% on $2,500 and 5.50% on $5,500 (the difference 
between $8,000 and the first tier cut-off of $2,500).
    The institution that computes interest in this manner must 
provide a range that shows the lowest and the highest annual 
percentage yields for each tier (other than for the first tier, 
which, like the tiers in Method A, has the same annual percentage 
yield throughout). The low figure for an annual percentage yield 
range is calculated based on the total amount of interest earned for 
a year assuming the minimum principal required to earn the interest 
rate for that tier. The high figure for an annual percentage yield 
range is based on the amount of interest the institution would pay 
on the highest principal that could be deposited to earn that same 
interest rate. If the account does not have a limit on the maximum 
amount that can be deposited, the institution may assume any amount.
    For the tiering structure assumed above, the institution would 
state a total of five annual percentage yields--one figure for the 
first tier and two figures stated as a range for the other two 
tiers.
    First tier. Assuming daily compounding, the institution would 
pay $53.90 in interest on a $1,000 deposit. For this first tier, 
using the simple formula, the annual percentage yield is 5.39%:

APY=100(53.90/1,000)
APY=5.39%

    Second tier. For the second tier, the institution would pay 
between $134.75 and $841.45 in interest, based on assumed balances 
of $2,500.01 and $15,000, respectively. For $2,500.01, interest 
would be figured on $2,500 at 5.25% interest rate plus interest on 
$.01 at 5.50%. For the low end of the second tier, therefore, the 
annual percentage yield is 5.39%, using the simple formula:

APY=100(134.75/2,500)
APY=5.39%

    For $15,000, interest is figured on $2,500 at 5.25% interest 
rate plus interest on $12,500 at 5.50% interest rate. For the high 
end of the second tier, the annual percentage yield, using the 
simple formula, is 5.61%:
APY=100(841.45/15,000)
APY=5.61%

    Thus, the annual percentage yield range for the second tier is 
5.39% to 5.61%.
    Third tier. For the third tier, the institution would pay 
$841.45 in interest on the low end of the third tier (a balance of 
$15,000.01). For $15,000.01, interest would be figured on $2,500 at 
5.25% interest rate, plus interest on $12,500 at 5.50% interest 
rate, plus interest on $.01 at 5.75% interest rate. For the low end 
of the third tier, therefore, the annual percentage yield (using the 
simple formula) is 5.61%:

APY=100 (841.45/15,000)
APY=5.61%

    Since the institution does not limit the account balance, it may 
assume any maximum amount for the purposes of computing the annual 
percentage yield for the high end of the third tier. For an assumed 
maximum balance amount of $100,000, interest would be figured on 
$2,500 at 5.25%

[[Page 63443]]

interest rate, plus interest on $12,500 at 5.50% interest rate, plus 
interest on $85,000 at 5.75% interest rate. For the high end of the 
third tier, therefore, the annual percentage yield, using the simple 
formula, is 5.87%.

APY=100 (5,871.79/100,000)
APY=5.87%

    Thus, the annual percentage yield range that would be stated for 
the third tier is 5.61% to 5.87%.
    If the assumed maximum balance amount is $1,000,000 instead of 
$100,000, the institution would use $985,000 rather than $85,000 in 
the last calculation. In that case, for the high end of the third 
tier the annual percentage yield, using the simple formula, is 
5.91%:

APY = 100 (59134.22/1,000,000)
APY = 5.91%

    Thus, the annual percentage yield range that would be stated for 
the third tier is 5.61% to 5.91%.

E. Time Accounts With a Stated Maturity Greater Than One Year That 
Pay Interest at Least Annually

    1. For time accounts with a stated maturity greater than one 
year that do not compound interest on an annual or more frequent 
basis, and that require the consumer to withdraw interest at least 
annually, the annual percentage yield may be disclosed as equal to 
the interest rate.

Example

    (1) If an institution offers a $1,000 two-year certificate of 
deposit that does not compound and that pays out interest semi-
annually by check or transfer at a 6.00% interest rate, the annual 
percentage yield may be disclosed as 6.00%.
    (2) For time accounts covered by this paragraph that are also 
stepped-rate accounts, the annual percentage yield may be disclosed 
as equal to the composite interest rate.

Example

    (1) If an institution offers a $1,000 three-year certificate of 
deposit that does not compound and that pays out interest annually 
by check or transfer at a 5.00% interest rate for the first year, 
6.00% interest rate for the second year, and 7.00% interest rate for 
the third year, the institution may compute the composite interest 
rate and APY as follows:
    (a) Multiply each interest rate by the number of days it will be 
in effect;
    (b) Add these figures together; and
    (c) Divide by the total number of days in the term.
    (2) Applied to the example, the products of the interest rates 
and days the rates are in effect are (5.00% x 365 days) 1825, (6.00% 
x 365 days) 2190, and (7.00% x 365 days) 2555, respectively. The sum 
of these products, 6570, is divided by 1095, the total number of 
days in the term. The composite interest rate and APY are both 
6.00%.

Part II. Annual Percentage Yield Earned for Periodic Statements

    The annual percentage yield earned for periodic statements under 
Sec.  1030.6(a) is an annualized rate that reflects the relationship 
between the amount of interest actually earned on the consumer's 
account during the statement period and the average daily balance in 
the account for the statement period. Pursuant to Sec.  1030.6(b), 
however, if an institution uses the average daily balance method and 
calculates interest for a period other than the statement period, 
the annual percentage yield earned shall reflect the relationship 
between the amount of interest earned and the average daily balance 
in the account for that other period.
    The annual percentage yield earned shall be calculated by using 
the following formulas (``APY Earned'' is used for convenience in 
the formulas):

A. General Formula

APY Earned = 100 [(1 + Interest earned/
Balance)(365/Days in period)-1]

    ``Balance'' is the average daily balance in the account for the 
period.
    ``Interest earned'' is the actual amount of interest earned on 
the account for the period.
    ``Days in period'' is the actual number of days for the period.

Examples

    (1) Assume an institution calculates interest for the statement 
period (and uses either the daily balance or the average daily 
balance method), and the account has a balance of $1,500 for 15 days 
and a balance of $500 for the remaining 15 days of a 30-day 
statement period. The average daily balance for the period is 
$1,000. The interest earned (under either balance computation 
method) is $5.25 during the period. The annual percentage yield 
earned (using the formula above) is 6.58%:

APY Earned = 100 [(1 + 5.25/1,000)(365/30)-1]
APY Earned = 6.58%

    (2) Assume an institution calculates interest on the average 
daily balance for the calendar month and provides periodic 
statements that cover the period from the 16th of one month to the 
15th of the next month. The account has a balance of $2,000 
September 1 through September 15 and a balance of $1,000 for the 
remaining 15 days of September. The average daily balance for the 
month of September is $1,500, which results in $6.50 in interest 
earned for the month. The annual percentage yield earned for the 
month of September would be shown on the periodic statement covering 
September 16 through October 15. The annual percentage yield earned 
(using the formula above) is 5.40%:

APY Earned = 100 [(6.50/1,500)(365/30)-1]
APY Earned = 5.40%

    (3) Assume an institution calculates interest on the average 
daily balance for a quarter (for example, the calendar months of 
September through November), and provides monthly periodic 
statements covering calendar months. The account has a balance of 
$1,000 throughout the 30 days of September, a balance of $2,000 
throughout the 31 days of October, and a balance of $3,000 
throughout the 30 days of November. The average daily balance for 
the quarter is $2,000, which results in $21 in interest earned for 
the quarter. The annual percentage yield earned would be shown on 
the periodic statement for November. The annual percentage yield 
earned (using the formula above) is 4.28%:

APY Earned = 100 [(1 + 21/2,000)(365/91)-1]
APY Earned = 4.28%

B. Special Formula for Use Where Periodic Statement Is Sent More 
Often Than the Period for Which Interest Is Compounded

    Institutions that use the daily balance method to accrue 
interest and that issue periodic statements more often than the 
period for which interest is compounded shall use the following 
special formula:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP10DE18.000

    The following definition applies for use in this formula (all 
other terms are defined under Part II):
    ``Compounding'' is the number of days in each compounding 
period.
    Assume an institution calculates interest for the statement 
period using the daily balance method, pays a 5.00% interest rate, 
compounded annually, and provides periodic statements for each 
monthly cycle. The account has a daily balance of $1,000 for a 30-
day statement period. The interest earned is $4.11 for the period, 
and the annual percentage yield earned (using the special formula 
above) is 5.00%:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP10DE18.001


[[Page 63444]]


    APY Earned=5.00%

0
14. In Supplement I to part 1030, under Section 1030.7--Payment of 
Interest, paragraph 7(c)--Date interest begins to accrue is revised to 
read as follows:

Supplement I to Part 1030--Official Interpretations

* * * * *

Section 1030.7--Payment of Interest

* * * * *
    (c) Date interest begins to accrue.
    1. Relation to Regulation CC. Institutions may rely on the 
Expedited Funds Availability Act (EFAA) and Regulation CC (12 CFR 
part 229) to determine, for example, when a deposit is considered 
made for purposes of interest accrual, or when interest need not be 
paid on funds because a deposited check is later returned unpaid.
    2. Ledger and collected balances. Institutions may calculate 
interest by using a ``ledger'' or ``collected'' balance method, as 
long as the crediting requirements of the EFAA are met (12 CFR 
229.14).
    3. Withdrawal of principal. Institutions must accrue interest on 
funds until the funds are withdrawn from the account. For example, 
if a check is debited to an account on a Tuesday, the institution 
must accrue interest on those funds through Monday.

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, November 19, 2018.
Ann E. Misback,
Secretary of the Board.
    Dated: September 20, 2018.
Mick Mulvaney,
Acting Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
[FR Doc. 2018-25746 Filed 12-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P



                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                         63431

     proposing to replace the print                          adjust the dollar amounts in the EFA                  1801 K Street NW (between 18th and
     newspaper advertisements that their                     Act every five years by the aggregate                 19th Streets NW), between 9:00 a.m. and
     regulations currently require with                      annual percentage increase in the                     5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
     electronic advertisements posted on the                 Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners                   Bureau: You may submit comments,
     internet, which the Departments believe                 and Clerical Workers (CPI–W) rounded                  identified by Docket No. CFPB–2018–
     will be a more effective and efficient                  to the nearest multiple of $25. The 2018              0035 or RIN 3170–AA31, by any of the
     means of disseminating information                      Proposal would also implement the                     following methods:
     about job openings to U.S. workers.                     Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief,                     • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
       The NPRM requested public                             and Consumer Protection Act                           www.regulations.gov. Follow the
     comments on the proposed changes on                     (EGRRCPA) amendments to the EFA                       instructions for submitting comments.
     or before December 10, 2018. The                        Act, which include extending coverage                   • Email: FederalRegisterComments@
     Departments have received a request to                  to American Samoa, the Commonwealth                   cfpb.gov. Include Docket No. CFPB–
     extend the comment period to allow the                  of the Northern Mariana Islands, and                  2018–0035 or RIN 3170–AA31 in the
     public to provide further input on the                  Guam, and would make certain other                    subject line of the email.
     proposed changes. In light of the                       technical amendments.                                   • Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier:
     request, the Departments have extended                    With regard to reopening comments                   Comment Intake, Bureau of Consumer
     the period for submitting public                        on the 2011 Funds Availability                        Financial Protection, 1700 G Street, NW,
     comment to December 28, 2018.                           Proposal, the Board published proposed                Washington, DC 20552.
                                                             amendments to Regulation CC in the                      Instructions: All submissions should
     Molly E. Conway,                                                                                              include the agency name and docket
                                                             Federal Register on March 25, 2011. As
     Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment               discussed in SUPPLEMENTARY                            number or Regulatory Information
     and Training Administration, Department of                                                                    Number (RIN) for this rulemaking.
                                                             INFORMATION, the Board and the Bureau
     Labor.                                                                                                        Because paper mail in the Washington,
                                                             now have joint rulemaking authority
     L. Francis Cissna,                                                                                            DC area and at the Bureau is subject to
                                                             with respect to part of Regulation CC,
     Director, United States Citizenship and                 related definitions, and appendices of                delay, commenters are encouraged to
     Immigration Services.                                                                                         submit comments electronically. In
                                                             the amendments that the Board
     [FR Doc. 2018–26767 Filed 12–6–18; 4:15 pm]
                                                             proposed on that date. The Board and                  general, all comments received will be
     BILLING CODE 4510–FP–P; 9111–97–P                       the Bureau are reopening the comment                  posted without change to http://
                                                             period for the 2011 Funds Availability                www.regulations.gov. In addition,
                                                             Proposal.                                             comments will be available for public
     FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM                                  DATES: Comments on the 2018 Proposal
                                                                                                                   inspection and copying at 1700 G Street
                                                             and the 2011 Funds Availability                       NW, Washington, DC 20552, on official
     12 CFR Part 229                                         Proposal must be received on or before                business days between the hours of 10
                                                             February 8, 2019.                                     a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You can
     [Regulation CC; Docket No. R–1637]                                                                            make an appointment to inspect the
                                                             ADDRESSES: Comments should be
     RIN 7100–AF 28                                                                                                documents by telephoning (202) 435–
                                                             directed to:                                          7275.
     BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL                              Board: You may submit comments,                       All comments, including attachments
     PROTECTION                                              identified by Docket No. R–1637; RIN                  and other supporting materials, will
                                                             7100 AF–28, by any of the following                   become part of the public record and
     12 CFR Part 1030                                        methods:                                              subject to public disclosure. Sensitive
                                                               • Agency website: http://                           personal information, such as account
     [Docket No. CFPB–2018–0035]                             www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the                    numbers or Social Security numbers,
                                                             instructions for submitting comments at               should not be included. Comments will
     RIN 3170–AA31
                                                             http://www.federalreserve.gov/                        not be edited to remove any identifying
     Availability of Funds and Collection of                 generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.                    or contact information.
     Checks (Regulation CC)                                    • Email: regs.comments@
                                                                                                                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                             federalreserve.gov. Include the docket
                                                                                                                   Board: Gavin L. Smith, Senior Counsel
     AGENCY:  Board of Governors of the                      number and RIN in the subject line of
                                                                                                                   (202) 452–3474, Legal Division, or Ian
     Federal Reserve System (Board) and                      the message.
                                                                                                                   C.B. Spear, Manager (202) 452–3959,
     Bureau of Consumer Financial                              • Fax: (202) 452–3819 or (202) 452–
                                                                                                                   Division of Reserve Bank Operations
     Protection (Bureau).                                    3102.
                                                               • Mail: Ann E. Misback, Secretary,                  and Payment Systems; for users of
     ACTION: Proposed rule and reopening of                                                                        Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
     comment period for existing proposed                    Board of Governors of the Federal
                                                             Reserve System, 20th Street and                       (TDD) only, contact (202) 263–4869.
     rule.                                                                                                           Bureau: Joseph Baressi and Marta
                                                             Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
                                                                                                                   Tanenhaus, Senior Counsels, Office of
     SUMMARY:   The Board and the Bureau                     DC 20551.
                                                                                                                   Regulations, at (202) 435–7700. If you
     (Agencies) are proposing amendments                       All public comments will be made
                                                                                                                   require this document in an alternative
     to Regulation CC, which implements the                  available on the Board’s website at
                                                                                                                   electronic format, please contact CFPB_
     Expedited Funds Availability Act (EFA                   http://www.federalreserve.gov/
                                                                                                                   accessibility@cfpb.gov.
     Act) (2018 Proposal), and are also                      generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as
     providing an additional opportunity for                 submitted, unless modified for technical              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     public comment on certain amendments                    reasons or to remove personally                       I. 2018 Proposal
     to Regulation CC that the Board                         identifiable information at the
     proposed in 2011 (2011 Funds                            commenter’s request. Accordingly,                     A. Background
     Availability Proposal). In the 2018                     comments will not be edited to remove                   Regulation CC (12 CFR part 229)
     Proposal, the Agencies are proposing a                  any identifying or contact information.               implements the Expedited Funds
     calculation methodology for                             Public comments may also be viewed                    Availability Act (EFA Act) and the
     implementing a statutory requirement to                 electronically or in paper in Room 3515,              Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act


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     63432                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules

     (Check 21 Act).1 Subpart B of                           the Secretary of the Treasury, July 21,               The Agencies anticipate publishing the
     Regulation CC implements the                            2011.8 Section 609(a) of the EFA Act, as              second set of adjustments in the first
     requirements set forth in the EFA Act                   amended by section 1086(d) of the                     quarter of 2024. They propose that the
     regarding the availability schedules                    Dodd-Frank Act,9 provides that the                    second set of adjustments have an
     within which banks must make funds                      Board and the Director of the Bureau                  effective date of April 1, 2025. The
     available for withdrawal, exceptions to                 shall jointly prescribe regulations to                Agencies propose that each subsequent
     those schedules, disclosure of funds                    carry out the provisions of the EFA Act,              set of adjustments have an effective date
     availability policies, and payment of                   to prevent the circumvention or evasion               of April 1 of every fifth year after 2025.
     interest. The EFA Act and subpart B of                  of such provisions, and to facilitate                    The proposed effective dates should
     Regulation CC contain specified dollar                  compliance with such provisions.                      provide institutions with sufficient time
     amounts, including the minimum                            Additionally, section 1086(f) of the                to make any necessary disclosure and
     amount of deposited funds that banks                    Dodd-Frank Act added section 607(f) of                software changes.11 The Agencies
     must make available for withdrawal by                   the EFA Act, which provides that the                  request comment on the proposed
     opening of business on the next day for                 dollar amounts under the EFA Act shall                effective dates for the adjustments. The
     certain check deposits (‘‘minimum                       be adjusted every five years after                    Agencies request that entities affected
     amount’’),2 the amount a bank must                      December 31, 2011, by the annual                      by the adjustments provide details of
     make available when using the EFA                       percentage increase in the Consumer                   the measures that would be necessary to
     Act’s permissive adjustment to the                      Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and                implement them.
     funds-availability rules for withdrawals                Clerical Workers (CPI–W), as published                C. Proposed Methodology for
     by cash or other means (‘‘cash                          by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,                    Adjustments
     withdrawal amount’’),3 the amount of                    rounded to the nearest multiple of
     funds deposited by certain checks in a                  $25.10                                                   Section 607(f) does not specify which
     new account that are subject to next-day                                                                      month’s CPI–W should be used to
     availability (‘‘new-account amount’’),4                 B. Proposed Effective Dates for                       measure inflation. The Agencies
     the threshold for using an exception to                 Adjustments                                           propose to use the July CPI–W, which
     the funds-availability schedules when                      The Agencies believe that section                  is released by the Bureau of Labor
     the aggregate amount of checks on any                   607(f) is reasonably interpreted to                   Statistics in August. The Agencies
     one banking day exceed the threshold                    provide for five years to elapse between              propose to use the aggregate percentage
     amount (‘‘large-deposit threshold’’),5 the              a given set of adjustments and the next               change in the CPI–W from July 2011 to
     threshold for determining whether an                    set of adjustments, with the first set of             July 2018 as the initial inflation
     account has been repeatedly overdrawn                   adjustments occurring sometime after                  measurement period for the first set of
     (‘‘repeatedly overdrawn threshold’’),6                  December 31, 2011. As regulators of                   adjustments. (As discussed above, the
     and the civil liability amounts for failing             financial institutions, the Agencies are              Agencies anticipate that the first set of
     to comply with the EFA Act’s                            familiar with the challenges that                     adjustments would be published as a
     requirements.7                                          institutions can face if changes to                   final rule in the first quarter of 2019 and
        The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform                    regulatory requirements are too frequent              propose that it have an effective date of
     and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-                      or abrupt. The Agencies believe that                  April 1, 2020.) The second set of
     Frank Act) made certain amendments to                   Congress intended to balance that                     adjustments would be based on the
     the EFA Act, and these amendments                       concern with the need to prevent the                  aggregate percentage change in the CPI–
     were effective on a date designated by                  EFA Act’s dollar amounts from being                   W for an inflation measurement period
                                                             eroded by inflation. Congress did so by               that begins in July 2018 and ends in July
       1 Expedited Funds Availability Act, 12 U.S.C.
                                                             providing that the adjustments would be               2023. (As discussed above, the Agencies
     4001 et seq.; Check Clearing for the 21st Century
     Act, 12 U.S.C. 5001 et seq.                             effective at five-year intervals; by                  anticipate that the second set of
       2 The minimum amount is currently $200. See           providing that the first set of                       adjustments would be published in the
     section 1086(e) of the Dodd-Frank Act; 12 U.S.C.        adjustments would not occur until after               first quarter of 2024 and have a
     4002(a)(2)(D).
                                                             December 31, 2011, which ensured that                 proposed effective date of April 1,
       3 The cash withdrawal amount is currently $400.
                                                             at least a full calendar year would                   2025.) Each subsequent set of
     12 U.S.C. 4002(b)(3)(B).
       4 The new-account amount is currently $5,000. 12      elapse after the Dodd-Frank Act’s                     adjustments would be based on the
     U.S.C. 4003(a)(3).                                      enactment in mid-2010; and by                         aggregate percentage change in the CPI–
       5 The large-deposit threshold is currently $5,000.
                                                             providing that the adjustments would be               W for an inflation measurement period
     12 U.S.C. 4003(b)(1).                                   rounded to the nearest multiple of $25.               that begins in July of every fifth year
       6 The repeatedly overdrawn threshold is currently
                                                             Several years have now elapsed since                  after 2018 and ends in July of every fifth
     $5,000. 12 CFR 229.13(d). This dollar amount is not
     specified in the EFA Act, but is a result of the        December 31, 2011, and the Agencies                   year after 2023. This use of July CPI–W,
     authority of the Board and the Bureau under section     intend to move towards issuing a final                starting with the July 2011 CPI–W,
     604(b)(3) of the EFA Act (12 U.S.C. 4003(b)(3)) to      rule implementing section 607(f), while               would align with section 607(f)’s
     establish reasonable exceptions to time limitations                                                           effective date of July 21, 2011, and the
     for deposit accounts that have been overdrawn           providing appropriate time after the
     repeatedly. The Board and the Bureau propose to         issuance of that final rule for                       Agencies expect it to provide a
     use their authority under section 604(b)(3) and also    implementation by institutions.
     their authority under section 609(a) (12 U.S.C.            The Agencies anticipate publishing
                                                                                                                     11 The proposed effective dates would be

     4008(a)), which is discussed below, to index the                                                              consistent with section 302 of the Riegle
     repeatedly overdrawn threshold in the same              the first set of adjustments as a final rule          Community Development and Regulatory
     manner as the other dollar amounts. The Board and       in the first quarter of 2019. They                    Improvement Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103–325, 108
     the Bureau believe that indexing the repeatedly         propose that the first set of adjustments             Stat. 2160, 12 U.S.C. 4802). That section provides
     overdrawn threshold would be consistent with the                                                              that new regulations and amendments to
     need identified by Congress to prevent such dollar
                                                             have an effective date of April 1, 2020.
                                                                                                                   regulations prescribed by Federal banking agencies,
     amounts from being eroded by inflation.                                                                       including the Board, that impose additional
       7 The civil liability amounts are currently ‘‘not       8 Public Law 111–203, sections 1062, 1086,
                                                                                                                   reporting, disclosures, or other new requirements
     less than $100 nor greater than $1,000’’ for an         1100H, 124 Stat. 2081 (2010); 75 FR 57252 (Sept.      on insured depository institutions shall take effect
     individual action and ‘‘not more than $500,000 or       20, 2010).                                            on the first day of a calendar quarter which begins
                                                               9 12 U.S.C. 4008(a).
     1 percent of the net worth’’ of a depository                                                                  on or after the date on which the regulations are
     institution for a class action. 12 U.S.C. 4010(a).        10 12 U.S.C. 4006(f).                               published in final form (with certain exceptions).



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                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                      63433

     reasonable period of time after the CPI–                adjustments would always be zero or                      adjusted amounts that would result if
     W data becomes available for the                        positive.14 If there is no aggregate                     the methodology is finalized.17
     Agencies to publish the requisite                       percentage increase during the inflation                 Specifically, if the proposed adjustment
     adjustments and for financial                           measurement period (zero increase or                     methodology is finalized, the adjusted
     institutions to implement them. The                     net decrease) or if the aggregate                        amounts, based on the change in CPI–
     Agencies request comment on this                        percentage change when applied to the                    W from 222.686 in July 2011 to 246.155
     approach and its interaction with the                   dollar amount does not result in a                       in July 2018, would be as follows:
     proposed effective dates discussed                      change because of rounding, the                             • The minimum amount in
     above.                                                  Agencies would not adjust that dollar                    § 229.10(c)(1)(vii) would be adjusted to
        If there is an aggregate percentage                  amount. Moreover, in either of those                     $225, as the change of $21.00 results in
     increase in any inflation measurement                   situations, the aggregate percentage                     a rounding to the nearest multiple of
     period, then the aggregate percentage                   change would be calculated either from                   $25;
     change would be applied to the dollar                   the CPI–W in July of the year that                          • The cash withdrawal amount in
     amounts in Regulation CC, and those                     corresponds with the last publication of                 § 229.12(d) of $400 would be adjusted to
     amounts would be rounded to the                         an adjusted dollar amount or, if there                   $450, as the change of $42.00 results in
     nearest multiple of $25 to determine the                has never been an adjusted dollar                        a rounding to the nearest multiple of
     new adjusted dollar amounts.12 Section                  amount, from the CPI–W in July 2011.15                   $25;
     607(f) of the EFA Act provides that the                    The Agencies are proposing a new                         • The new-account amount of $5,000
     adjustments are to be based on the                      § 229.11 and accompanying                                in § 229.13(a), the large-deposit
     ‘‘annual percentage increase’’ in the                   commentary to implement the CPI–W                        threshold of $5,000 in § 229.13(b), and
     CPI–W, but does not specify how the                     index calculation method to be used by                   the repeatedly overdrawn threshold of
     adjustment is to be made in the event                   the Agencies to adjust the dollar                        $5,000 in § 229.13(d) would each be
     that the CPI–W is negative for one or                   amounts in the EFA Act. The new                          adjusted to $5,525, as the change of
     more years in the inflation measurement                 § 229.11 provides for the CPI–W                          $525 results in a rounding to the nearest
     period. The Agencies believe it is a                    calculation for the dollar amounts in                    multiple of $25; and
     reasonable interpretation of section                    § 229.10(c)(1)(vii) regarding the                           • In § 229.21(a) the civil liability
     607(f) to account for negative                          minimum amount, § 229.12(d) for the                      amount of $100 would remain the same,
     movements in the CPI–W on a year-to-                    cash withdrawal amount, § 229.13(a) for                  as the change of $10.50 does not result
     year basis and to factor those                          the new-account amount, § 229.13(b) for                  in a rounding to $25, while the other
     movements into the calculation. The                     the large-deposit threshold, § 229.13(d)                 civil liability amounts of $1,000 and
     Agencies believe that the purpose of                    for repeatedly overdrawn threshold, and                  $500,000 would be adjusted to $1,100
     section 607(f) is to keep the dollar                    § 229.21(a) for the civil liability                      and $552,500, as the changes of $105
     amounts in the EFA Act on a pace with                   amounts.                                                 and $52,500, respectively, result in a
     inflation, as represented by the CPI–W.                    The Agencies request comment on the                   rounding to the nearest multiple of $25.
     The funds-availability provisions of the                proposed calculation methodology to be
     EFA Act represent a balancing of                        applied to the dollar amounts in                         E. Technical Amendments to Regulation
     interests—the interests of account                      Regulation CC.                                           CC and EGRRCPA Amendments
     customers in receiving prompt                                                                                       The Agencies also propose amending
     availability of their deposited funds and               D. First Set of Adjustments
                                                                                                                      the commentary to each of the sections
     the interests of depository institutions                  As discussed above, for the first set of               containing dollar amounts by inserting
     in minimizing the risks from making                     adjustments, the Agencies propose to                     a cross-reference to the new § 229.11
     funds available before learning of                      use CPI–W data from July 2011 through                    containing the calculation method for
     checks or other items being returned.13                 July 2018.16 (As discussed above, the                    indexing those dollar amounts every
     Accounting for upward and downward                      Agencies are proposing that this first set               five years. In addition, the Agencies are
     movements in the CPI–W in calculating                   of adjustments have an effective date of                 proposing to update the dollar amounts
     any cumulative increase to the dollar                   April 1, 2020). In order to inform this                  with the adjusted dollar amounts
     amounts is consistent with the approach                 rulemaking more fully, the Agencies                      throughout subpart B of Regulation CC,
     Congress took in the EFA Act of                         have applied the proposed inflation                      and the commentary thereto, and reflect
     balancing the interests of depository                   calculation methodology to calculate the                 these updates by the date on which
     institutions and their customers.                                                                                depository institutions must comply
        Under the proposed calculation                         14 Since 1939, no aggregate change in the CPI–W
                                                                                                                      with the adjusted dollar amounts.
     methodology, the dollar amount                          across a five-year period has been negative.
                                                             However, the proposed rule would also cover this            The Board and Bureau are proposing
        12 For example, if the CPI–W in July of the year
                                                             potential scenario.                                      a technical change to § 229.1(a), which
     the last publication of an adjusted dollar amount
                                                               15 For example, if the aggregate percentage change     sets forth the authority and purpose of
     occurred and the CPI–W in July of the year that is      in the CPI–W for an inflation measurement period         Regulation CC, to explain that the Board
                                                             was 4.0% and the applicable dollar amount was
     five years later were 100 and 114.7, respectively,
                                                             $200 from the prior period, then the adjusted figure
                                                                                                                      and Bureau have joint rulemaking
     the aggregate percentage change that results from                                                                authority under certain provisions of the
     changes in the CPI–W for each year of the period        would remain $200, as the change of $8.00 does not
     using the CPI–W values in July would be 14.7%. If       result in rounding to $25. However, if over the next     EFA Act.
     the applicable dollar amount was $200 for the prior     inflation measurement period the aggregate                  In addition, the Economic Growth,
                                                             percentage change for the five-year period was
     period, then the adjusted figure would become $225
                                                             again 4.0%, then the adjusted figure would become
                                                                                                                      Regulatory Relief, and Consumer
     as the change of $29.40 results in rounding to $25.
        13 The EFA Act’s legislative history shows that      $225, as the change of $16.32 does result in             Protection Act (EGRRCPA) made
     one intent of the Act was to ‘‘provide a fairer         rounding to $25. The Board and Bureau calculate
     balance between the banks’ interest in avoiding         this adjustment by using the aggregate CPI–W               17 With respect to subsequent calculations such as

     fraud and consumers’ interests in having speedy         change over two (or more) inflation measurement          the calculations that will be conducted in 2023, the
     access to their funds.’’ S. Rep. No. 100–19, at 28      periods until the cumulative change results in           Agencies expect to find that notice and opportunity
     (1987); see also H.R. Rep. No. 100–52, at 14 (1987)     publication of an adjusted dollar amount in the          for public comment for the calculations is
     (describing the efforts ‘‘to protect depository         regulation.                                              impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
     institutions while furthering the original goals of       16 As is discussed below, the agencies propose         public interest, because the calculations would be
     the legislation to provide shorter time periods for     that five years of CPI data be used for all subsequent   technical and non-discretionary. See 5 U.S.C.
     funds availability.’’)                                  sets of adjustments.                                     553(b)(B).



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     63434                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules

     amendments to the EFA Act to extend                       Northern Mariana Islands when those                      As the preamble to the restated
     its application to American Samoa, the                    checks are handled by other U.S.                         Regulation DD explained, it was
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                      banks.19 As those territories are now                    intended to substantially duplicate the
     Islands, and Guam.18 The effect of these                  covered by the EFA Act, and subpart C                    prior Regulation DD. The Bureau
     statutory amendments is to subject                        of Regulation CC would apply by its                      considers these typographical errors in
     banks in American Samoa, the                              terms to checks drawn on banks in those                  the restated Regulation DD to be
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                      territories, § 229.43 is no longer                       scrivener’s errors that should be read as
     Islands, and Guam to the EFA Act’s                        necessary. Accordingly, the Board is                     exponents. In now proposing to correct
     requirements related to funds                             proposing to delete § 229.43 and its                     these typographical errors, the Bureau
     availability, payment of interest, and                    corresponding commentary from                            intends no change to how institutions
     disclosures. Banks in those territories                   subpart C of Regulation CC.                              should comply with Regulation DD.
     would be able to avail themselves of the                     The EGRRCPA also amended the EFA                      These technical, non-substantive
     one-day extension of the availability                     Act’s definition of ‘‘receiving depository               amendments to Regulation DD would be
     schedules permitted by the EFA Act and                    institution’’ by adding ‘‘located in the                 effective thirty days after publication of
     § 229.12(e) of Regulation CC.                             United States’’ after ‘‘proprietary                      a final rule.
     Accordingly, the Board and the Bureau                     ATM.’’ 20 Regulation CC uses the term
     are proposing to update § 229.2(ff), and                  ‘‘depositary bank’’ instead of ‘‘receiving               G. Bureau’s Dodd-Frank Act Section
     (jj) (definitions of ‘‘state,’’ and ‘‘United              depository institution,’’ contains a                     1022(b)(2)(A) Analysis
     States’’), as well as § 229.12(e) and its                 separate definition of ‘‘ATM,’’ and                      1. Overview
     corresponding commentary, to                              establishes rules for determining when
                                                               deposits at ATMs are received by the                        Section 1022(b)(2)(A) of the Dodd-
     implement the statutory amendments.
     Specifically, the Board and the Bureau                    depositary bank.21 To implement the                      Frank Act provides that in prescribing a
     are proposing to add American Samoa,                      EGRRCPA provision, the Board and the                     rule under the Federal consumer
     the Commonwealth of the Northern                          Bureau are proposing to insert ‘‘located                 financial laws, the Bureau shall
     Mariana Islands, and Guam to the                          in the United States’’ in the definition                 consider the potential benefits and costs
     definitions of ‘‘state’’ and ‘‘United                     of ‘‘ATM’’ in § 229.2(c) and its                         to consumers and covered persons,
     States’’ in § 229.2 (ff) & (jj) of Regulation             corresponding commentary.                                including the potential reduction of
     CC, respectively. The Board and the                                                                                access by consumers to consumer
                                                               F. Technical Amendments to the                           financial products or services resulting
     Bureau are also proposing to remove
                                                               Bureau’s Regulation DD                                   from such rule; the impact on
     Guam, American Samoa, and the
     Northern Mariana Islands from the list                      The Bureau is proposing a technical,                   depository institutions and credit
     of territories in its definition of ‘‘state’’             non-substantive amendment to its                         unions with $10 billion or less in total
     for purposes of subpart D, as those                       Regulation DD, 12 CFR part 1030, to add                  assets as described in section 1026 of
     territories are now included in the                       a new paragraph (e) to § 1030.1 that                     the Dodd-Frank Act; and the impact on
     definition of State for Regulation CC                     would cross-reference the Bureau’s joint                 consumers in rural areas.23
     generally. The Board and the Bureau are                   authority with the Board to issue                           This analysis focuses on the benefits,
     also proposing to add American Samoa,                     regulations under certain provisions of                  costs, and impacts of the 2018 Proposal.
     the Commonwealth of the Northern                          the EFA Act that are codified within                     The Bureau is using a pre-statutory
     Mariana Islands, and Guam to the list of                  Regulation CC. The Bureau is also                        baseline to assess the impact of the 2018
     States and territories in § 229.12(e),                    proposing related technical, non-                        Proposal. That is, the Bureau’s analysis
     229.12(e)(1), and its corresponding                       substantive amendments to § 1030.7(c),                   below considers the benefits, costs, and
     commentary.                                               and the commentary thereto, which                        impacts of the relevant provisions of the
        Because American Samoa, the                            states that interest shall begin to accrue               EGRRCPA combined with the 2018
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                      not later than the business day specified                Proposal relative to the regulatory
     Islands, and Guam are considered to be                    for interest-bearing accounts in the EFA                 regime that pre-dates the EGRRCPA.24
     in the United States under the                            Act and Regulation CC. In addition, the                  2. Potential Benefits and Costs to
     EGRRCPA amendments, banks located                         Bureau is proposing to fix technical                     Consumers and Covered Persons
     in those territories would be considered                  errors in Appendix A to Regulation DD
     ‘‘banks’’ under Regulation CC and                         within the formulas that demonstrate                        This proposed rule, if implemented,
     checks drawn on those banks would                         how to calculate annual percentage                       adjusts for inflation the funds that must
     meet the Regulation CC definition of                      yield (APY) and annual percentage yield                  be available as required by the EFA Act
     ‘‘check.’’ Thus, the provisions of subpart                earned (APYE). Specifically, certain                     and Regulation CC. Moreover,
     C of Regulation CC with respect to                        terms within the formulas should be                      depository institutions located in
     check collection and return, including                    shown as exponents but currently are                     American Samoa, the Northern Mariana
     warranties and indemnities, would                         erroneously not shown as exponents.                      Islands, and Guam will now be required
     apply with respect to those banks and                     These typographical errors were                          to comply with the provisions in the
     the checks deposited in and drawn on                      inadvertently introduced into the APY                    EFA Act and subpart B of Regulation CC
     them. (The provisions of subpart D of                     and APYE formulas in Appendix A                          related to funds availability, payment of
     Regulation CC with respect to substitute                  when the Bureau issued its restatement                   interest, and disclosures to their
     checks already apply to checks drawn                      of Regulation DD in December 2011.22                       23 12 U.S.C. 5512(b)(2)(A). Although the manner
     on banks in these territories due to the
                                                                                                                        and extent to which section 1022(b)(2)(A) applies
     broader definition of ‘‘State’’ in the                      19 See 62 FR 13808, 13807 (March 24, 1997).            to a rulemaking of this kind is unclear, in order to
     Check 21 Act.) The Board had                                20 The definition of ‘‘receiving depository
                                                                                                                        inform this rulemaking more fully the Bureau
     promulgated § 229.43 in subpart C to                      institution’’ in the EFA Act now reads ‘‘the branch      performed the described analysis.
     address how Regulation CC applied to                      of a depository institution or the proprietary ATM         24 The Bureau has discretion in future
                                                               located in the United States in which a check is first   rulemakings to choose the most appropriate
     checks drawn on banks located in                          deposited.’’ 12 U.S.C. 4001(20).                         baseline for that particular rulemaking. Also note
     Guam, American Samoa, and the                               21 See 12 CFR 229.2(o), 229.2(b), and 229.19(a),
                                                                                                                        that the Bureau’s analysis excludes the Board’s
                                                               respectively, and associated commentary.                 proposed amendments to subpart C of Regulation
       18 Public   Law 115–174, section 208 (2018).              22 76 FR 79276 (Dec. 21, 2011).                        CC.



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                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                    63435

     customers. The Board and the Bureau                     from commenters on the costs of                        shall consult with the appropriate
     are proposing to hold the real expected                 complying with Regulation CC for                       prudential regulators or other Federal
     losses to depository institutions fixed by              institutions in American Samoa, the                    agencies prior to proposing a rule and
     adjusting for inflation the funds that                  Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                   during the comment process regarding
     must be available. Thus, the Bureau                     Islands, and Guam and on those                         consistency with prudential, market, or
     does not expect any potential benefits,                 institutions’ pre-statutory practices                  systemic objectives administered by
     costs, or impacts to consumers or                       regarding funds availability.                          such agencies.28
     covered persons as a result of the                         The Bureau requests comment on the
                                                                                                                    I. Regulatory Flexibility Act
     adjustment methodology, other than the                  analysis above and requests any relevant
     paperwork costs discussed below. The                    data.                                                     Board: The Regulatory Flexibility Act
     adjustments and methodology in this                                                                            (RFA) requires an agency to publish an
                                                             3. Impact on Depository Institutions                   initial regulatory flexibility analysis
     proposed rule are technical, and they                   With No More Than $10 Billion in
     merely apply the statutory method for                                                                          with a proposed rule or certify that the
                                                             Assets                                                 proposed rule will not have a significant
     adjusting amounts that must be
     available to consumers.                                    The proposed rule will impact all                   economic impact on a substantial
        The Bureau estimates that covered                    depository institutions, including those               number of small entities. Based on its
     persons will face an average paperwork                  with no more than $10 billion in assets.               analysis, and for the reasons stated
     cost of $398.04 every five years to                     The Bureau expects that all depository                 below, the Board believes that the
     update notices already sent to                          institutions will experience an average                proposed rule will not have a significant
     consumers. The Bureau believes that the                 cost of $398.04 to update quinquennial                 economic impact on a substantial
     average depository institution will use                 notices.                                               number of small entities. Nevertheless,
     12 hours of compliance officer time at                     The EGRRCPA amended the EFA Act                     the Board is publishing an initial
     a mean hourly rate of $33.17.25                         to extend its application to institutions              regulatory flexibility analysis and
        Additionally, the EGRRCPA made                       in American Samoa, the Commonwealth                    requests comment on all aspects of its
     amendments to the EFA Act to extend                     of the Northern Mariana Islands, and                   analysis. The Board will, if necessary,
     its application to American Samoa, the                  Guam. The Bureau identified five                       conduct a final regulatory flexibility
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                    institutions that are now required to                  analysis after considering the comments
     Islands, and Guam.26 The 2018 Proposal                  comply with Regulation CC, and all                     received during the public comment
     implements the EGRRCPA by extending                     have no more than $10 billion in assets.               period.
                                                             The Bureau requests information from                      1. Statement of the need for, and
     the application of Regulation CC’s
                                                             commenters on the total cost                           objectives of, the proposed rule. The
     requirements related to funds
                                                             experienced by these depository                        proposed rule would memorialize the
     availability, payment of interest, and                                                                         calculation method used to adjust the
     disclosures to institutions in American                 institutions to comply with Regulation
                                                             CC.                                                    EFA Act dollar amounts every five years
     Samoa, the Commonwealth of the                                                                                 in accordance with section 607(f) of the
     Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.                     4. Impact on Access to Credit                          EFA Act, as amended by section 1086(f)
     Consumers of depository institutions in                                                                        of the Dodd-Frank Act. The proposed
     American Samoa, Guam, and the                              The Bureau does not expect this
                                                             proposed rule, if implemented, to affect               rule would also implement statutory
     Northern Mariana Islands will generally                                                                        amendments to the EFA Act to extend
     receive the same benefits of consumers                  consumers’ access to credit. The scope
                                                             of this rulemaking is limited to funds                 its application to American Samoa, the
     of institutions already complying with                                                                         Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
     subpart B of Regulation CC. This                        available in depository accounts and is
                                                             not directly related to credit access.                 Islands, and Guam.
     includes policy and other disclosures                                                                             2. Small entities affected by the
     regarding funds availability and timely                 5. Impact on Rural Areas                               proposed rule. The proposed rule would
     access to their funds. Consumers will                      The Bureau does not believe that this               apply to all depository institutions
     generally not experience any costs                      proposed rule, if implemented, will                    regardless of their size. Pursuant to
     associated with receiving these                         have a unique impact on consumers in                   regulations issued by the Small
     disclosures.                                            rural areas.                                           Business Administration (13 CFR
        The Bureau has identified five                                                                              121.201), a ‘‘small banking
     institutions located in American Samoa,                 H. Interagency Consultations                           organization’’ includes a depository
     the Commonwealth of the Northern                          The Board and the Bureau have                        institution with $550 million or less in
     Mariana Islands, and Guam that are                      performed interagency consultations                    total assets. Based on call report data,
     newly subject to Regulation CC as a                     regarding this proposed rule consistent                there are approximately 9,631
     result of the amendments made to the                    with section 609(e) of the EFA Act and                 depository institutions that have total
     EFA Act by the EGRRCPA, and that will                   section 1022(b)(2)(B) of the Dodd-Frank                domestic assets of $550 million or less
     therefore face compliance costs                         Act. Section 609(e) of the EFA Act                     and thus are considered small entities
     associated with the 2018 Proposal                       provides that in prescribing regulations               for purposes of the RFA. All institutions
     should it be finalized. Although these                  under section 609(a), the Board and the                will be required to update existing
     institutions will incur costs to comply                 Director of the Bureau shall consult                   disclosures to their customers with any
     with the requirements of Regulation CC,                 with the Comptroller of the Currency,                  adjustments in the dollar amounts and
     the Bureau does not have data on the                    the Board of Directors of the Federal                  update their software to adjust the
     impact of the requirements of the 2018                  Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the                 availability amounts where necessary.
     Proposal on these institutions. The                     National Credit Union Administration                   The Board does not believe the
     Bureau specifically requests information                Board.27 Section 1022(b)(2)(B) of the                  proposed rule will have a significant
                                                             Dodd-Frank Act provides that in
       25 Bureau of Labor Statistics, National                                                                         28 12 U.S.C. 5512(b)(2)(B). Although the manner
     Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
                                                             prescribing a rule under the Federal
                                                                                                                    and extent to which section 1022(b)(2)(B) applies to
     (May 2016), available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/       consumer financial laws, the Bureau                    a rulemaking of this kind is unclear, in order to
     current/oes_nat.htm.                                                                                           inform this rulemaking more fully the Bureau
       26 Public Law 115–174, section 208 (2018).              27 12   U.S.C. 4008(a).                              performed the described consultations.



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     63436                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules

     economic impact on the entities that it                 Neither an IRFA nor FRFA is required                      the purposes of the RFA. Using the
     affects. Nevertheless, the Board invites                if the agency certifies that the rule will                methodology outlined in the Board’s
     comment on the effect of the proposed                   not have a significant economic impact                    Paperwork Reduction Act analysis, the
     rule on small entities. Specifically, the               on a substantial number of small                          Bureau estimates that the quinquennial
     extent of impact on small entities may                  entities.31 The Bureau also is subject to                 adjustments will have an average
     depend on the contents of the                           certain additional procedures under the                   quinquennial cost of $398.04 for
     institution’s funds availability policy                 RFA involving the convening of a panel                    depository institutions. The Bureau
     and the frequency of the institution’s                  to consult with small business                            estimates that about 1% of small entities
     regularly scheduled re-prints of its                    representatives prior to proposing a rule                 face a significant economic impact from
     availability policy disclosures. Small                  for which an IRFA is required.                            the quinquennial proposed information
     depository institutions that already                       An IRFA is not required for this                       collection.
     make funds available the next day and                   proposal because, if adopted, it would                      In addition, the Bureau estimates the
     do not utilize the exceptions for new                   not have a significant economic impact                    impact of all subpart B provisions for
     accounts, large deposits, or repeated                   on a substantial number of small                          those covered persons required to
     overdrafts may be less affected by the                  entities. As discussed in the Bureau’s                    comply with subpart B of Regulation CC
     proposed rule. The economic impact on                   section 1022(b)(2) Analysis above, the                    as a result of the amendments the
     small entities from the proposed rule                   Bureau believes the proposed rule’s                       EGRRCPA made to the EFA Act. The
     may include technology, labor, and                      inflation adjustments hold real expected                  EGRRCPA amended the EFA Act to
     other associated costs incurred to                      losses fixed by adjusting for inflation                   extend its application to institutions in
     update their disclosures with the                       the amount of funds that must be made                     American Samoa, the Commonwealth of
     adjusted dollar amounts, if those cannot                available for withdrawal in accordance                    the Northern Mariana Islands, and
     be accomplished within the institution’s                with the EFA Act and Regulation CC.                       Guam. The Bureau identified five
     regular cycle. Moreover, depository                     Accordingly, these adjustments for                        institutions that will be required to
     institutions located in American Samoa,                 inflation do not introduce costs for                      comply with Regulation CC due to the
     the Northern Mariana Islands, and                       entities, including small entities. In                    EGRRCPA amendments to the EFA Act.
     Guam will now be required to comply                     addition, the proposed rule would                         Thus, the Bureau concludes that a
     with the provisions in the EFA Act and                  implement in Regulation CC the                            substantial number of small entities is
     Regulation CC related to funds                          EGRRCPA extension of the EFA Act’s                        not impacted by the proposal to
     availability, payment of interest, and                  requirements to institutions in                           implement the EGRRCPA amendments
     disclosures to their customers.                         American Samoa, the Commonwealth of                       to the EFA Act in Regulation CC.
        3. Recordkeeping, reporting, and                     the Northern Mariana Islands, and                           Accordingly, the Bureau Director, by
     compliance requirements. The proposed                   Guam. The Bureau identified five                          signing below, certifies that this
     rule would require institutions to                      institutions that will be required to                     proposal, if adopted, would not have a
     update their existing EFA Act                           comply with Regulation CC due to the                      significant economic impact on a
     disclosures to their customers with the                 EGRRCPA amendments to the EFA Act.                        substantial number of small entities.
                                                                                                                         The Bureau requests comment on the
     adjusted dollar amount as well as                       Thus, the Bureau concludes that a
                                                                                                                       analysis above and requests any relevant
     update software that determines                         substantial number of small entities is
                                                                                                                       data.
     availability, as applicable. No other                   not impacted by the proposal to
     additional recordkeeping, reporting, or                 implement in Regulation CC the                            J. Paperwork Reduction Act
     compliance requirements would be                        EGRRCPA amendments to the EFA Act.                           Board: Certain provisions of the
     required by the proposed rule.                             The Bureau recognizes that the                         proposed rule contain ‘‘collection of
        4. Other Federal rules. The Board has                proposed rule will have some impact on                    information’’ requirements within the
     not identified any likely duplication,                  some entities, including those that are                   meaning of the Paperwork Reduction
     overlap and/or potential conflict                       small. The Small Business                                 Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–
     between the proposed rule and any                       Administration (SBA) defines small                        3521). In accordance with the
     Federal rule.                                           depository institutions as those with                     requirements of the PRA, the Board may
        5. Significant alternatives to the                   less than $550 million in assets.32                       not conduct or sponsor, and the
     proposed revisions. The Board solicits                  Following guidance from the Small                         respondent is not required to respond
     comment on any significant alternatives                 Business Administration, the Bureau                       to, an information collection unless it
     that would reduce the regulatory burden                 averaged the total assets reported in                     displays a currently-valid Office of
     of this proposed rule on small entities.                quarterly call reports during quarters 1                  Management and Budget (OMB) control
        Bureau: The Regulatory Flexibility                   through 4 of 2017. The Bureau                             number. The OMB control number for
     Act (RFA) generally requires an agency                  identified 9,631 entities that had                        the Board is 7100–0235 and will be
     to conduct an initial regulatory                        average total assets less than $550                       extended, with revision. The Board
     flexibility analysis (IRFA) and a final                 million. These are considered small for                   reviewed the proposed rule under the
     regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) of                                                                         authority delegated to the Board by
     any rule subject to notice-and-comment                  Classification System (NAICS) classifications and
                                                                                                                       OMB. Comments are invited on: (a)
     rulemaking requirements.29 These                        size standards. Id. at 601(3). A ‘‘small organization’’
                                                             is any ‘‘not-for-profit enterprise which is               Whether the collections of information
     analyses must ‘‘describe the impact of                  independently owned and operated and is not               are necessary for the proper
     the proposed rule on small entities.’’ 30               dominant in its field.’’ Id. at 601(4). A ‘‘small         performance of the Board’s functions,
                                                             governmental jurisdiction’’ is the government of a
       29 5                                                  city, county, town, township, village, school
                                                                                                                       including whether the information has
           U.S.C. 601 et seq.
       30 Id.at 603(a). For purposes of assessing the        district, or special district with a population of less   practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the
     impacts of the proposed rule on small entities,         than 50,000. Id. at 601(5).                               estimates of the burden of the
     ‘‘small entities’’ is defined in the RFA to include        31 Id. at 605(b).
                                                                                                                       information collections, including the
     small businesses, small not-for-profit organizations,      32 Small Business Administration, Table of Small
                                                                                                                       validity of the methodology and
     and small government jurisdictions. Id. at 601(6). A    Business Standards (2016), available at https://
     ‘‘small business’’ is determined by application of      www.sba.gov/contracting/getting-started-contractor/
                                                                                                                       assumptions used; (c) Ways to enhance
     Small Business Administration regulations and           make-sure-you-meet-sba-size-standards/table-              the quality, utility, and clarity of the
     reference to the North American Industry                small-business-size-standards.                            information to be collected; (d) Ways to


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                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                   63437

     minimize the burden of the information                  section 229.21(a) for the civil liability             language in all proposed and final rules
     collections on respondents, including                   amounts.                                              published after January 1, 2000. The
     through the use of automated collection                                                                       Board has sought to present the
                                                             PRA Burden Estimates
     techniques or other forms of information                                                                      proposed rule in a simple and
     technology; and (e) Estimates of capital                  Number of respondents: 959                          straightforward manner, and invites
     or start-up costs and costs of operation,               respondents (100 respondents for                      comment on the use of plain language
     maintenance, and purchase of services                   changes in policy).                                   and whether any part of the proposed
     to provide information. All comments                      Estimated average hours per response:               rule could be more clearly stated.
     will become a matter of public record.                  Specific availability policy disclosure
                                                             and initial disclosures, .02 hours; Notice            II. Reopening of the Comment Period
     Comments on aspects of this notice that
                                                             in specific policy disclosure, .05 hours;             for the 2011 Funds Availability
     may affect reporting, recordkeeping, or
                                                             Notice of exceptions, .05 hours;                      Proposal
     disclosure requirements and burden
     estimates should be sent to the                         Locations where employees accept                         On March 25, 2011, the Board
     addresses listed in the ADDRESSES                       consumer deposits, .25 hours;                         proposed amendments to Regulation CC
     section of this document. A copy of the                 Quinquennial inflation adjustments for                (76 FR 16862). Pursuant to sections
     comments may also be submitted to the                   disclosures (annualized), 8 hours;                    1086 and 1100H of the Dodd-Frank Act,
     OMB desk officer for the Board by mail                  Annual notice of new ATMs, 5 hours;                   effective July 21, 2011, the Board and
     to U.S. Office of Management and                        Changes in policy, 20 hours;                          the Bureau assumed joint rulemaking
     Budget, 725 17th Street NW, #10235,                     Notification of quinquennial inflation                authority with respect to some of those
     Washington, DC 20503; by facsimile to                   adjustments, 4 hours; Notice of                       proposed amendments, including the
     (202) 395–5806; or by email to: oira_                   nonpayment on paying bank, .02 hours;                 proposed amendments to the funds
     submission@omb.eop.gov, Attention,                      Notification to customer, .02 hours;                  availability provisions of subpart B of
     Federal Banking Agency Desk Officer.                    Expedited recredit for consumers, .25                 Regulation CC and the definitions and
                                                             hours; Expedited recredit for banks, .25              appendices applicable to subpart B.33
     Proposed Information Collection                         hours; Consumer awareness, .02 hours;                 This Federal Register document refers
       Title of Information Collection:                      and Expedited recredit claim notice, .25              to the portion of the proposed
     Disclosure Requirements Associated                      hours.                                                amendments published on March 25,
     with Availability of Funds and                            Estimated annual burden hours:                      2011, that are now subject to the joint
     Collection of Checks (Regulation CC).                   Specific availability policy disclosure               rulemaking authority of the Board and
       Frequency of Response:                                and initial disclosures, 9,590 hours;                 the Bureau as the 2011 Funds
     Quinquennial.                                           Notice in specific policy disclosure,                 Availability Proposal. The Board has
       Affected Public: Businesses or other                  33,565 hours; Notice of exceptions,                   conducted a separate rulemaking
     for-profit.                                             95,900 hours; Locations where                         process to address other proposed
       Respondents: State member banks and                   employees accept consumer deposits,                   amendments published on that date that
     uninsured state branches and agencies                   240 hours; Quinquennial inflation                     remain within its sole rulemaking
     of foreign banks.                                       adjustments for disclosures                           authority, principally the proposed
       Abstract: Regulation CC (12 CFR part                  (annualized), 7,672 hours; Annual                     amendments to the check collection
     229) implements the Expedited Funds                     notice of new ATMs, 4,795 hours;                      provisions of subpart C of Regulation
     Availability Act of 1987 (EFA Act) and                  Changes in policy, 4,000 hours;                       CC.34
     the Check Clearing for the 21st Century                 Notification of quinquennial inflation                   The Agencies recognize there may
     Act of 2003 (Check 21 Act).                             adjustments, 3,836 hours; Notice of                   have been important changes in
       The EFA Act was enacted to provide                    nonpayment on paying bank, 671 hours;                 markets, technology, or industry
     depositors of checks with prompt funds                  Notification to customer, 7,097 hours;                practice since the public submitted
     availability and to foster improvements                 Expedited recredit for consumers, 8,391               comments seven years ago in response
     in the check collection and return                      hours; Expedited recredit for banks,                  to the Board’s 2011 Funds Availability
     processes. Subpart B of Regulation CC                   3,596 hours; Consumer awareness, 5,754                Proposal. The Board and the Bureau
     implements the EFA Act’s funds-                         hours; and Expedited recredit claim                   therefore are now reopening the
     availability provisions and specifies                   notice, 5,994 hours.                                  comment period in order to provide an
     availability schedules within which                       Current Total Estimated Annual                      opportunity for the public to provide
     banks must make funds available for                     Burden: 179,593 hours.                                comments with new, additional, or
     withdrawal. Subpart B also implements                     Proposed Total Estimated Annual                     different views on the 2011 Funds
     the EFA Act’s rules regarding                           Burden: 191,101 hours.                                Availability Proposal. In taking this
     exceptions to the schedules, disclosure                   Bureau: The Bureau is not seeking                   step, the Agencies have not made any
     of funds-availability policies, and                     OMB approval for the information                      decision on whether to pursue any
     payment of interest.                                    collection requirements already                       particular course with regard to the
       Current Action: The Agencies are                      accounted for by the Board above, or for              2011 Funds Availability Proposal,
     adding section 229.11 to provide the                    which other agencies are responsible.                 including whether to make it or any
     CPI–W calculation methodology, which                    Moreover, the Bureau’s technical, non-                aspects of it final. Instead, reopening the
     includes an explanation of how annual                   substantive amendments to Regulation                  comment period will provide the
     and cumulative changes (positive or                     DD do not impose any new or additional                Agencies with up-to-date public input
     negative) in the CPI–W will be taken                    information collection requirements that              to consider in deciding on a future
     into account, for the dollar amounts in                 would require OMB approval.
     section 229.10(c)(1)(vii) regarding the                                                                         33 Public Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 2085–86, 2113
     minimum amount, section 229.12(d) for                   K. Solicitation of Comments on Use of                 (2010); 75 FR 57252 (Sep. 20, 2010).
     the cash withdrawal amount, section                     Plain Language                                          34 The Board requested comment a second time

     229.13(a) for the new-account amount,                     Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-                     on the subpart C amendments (79 FR 6673 (Feb. 4,
                                                                                                                   2014)) and adopted final amendments in June 2017
     section 229.13(b) for the large-deposit                 Bliley Act (Pub. L. 106–102, 113 Stat.                (82 FR 27552 (June 15, 2017)). The Board also
     threshold, section 229.13(d) for                        1338, 1471, 12 U.S.C. 4809) requires the              requested comment on additional amendments to
     repeatedly overdrawn threshold, and                     Federal banking agencies to use plain                 subpart C in June 2017 (82 FR 25539 (June 2, 2017)).



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     63438                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules

     course with regard to the 2011 Funds                                      12 CFR Part 1030                                                                ■ 3. In § 229.2, revise paragraphs (c), (ff),
     Availability Proposal. Comments on the                                      Advertising, Banks, Banking,                                                  and (jj) to read as follows:
     2011 Funds Availability Proposal that                                     Consumer protection, National banks,
     were previously submitted during the                                                                                                                      § 229.2        Definitions
                                                                               Reporting and recordkeeping
     initial comment period, which ended on                                                                                                                    *       *    *     *    *
                                                                               requirements, Savings associations.
     June 3, 2011, remain part of the                                                                                                                             (c) Automated teller machine or ATM
     rulemaking docket. To assist with                                         Board of Governors of the Federal                                               means an electronic device located in
     reconciling comments from parties who                                     Reserve System                                                                  the United States at which a natural
     submitted comments in 2011 and who                                        Authority and Issuance                                                          person may make deposits to an account
     again submit comments in 2018 that                                                                                                                        by cash or check and perform other
     reflect changes to their previous                                           For the reasons set forth in the
                                                                                                                                                               account transactions.
     viewpoints, the Agencies request that                                     preamble, the Board of Governors of the
                                                                               Federal Reserve System proposes to                                              *       *    *     *    *
     such commenters clarify the
     relationship between their two                                            amend Regulation CC, 12 CFR part 229,                                              (ff) State means a state, the District of
     comments. Specifically, the Agencies                                      as set forth below:                                                             Columbia, Puerto Rico, American
     request that the commenters clarify                                                                                                                       Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
                                                                               PART 229—AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS                                                  Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the
     whether their 2018 comments in part or                                    AND COLLECTIONS OF CHECKS
     in whole supersede their previously                                                                                                                       U.S. Virgin Islands. For purposes of
                                                                               (REGULATION CC)                                                                 subpart D of this part and, in connection
     submitted comments.
       The Board and the Bureau are aware                                                                                                                      therewith, this subpart A, state also
                                                                               ■ 1. The authority citation for part 229
     of various issues that were not raised by                                                                                                                 means the Trust Territory of the Pacific
                                                                               continues to read as follows:
     the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal.                                                                                                                     Islands and any other territory of the
                                                                                 Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4001–4010, 12 U.S.C.                                     United States.
     For example, some members of the                                          5001–5018.
     public have suggested that the Agencies                                                                                                                   *       *    *     *    *
     clarify how the funds availability                                        Subpart A—General                                                                  (jj) United States means the states,
     provisions in subpart B of Regulation                                                                                                                     including the District of Columbia, the
     CC apply to prepaid accounts and to                                       *     *     *    *      *                                                       U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa,
     checks deposited electronically through                                   ■ 2. Section 229.1 paragraph (a) is
                                                                                                                                                               the Commonwealth of the Northern
     a process known as ‘‘remote deposit                                       revised to read as follows:
                                                                                                                                                               Mariana Islands, Guam, and Puerto
     capture.’’ In addition, the Agencies have                                 § 229.1 Authority and purpose;                                                  Rico.
     received requests to clarify the                                          organization                                                                    *       *    *     *    *
     relationship between Regulation CC                                          (a) Authority and purpose. (1) In
     availability requirements and banks’                                      general. This part is issued by the Board                                       Subpart B—Availability of Funds and
     responsibilities related to deposit                                       of Governors of the Federal Reserve                                             Disclosure of Funds Availability
     reconciliation. At this time, the                                         System (Board) to implement the                                                 Policies
     Agencies are requesting comment only                                      Expedited Funds Availability Act (12
     on the issues raised by the 2011 Funds                                                                                                                    §§ 229.10, 229.12, 229.13, and 229.21
                                                                               U.S.C. 4001–4010) (EFA Act) and the                                             [Amended]
     Availability Proposal and the 2018                                        Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act
     Proposal. The Agencies will consider                                      (12 U.S.C. 5001–5018) (Check 21 Act).                                           ■ 4. In § 229.10, 229.12, 229.13, remove
     whether further action is appropriate                                       (2) Joint authority of the Bureau. The                                        the following dollar amount ‘‘$100’’
     with respect to new topics in the future.                                 Board issues regulations under Sections                                         wherever it appears and replace with
     List of Subjects                                                          603(d)(1), 604, 605, and 609(a) of the                                          the following dollar amount ‘‘$225.’’
                                                                               EFA Act (12 U.S.C. 4002(d)(1), 4003,                                            ■ 5. In Appendix E to Part 229, remove
     12 CFR Part 229                                                           4004, 4008(a)) jointly with the Director                                        the following dollar amounts wherever
       Banks, Banking, Federal Reserve                                         of the Bureau of Consumer Financial                                             they appear in the appendix, and
     System, Reporting and recordkeeping                                       Protection (Bureau).                                                            replace them as indicated in the table
     requirements.                                                             *     *     *    *      *                                                       below:

                                                                                   Section                                                                                            Remove          Add

     229.10(d)   ..................................................................................................................................................................          $5,000     $5,525
     229.12(d)   ..................................................................................................................................................................             400        450
     229.13(a)   ..................................................................................................................................................................           5,000      5,525
     229.13(b)   ..................................................................................................................................................................           5,000      5,525
     229.13(d)   ..................................................................................................................................................................           5,000      5,525
     229.21(a)   ..................................................................................................................................................................           1,000      1,100
                                                                                                                                                                                            500,000    552,500



     *     *    *     *      *                                                 2020, on April 1, 2025, and on April 1                                          effective on April 1, 2020, the inflation
     ■ 6. Section 229.11 is added to read as                                   of every fifth year after 2025, in                                              measurement period begins in July 2011
     follows:                                                                  accordance with the procedure set forth                                         and ends in July 2018. For dollar
                                                                               in § 229.11(b) using the Consumer Price                                         amount adjustments that are effective on
     § 229.11    Adjustment of dollar amounts                                  Index for Urban Wage Earners and                                                April 1, 2025, the inflation
       (a) Dollar amounts indexed. The                                         Clerical Workers (CPI–W), as published                                          measurement period begins in July 2018
     dollar amounts specified in                                               by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.                                              and ends in July 2023. For dollar
     §§ 229.10(c)(1)(vii), 229.12(d), 229.13(a),                                 (b) Indexing procedure.                                                       amount adjustments that are effective on
     229.13(b), 229. 13(d), and 229.21(a)                                        1. Inflation measurement periods. For
                                                                                                                                                               April 1 of every fifth year after 2025, the
     shall be adjusted effective on April 1,                                   dollar amount adjustments that are


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                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                 63439

     inflation measurement period begins in                     2. For purposes of § 229.12(d), the                ■ C. Section V is revised.
     July of every fifth year after 2018 and                 dollar amount in effect during a                      ■ D. In Section VI.B, paragraph 4 is
     ends in July of every fifth year after                  particular period is the amount stated                added.
     2023.                                                   below for that period.                                ■ E In Section VI.E paragraphs 1 and 2
        2. Percentage change. Any dollar                        i. Prior to April 1, 2020, the amount              are revised.
     amount adjustment under this section                    is $400.                                              ■ F. Section VII.C, paragraph 2 is
     shall be calculated across an inflation                    ii. Effective April 1, 2020, the amount            revised and paragraph 4 is added.
     measurement period by the aggregate                     is $450.                                              ■ G. In Section VII.E, paragraph 5 is
     percentage change in the CPI–W,                            3. For purposes of §§ 229.13(a),                   added.
     including both positive and negative                    229.13(b), and 229.13(d), the dollar                  ■ H. In Section VII.H, paragraph 2(b) is
     percentage changes. The aggregate                       amount in effect during a particular                  revised.
                                                             period is the amount stated below for                 ■ I. In Section XIV.C, paragraph 2 is
     percentage change over the inflation
     measurement period will be rounded to                   that period.                                          revised.
                                                                i. Prior to April 1, 2020, the amount              ■ J. In Section XV.A, paragraph 2 is
     one decimal place, using the CPI–W
     value for July (which is generally                      is $5,000.                                            added.
                                                                ii. Effective April 1, 2020, the amount            ■ K. Section XXIX is removed and
     released by the Bureau of Labor
                                                             is $5,525.                                            reserved.
     Statistics in August).
                                                                4. For purposes of § 229.21(a), the                  The additions and revisions read as
        3. Adjustment amount. The                                                                                  follows:
     adjustment amount for each dollar                       dollar amounts in effect during a
     amount listed in § 229.11(a) shall be                   particular period are the amounts stated              Appendix E to Part 229—Commentary
     equal to the aggregate percentage change                below for the period.
                                                                i. Prior to April 1, 2020, the amounts             II. Section 229.2    Definitions
     multiplied by the existing dollar amount
                                                             are $100, $1,000, and $500,000                        *        *   *       *       *
     listed in § 229.11(c) and rounded to the
     nearest multiple of $25. The adjusted                   respectively.                                         D. 229.2(c) Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
     dollar amount will be equal to the sum                     ii. Effective April 1, 2020, the                      1. ATM is not defined in the EFA Act. The
     of the existing dollar amount and the                   amounts are $100, $1,100, and $552,500                regulation defines an ATM as an electronic
     adjustment amount. No dollar                            respectively.                                         device located in the United States at which
     adjustment will be made when the                        ■ 7. Amend § 229.12 by:                               a natural person may make deposits to an
                                                             ■ a. Removing the following dollar                    account by cash or check and perform other
     aggregate percentage change is zero or a
     negative percentage change, or when the                 amount ‘‘$100’’ wherever it appears and               account transactions. Point-of-sale terminals,
                                                             replace with the following dollar                     machines that only dispense cash, night
     aggregate percentage change multiplied                                                                        depositories, and lobby deposit boxes are not
     by the existing dollar amount listed in                 amount ‘‘$225’’ and
                                                             ■ b. Revising paragraphs (e) and (e)(1) to            ATMs within the meaning of the definition,
     § 229.11(c) and rounded to the nearest                                                                        either because they do not accept deposits of
     multiple of $25 results in no change.                   read as follows:
                                                                                                                   cash or checks (e.g., point-of-sale terminals
        4. Carry-forward. When there is an                   § 229.12    Availability Schedule                     and cash dispensers) or because they only
     aggregate negative percentage change                                                                          accept deposits (e.g., night depositories and
                                                             *      *    *     *     *                             lobby boxes) and cannot perform other
     over an inflation measurement period,                      (e) Extension of schedule for certain
     or when an aggregate positive                                                                                 transactions. A lobby deposit box or similar
                                                             deposits in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico,              receptacle in which written payment orders
     percentage change over an inflation                     American Samoa, the Commonwealth of                   or deposits may be placed is not an ATM.
     measurement period multiplied by the                    the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam,
     existing dollar amount listed in                                                                              *        *   *       *       *
                                                             and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The
     § 229.11(c) and rounded to the nearest                  depositary bank may extend the time                   IV. Section 229.10       Next-Day Availability
     multiple of $25 results in no change, the               periods set forth in this section by one              *        *   *       *       *
     aggregate percentage change over the                    business day in the case of any deposit,
     inflation measurement period will be                                                                          D. 229.10(c) Certain Check Deposits
                                                             other than a deposit described in                     [Amended]
     included in the calculation to determine                § 229.10, that is—
     the percentage change at the end of the                                                                       *        *   *       *       *
                                                                (1) Deposited in an account at a
     subsequent inflation measurement                        branch of a depositary bank if the                    5. First $225
     period. That is, the cumulative change                  branch is located in Alaska, Hawaii,                     a. The EFA Act and regulation also require
     in the CPI–W over the two (or more)                     Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the                      that up to $225 of the aggregate deposit by
     inflation measurement periods will be                   Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana                  check or checks not subject to next-day
     used in the calculation until the                                                                             availability on any one banking day be made
                                                             Islands, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin
     cumulative change results in                                                                                  available on the next business day. For
                                                             Islands; and                                          example, if $70 were deposited in an account
     publication of an adjusted dollar
                                                             *      *    *     *     *                             by check(s) on a Monday, the entire $70 must
     amount in the regulation.
                                                                                                                   be available for withdrawal at the start of
        (c) Amounts.                                         § 229.21    Civil Liability [Amended]                 business on Tuesday. If $400 were deposited
        1. For purposes of § 229.10(c)(1)(vii),              ■ 8. In § 229.21, remove the following                by check(s) on a Monday, this section
     the dollar amount in effect during a                    dollar amount ‘‘ $100’’ wherever it                   requires that $225 of the funds be available
     particular period is the amount stated                  appears and replace with the following                for withdrawal at the start of business on
     below for that period.                                  dollar amount ‘‘$225.’’                               Tuesday. The portion of the customer’s
        i. Prior to July 21, 2011, the amount                                                                      deposit to which the $225 must be applied
     is $100.                                                Appendix E to Part 229—Commentary                     is at the discretion of the depositary bank, as
        ii. From July 21, 2011, through March                                                                      long as it is not applied to any checks subject
                                                             *     *     *     *     *                             to next-day availability. The $225 next-day
     31, 2020, by operation of section                       ■ 9. Amend Appendix E to Part 229 to                  availability rule does not apply to deposits at
     603(a)(2)(D) of the EFA Act (12 U.S.C.                  read as follows:                                      nonproprietary ATMs.
     4002(a)(2)(D)) the amount is $200.                      ■ A. In Section II.D, revise paragraph 1.                b. The $225 that must be made available
        iii. Effective April 1, 2020, the amount             ■ B. In Section IV.D, revise paragraph 5              under this rule is in addition to the amount
     is $225.                                                and add paragraph 7.                                  that must be made available for withdrawal



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     63440                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules

     on the business day after deposit under other           percentage change for the entire period                  2. The Congress did not provide this
     provisions of this section. For example, if a           would be 9.0%. If the applicable dollar               extension of the schedules to checks drawn
     customer deposits a $1,000 Treasury check               amount was $5,000 for the prior period, then          on a paying bank located in Alaska, Hawaii,
     and a $1,000 local check in its account on              the adjusted figure would become $5,450 as            Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the
     Monday, $1,225 must be made available for               the change of $450 does not require rounding          Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
     withdrawal on Tuesday—the proceeds of the               because it is a multiple of $25.                      Islands, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands and
     $1,000 Treasury check, as well as the first                4. Example of accounting for aggregate lack        deposited in an account at a depositary bank
     $225 of the local check.                                of dollar amount change in subsequent                 in the 48 contiguous states. Therefore, a
        c. A depositary bank may aggregate all               period. If the CPI–W for July (and released in        check deposited in a San Francisco bank
     local and nonlocal check deposits made by               August) of the base year and the year at the          drawn on a Hawaii paying bank must be
     a customer on a given banking day for the               end of the subsequent five-year period were           made available for withdrawal not later than
     purposes of the $225 next-day availability              100 and 105, respectively, the aggregate              the second rather than the third business day
     rule. Thus, if a customer has two accounts at           change over the five-year period would be             following deposit.
     the depositary bank, and on a particular                5%, and no adjustment to the $200 amount
     banking day makes deposits to each account,                                                                   VII. Section 229.13    Exceptions
                                                             would occur, as the change of $10 does not
     $225 of the total deposited to the two                  result in rounding to $225. Nonetheless, the          B. 229.13(a) New Accounts
     accounts must be made available on the                  CPI–W for July (and released in August) of            *        *   *     *      *
     business day after deposit. Banks may                   the base year would be the starting point for           4. Dollar Amount Adjustment—See section
     aggregate deposits to individual and joint              calculating any CPI–W percentage increase             229.11 for the rules regarding adjustments for
     accounts for the purposes of this provision.            across the subsequent five-year period.               inflation every five years to the dollar
        d. If the customer deposits a $500 local             Therefore, if the CPI–W in July (and released         amounts in this section.
     check and gets $225 cash back at the time of            in August) of the base year and the CPI–W
     deposit, the bank need not make an                      in July (and released in August) of the years         *        *   *     *      *
     additional $225 available for withdrawal on             at the end of the next two five-year periods          C. 229.13(b) Large Deposits
     the following day. Similarly, if the customer           were 100, 105, and 112.6, respectively, the
     depositing the local check has a negative               aggregate percentage change for the entire
                                                                                                                   *        *   *     *      *
     book balance, or negative available balance in                                                                  2. The following example illustrates the
                                                             period would be 12.6%. If the applicable
     its account at the time of deposit, the $225                                                                  operation of the large-deposit exception. If a
                                                             dollar amount was $200 for the prior period,
     that must be available on the next business                                                                   customer deposits $2,000 in cash and a
                                                             then the adjusted figure would become $225
     day may be made available by applying the                                                                     $9,000 local check on a Monday, $2,225 (the
                                                             as the change of $25.20 results in rounding
     $225 to the negative balance, rather than                                                                     proceeds of the cash deposit and $225 from
                                                             to $225, the nearest multiple of $25.
     making the $225 available for withdrawal by                                                                   the local-check deposit) must be made
     cash or check on the following day.                     *      *      *      *       *                        available for withdrawal on Tuesday. An
                                                                                                                   additional $5,300 of the proceeds of the local
     *      *     *       *      *                           VI. Section 229.12       Availability Schedule
                                                                                                                   check must be available for withdrawal on
       7. Dollar Amount Adjustment—See section               A. 229.12(a) Effective Date                           Wednesday in accordance with the local
     229.11 for the rules regarding adjustments for                                                                schedule, and the remaining $3,475 may be
     inflation every five years to the dollar                *      *      *      *       *
                                                                                                                   held for an additional period of time under
     amounts used in this section.                           B. 229.12(d) Time Period Adjustment for               the large-deposit exception.
     *      *     *       *      *                           Withdrawal by Cash or Similar Means                   *        *   *     *      *
     V. Section 229.11 Adjustment of Dollar                  *      *      *      *       *                          4. Dollar Amount Adjustment—See section
     Amounts                                                   4. Dollar Amount Adjustment—See section             229.11 for the rules regarding adjustments for
                                                             229.11 for the rules regarding adjustments for        inflation every five years to the dollar
        1. Example of a positive adjustment. If the
                                                             inflation every five years to the dollar              amounts in this section.
     CPI–W for July (and released in August) of
                                                             amounts in this section.                              *        *   *     *      *
     the base year and the adjustment year were
     100 and 114.7, respectively, the aggregate              *      *      *      *       *
                                                                                                                   E. 229.13(d) Repeated Overdrafts
     percentage change for the period would be               E. 229.12(e) Extension of Schedule for
     14.7%. If the applicable dollar amount was                                                                    *        *   *     *      *
                                                             Certain Deposits in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto              5. Dollar Amount Adjustment—See section
     $200 for the prior period, then the adjusted            Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth
     figure would become $225, as the change of                                                                    229.11 for the calculation method used to
                                                             of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and            adjust the dollar amounts in this section
     $29.40 results in rounding to $25.                      the U.S. Virgin Islands
        2. Example of no adjustment. If the CPI–                                                                   every five years.
     W for July (and released in August) of the                1. The EFA Act and regulation provide an            *        *   *     *      *
     base year and the adjustment year were 100              extension of the availability schedules for
     and 104, respectively, the aggregate                    check deposits at a branch of a bank if the           H. 229.13(g) Notice of Exception
     percentage change would be 4.0%. If the                 branch is located in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto           *        *   *     *      *
     applicable dollar amount was $200 for the               Rico, American Samoa, the Commonwealth
                                                             of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or             2. One-Time Exception Notice
     prior period, then the adjusted figure would
     remain $200, as the change of $8.00 does not            the U.S. Virgin Islands.                              *        *   *     *      *
     result in rounding to $25.                                The schedules for local checks, nonlocal              b. In the case of a deposit of multiple
        3. Example of accounting for aggregate               checks (including nonlocal checks subject to          checks, the depositary bank has the
     decrease in subsequent period. If the CPI–W             the reduced schedules of appendix B), and             discretion to place an exception hold on any
     for July (and released in August) of the base           deposits at nonproprietary ATMs are                   combination of checks in excess of $5,525.
     year and the adjustment year were 100 and               extended by one business day for checks               The notice should enable a customer to
     95, respectively, the aggregate percentage              deposited to accounts in banks located in             determine the availability of the deposit in
     change would be ¥5%, and no adjustment                  these jurisdictions that are drawn on or              the case of a deposit of multiple checks. For
     to the dollar amounts would occur. The CPI–             payable at or through a paying bank not               example, if a customer deposits a $5,525
     W for July (and released in August) of the              located in the same jurisdiction as the               local check and a $5,525 nonlocal check,
     base year would be the starting point for               depositary bank. For example, a check                 under the large-deposit exception, the
     calculating any CPI–W increase across                   deposited in a bank in Hawaii and drawn on            depositary bank may make funds available in
     subsequent five-year periods. Therefore, if             a San Francisco paying bank must be made              the amount of (1) $225 on the first business
     the CPI–W in July (and released in August)              available for withdrawal not later than the           day after deposit, $5,300 on the second
     of the base year and the CPI–W in July (and             third business day following deposit. This            business day after deposit (local check), and
     released in August) of the years at the end             extension does not apply to deposits that             $5,525 on the eleventh business day after
     of the next two five-year periods were 100,             must be made available for withdrawal on              deposit (nonlocal check with six-day
     95, and 109, respectively, the aggregate                the next business day.                                exception hold), or (2) $225 on the first



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                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                                63441

     business day after deposit, $5,300 on the fifth           Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4302–4304, 4308,               accounts with a stated maturity greater than
     business day after deposit (nonlocal check),            5512, 5581.                                           one year.
     and $5,525 on the seventh business day after
     deposit (local check with five-day exception            ■ 11. Section 1030.1 is amended by                    A. General Rules
     hold). The notice should reflect the bank’s             adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:                 Except as provided in Part I.E. of this
     priorities in placing exception holds on next-                                                                appendix, the annual percentage yield shall
     day (or second-day), local, and nonlocal                § 1030.1 Authority, purpose, coverage, and            be calculated by the formula shown below.
     checks.                                                 effect on state laws.                                 Institutions shall calculate the annual
     *      *     *       *      *                           *     *     *     *    *                              percentage yield based on the actual number
                                                               (e) Relationship to Regulation CC. The              of days in the term of the account. For
     XIV. Section 229.20      Relation to State Law          Director of the Bureau and the Board of               accounts without a stated maturity date (such
     *      *     *       *      *                           Governors of the Federal Reserve                      as a typical savings or transaction account),
                                                                                                                   the calculation shall be based on an assumed
     C. 229.20(c) Standards for Preemption                   System jointly issue regulations under                term of 365 days. In determining the total
                                                             sections 603(d)(1), 604, 605, and 609(a)              interest figure to be used in the formula,
     *      *     *       *      *
        2. Under a state law, some categories of             of the Expedited Funds Availability Act               institutions shall assume that all principal
     deposits could be available for withdrawal              (12 U.S.C. 4002(d)(1), 4003, 4004,                    and interest remain on deposit for the entire
     sooner or later than the time required by this          4008(a)) that are codified within                     term and that no other transactions (deposits
     subpart, depending on the composition of the            Regulation CC (12 CFR part 229).                      or withdrawals) occur during the term. This
     deposit. For example, the EFA Act and this              ■ 12. Section 1030.7 is amended by                    assumption shall not be used if an institution
     regulation (§ 229.10(c)(1)(vii)) require next-                                                                requires, as a condition of the account, that
                                                             revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:
     day availability for the first $225 of the                                                                    consumers withdraw interest during the
     aggregate deposit of local or nonlocal checks           § 1030.7    Payment of interest.                      term. In such a case, the interest (and annual
     on any day, and a state law could require                                                                     percentage yield calculation) shall reflect that
                                                             *      *    *     *     *                             requirement. For time accounts that are
     next-day availability for any check of $200 or
     less that is deposited. Under the EFA Act and
                                                               (c) Date interest begins to accrue.                 offered in multiples of months, institutions
     this regulation, if either one $300 check or            Interest shall begin to accrue not later              may base the number of days on either the
     three $100 checks are deposited on a given              than the business day specified for                   actual number of days during the applicable
     day, $225 must be made available for                    interest-bearing accounts in section 606              period, or the number of days that would
     withdrawal on the next business day, and                of the Expedited Funds Availability Act               occur for any actual sequence of that many
     $75 must be made available in accordance                (12 U.S.C. 4005) and in § 229.14 of that              calendar months. If institutions choose to use
     with the local or nonlocal schedule. Under                                                                    the latter rule, they must use the same
                                                             act’s implementing Regulation CC (12                  number of days to calculate the dollar
     the state law, however, the two deposits                CFR part 229). Interest shall accrue until
     would be subject to different availability                                                                    amount of interest earned on the account that
     rules. In the first case, none of the proceeds
                                                             the day funds are withdrawn.                          is used in the annual percentage yield
     of the deposit would be subject to next-day             ■ 13. Appendix A to part 1030 is revised              formula (where ‘‘Interest’’ is divided by
     availability; in the second case, the entire            to read as follows:                                   ‘‘Principal’’).
     proceeds of the deposit would be subject to                                                                      The annual percentage yield is calculated
     next-day availability. In this example,
                                                             Appendix A to Part 1030—Annual                        by use of the following general formula
     because the state law would, in some                    Percentage Yield Calculation                          (‘‘APY’’ is used for convenience in the
     situations, permit a hold longer than the                                                                     formulas):
                                                               The annual percentage yield measures the
     maximum permitted by the EFA Act, this                                                                           APY=100 [(1+Interest/Principal)(365/Days in
                                                             total amount of interest paid on an account           term)¥1],
     provision of state law is inconsistent and              based on the interest rate and the frequency
     preempted in its entirety.                                                                                       ‘‘Principal’’ is the amount of funds
                                                             of compounding. The annual percentage
                                                                                                                   assumed to have been deposited at the
     *      *     *       *      *                           yield reflects only interest and does not
                                                                                                                   beginning of the account.
                                                             include the value of any bonus (or other
     XV. Section 229.21       Civil Liability                                                                         ‘‘Interest’’ is the total dollar amount of
                                                             consideration worth $10 or less) that may be
                                                                                                                   interest earned on the Principal for the term
     A. 229.21(a) Civil Liability                            provided to the consumer to open, maintain,
                                                                                                                   of the account.
                                                             increase or renew an account. Interest or
     *      *     *       *      *                                                                                    ‘‘Days in term’’ is the actual number of
                                                             other earnings are not to be included in the
       2. Dollar Amount Adjustment—See section                                                                     days in the term of the account. When the
                                                             annual percentage yield if such amounts are           ‘‘days in term’’ is 365 (that is, where the
     229.11 for the rules regarding adjustments for
                                                             determined by circumstances that may or               stated maturity is 365 days or where the
     inflation every five years to the dollar
                                                             may not occur in the future. The annual               account does not have a stated maturity), the
     amounts in this section.
                                                             percentage yield is expressed as an                   annual percentage yield can be calculated by
     *      *     *       *      *                           annualized rate, based on a 365-day year.             use of the following simple formula:
     XXIX. Section 229.43 Checks Payable in                  Institutions may calculate the annual                    APY=100 (Interest/Principal)
     Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern                  percentage yield based on a 365-day or a 366-
                                                             day year in a leap year. Part I of this               Examples
     Mariana Islands [Removed and Reserved]
                                                             appendix discusses the annual percentage                 (1) If an institution pays $61.68 in interest
     *      *     *       *      *                           yield calculations for account disclosures            for a 365-day year on $1,000 deposited into
     Bureau of Consumer Financial                            and advertisements, while Part II discusses           a NOW account, using the general formula
     Protection                                              annual percentage yield earned calculations           above, the annual percentage yield is 6.17%:
                                                             for periodic statements.                                 APY=100[(1+61.68/1,000)(365/365)¥1]
     Authority and Issuance                                                                                           APY=6.17%
                                                             Part I. Annual Percentage Yield for Account              Or, using the simple formula above (since,
       For the reasons set forth in the                      Disclosures and Advertising Purposes                  as an account without a stated term, the term
     preamble, the Bureau of Consumer                          In general, the annual percentage yield for         is deemed to be 365 days):
     Financial Protection proposes to amend                  account disclosures under §§ 1030.4 and                  APY=100(61.68/1,000)
     Regulation DD, 12 CFR part 1030, as                     1030.5 and for advertising under § 1030.8 is             APY=6.17%
     follows:                                                an annualized rate that reflects the                     (2) If an institution pays $30.37 in interest
                                                             relationship between the amount of interest           on a $1,000 six-month certificate of deposit
     PART 1030—TRUTH IN SAVINGS                              that would be earned by the consumer for the          (where the six-month period used by the
     (REGULATION DD)                                         term of the account and the amount of                 institution contains 182 days), using the
                                                             principal used to calculate that interest.            general formula above, the annual percentage
     ■ 10. The authority citation for part                   Special rules apply to accounts with tiered           yield is 6.18%:
     1030 continues to read as follows:                      and stepped interest rates, and to certain time          APY=100[(1+30.37/1,000)(365/182)¥1]



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     63442                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules

        APY=6.18%                                            D. Tiered-Rate Accounts (Different Rates                    deposits $8,000, the institution pays 5.25%
                                                             Apply to Specified Balance Levels)                          on $2,500 and 5.50% on $5,500 (the
     B. Stepped-Rate Accounts (Different Rates                                                                           difference between $8,000 and the first tier
     Apply in Succeeding Periods)                              For accounts in which two or more interest
                                                             rates paid on the account are applicable to                 cut-off of $2,500).
        For accounts with two or more interest               specified balance levels, the institution must                 The institution that computes interest in
     rates applied in succeeding periods (where              calculate the annual percentage yield in                    this manner must provide a range that shows
     the rates are known at the time the account             accordance with the method described below                  the lowest and the highest annual percentage
     is opened), an institution shall assume each            that it uses to calculate interest. In all cases,           yields for each tier (other than for the first
     interest rate is in effect for the length of time       an annual percentage yield (or a range of                   tier, which, like the tiers in Method A, has
     provided for in the deposit contract.                   annual percentage yields, if appropriate)                   the same annual percentage yield
                                                             must be disclosed for each balance tier.                    throughout). The low figure for an annual
     Examples                                                                                                            percentage yield range is calculated based on
                                                               For purposes of the examples discussed
       (1) If an institution offers a $1,000 6-month         below, assume the following:                                the total amount of interest earned for a year
     certificate of deposit on which it pays a 5%                                                                        assuming the minimum principal required to
     interest rate, compounded daily, for the first                                                                      earn the interest rate for that tier. The high
                                                               Interest rate            Deposit balance required to
     three months (which contain 91 days), and a                 (percent)                       earn rate               figure for an annual percentage yield range is
     5.5% interest rate, compounded daily, for the                                                                       based on the amount of interest the
     next three months (which contain 92 days),              5.25 ................     Up to but not exceeding           institution would pay on the highest
     the total interest for six months is $26.68                                         $2,500.                         principal that could be deposited to earn that
     and, using the general formula above, the               5.50 ................     Above $2,500 but not ex-          same interest rate. If the account does not
     annual percentage yield is 5.39%:                                                   ceeding $15,000.                have a limit on the maximum amount that
       APY=100[(1+26.68/1,000)(365/183)¥1]                   5.75 ................     Above $15,000.                    can be deposited, the institution may assume
                                                                                                                         any amount.
       APY=5.39%
                                                                Tiering Method A. Under this method, an                     For the tiering structure assumed above,
       (2) If an institution offers a $1,000 two-year
                                                                                                                         the institution would state a total of five
     certificate of deposit on which it pays a 6%            institution pays on the full balance in the
                                                                                                                         annual percentage yields—one figure for the
     interest rate, compounded daily, for the first          account the stated interest rate that
                                                                                                                         first tier and two figures stated as a range for
     year, and a 6.5% interest rate, compounded              corresponds to the applicable deposit tier.
                                                                                                                         the other two tiers.
     daily, for the next year, the total interest for        For example, if a consumer deposits $8,000,
                                                                                                                            First tier. Assuming daily compounding,
     two years is $133.13, and, using the general            the institution pays the 5.50% interest rate
                                                                                                                         the institution would pay $53.90 in interest
     formula above, the annual percentage yield is           on the entire $8,000.
                                                                                                                         on a $1,000 deposit. For this first tier, using
     6.45%:                                                     When this method is used to determine
                                                                                                                         the simple formula, the annual percentage
       APY=100[(1+133.13/1,000)(365/730)¥1]                  interest, only one annual percentage yield
                                                                                                                         yield is 5.39%:
       APY=6.45%                                             will apply to each tier. Within each tier, the
                                                             annual percentage yield will not vary with                  APY=100(53.90/1,000)
     C. Variable-Rate Accounts                               the amount of principal assumed to have                     APY=5.39%
                                                             been deposited.                                                Second tier. For the second tier, the
        For variable-rate accounts without an
                                                                For the interest rates and deposit balances              institution would pay between $134.75 and
     introductory premium or discounted rate, an
                                                             assumed above, the institution will state                   $841.45 in interest, based on assumed
     institution must base the calculation only on                                                                       balances of $2,500.01 and $15,000,
     the initial interest rate in effect when the            three annual percentage yields—one
                                                             corresponding to each balance tier.                         respectively. For $2,500.01, interest would be
     account is opened (or advertised), and                                                                              figured on $2,500 at 5.25% interest rate plus
                                                             Calculation of each annual percentage yield
     assume that this rate will not change during                                                                        interest on $.01 at 5.50%. For the low end
                                                             is similar for this type of account as for
     the year.                                                                                                           of the second tier, therefore, the annual
                                                             accounts with a single interest rate. Thus, the
        Variable-rate accounts with an                       calculation is based on the total amount of                 percentage yield is 5.39%, using the simple
     introductory premium (or discount) rate must            interest that would be received by the                      formula:
     be calculated like a stepped-rate account.              consumer for each tier of the account for a                 APY=100(134.75/2,500)
     Thus, an institution shall assume that: (1)             year and the principal assumed to have been                 APY=5.39%
     The introductory interest rate is in effect for         deposited to earn that amount of interest.                     For $15,000, interest is figured on $2,500
     the length of time provided for in the deposit             First tier. Assuming daily compounding,                  at 5.25% interest rate plus interest on
     contract; and (2) the variable interest rate that       the institution will pay $53.90 in interest on              $12,500 at 5.50% interest rate. For the high
     would have been in effect when the account              a $1,000 deposit. Using the general formula,                end of the second tier, the annual percentage
     is opened or advertised (but for the                    for the first tier, the annual percentage yield             yield, using the simple formula, is 5.61%:
     introductory rate) is in effect for the                 is 5.39%:                                                   APY=100(841.45/15,000)
     remainder of the year. If the variable rate is          APY=100[(1+53.90/1,000)(365/365)¥1]                         APY=5.61%
     tied to an index, the index-based rate in               APY=5.39%                                                      Thus, the annual percentage yield range for
     effect at the time of disclosure must be used                                                                       the second tier is 5.39% to 5.61%.
                                                                Using the simple formula:
     for the remainder of the year. If the rate is           APY=100(53.90/1,000)                                           Third tier. For the third tier, the institution
     not tied to an index, the rate in effect for                                                                        would pay $841.45 in interest on the low end
     existing consumers holding the same account             APY=5.39%
                                                                                                                         of the third tier (a balance of $15,000.01). For
     (who are not receiving the introductory                    Second tier. The institution will pay                    $15,000.01, interest would be figured on
     interest rate) must be used for the remainder           $452.29 in interest on an $8,000 deposit.                   $2,500 at 5.25% interest rate, plus interest on
     of the year.                                            Thus, using the simple formula, the annual                  $12,500 at 5.50% interest rate, plus interest
        For example, if an institution offers an             percentage yield for the second tier is 5.65%:              on $.01 at 5.75% interest rate. For the low
     account on which it pays a 7% interest rate,            APY=100(452.29/8,000)                                       end of the third tier, therefore, the annual
     compounded daily, for the first three months            APY=5.65%                                                   percentage yield (using the simple formula)
     (which, for example, contain 91 days), while               Third tier. The institution will pay                     is 5.61%:
     the variable interest rate that would have              $1,183.61 in interest on a $20,000 deposit.                 APY=100 (841.45/15,000)
     been in effect when the account was opened              Thus, using the simple formula, the annual                  APY=5.61%
     was 5%, the total interest for a 365-day year           percentage yield for the third tier is 5.92%:
                                                                                                                            Since the institution does not limit the
     for a $1,000 deposit is $56.52 (based on 91             APY=100(1,183.61/20,000)                                    account balance, it may assume any
     days at 7% followed by 274 days at 5%).                 APY=5.92%                                                   maximum amount for the purposes of
     Using the simple formula, the annual                       Tiering Method B. Under this method, an                  computing the annual percentage yield for
     percentage yield is 5.65%:                              institution pays the stated interest rate only              the high end of the third tier. For an assumed
        APY=100(56.52/1,000)                                 on that portion of the balance within the                   maximum balance amount of $100,000,
     APY=5.65%                                               specified tier. For example, if a consumer                  interest would be figured on $2,500 at 5.25%



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                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules                                              63443

     interest rate, plus interest on $12,500 at              compute the composite interest rate and APY           balance for the period is $1,000. The interest
     5.50% interest rate, plus interest on $85,000           as follows:                                           earned (under either balance computation
     at 5.75% interest rate. For the high end of the            (a) Multiply each interest rate by the             method) is $5.25 during the period. The
     third tier, therefore, the annual percentage            number of days it will be in effect;                  annual percentage yield earned (using the
     yield, using the simple formula, is 5.87%.                 (b) Add these figures together; and                formula above) is 6.58%:
     APY=100 (5,871.79/100,000)                                 (c) Divide by the total number of days in          APY Earned = 100 [(1 + 5.25/1,000)(365/30)¥1]
     APY=5.87%                                               the term.                                             APY Earned = 6.58%
                                                                (2) Applied to the example, the products of
                                                             the interest rates and days the rates are in            (2) Assume an institution calculates
        Thus, the annual percentage yield range                                                                    interest on the average daily balance for the
     that would be stated for the third tier is              effect are (5.00% × 365 days) 1825, (6.00%
                                                             × 365 days) 2190, and (7.00% × 365 days)              calendar month and provides periodic
     5.61% to 5.87%.                                                                                               statements that cover the period from the
                                                             2555, respectively. The sum of these
        If the assumed maximum balance amount                                                                      16th of one month to the 15th of the next
                                                             products, 6570, is divided by 1095, the total
     is $1,000,000 instead of $100,000, the                                                                        month. The account has a balance of $2,000
                                                             number of days in the term. The composite
     institution would use $985,000 rather than                                                                    September 1 through September 15 and a
                                                             interest rate and APY are both 6.00%.
     $85,000 in the last calculation. In that case,                                                                balance of $1,000 for the remaining 15 days
     for the high end of the third tier the annual           Part II. Annual Percentage Yield Earned for           of September. The average daily balance for
     percentage yield, using the simple formula, is          Periodic Statements                                   the month of September is $1,500, which
     5.91%:                                                     The annual percentage yield earned for             results in $6.50 in interest earned for the
     APY = 100 (59134.22/1,000,000)                          periodic statements under § 1030.6(a) is an           month. The annual percentage yield earned
     APY = 5.91%                                             annualized rate that reflects the relationship        for the month of September would be shown
        Thus, the annual percentage yield range              between the amount of interest actually               on the periodic statement covering
     that would be stated for the third tier is              earned on the consumer’s account during the           September 16 through October 15. The
     5.61% to 5.91%.                                         statement period and the average daily                annual percentage yield earned (using the
                                                             balance in the account for the statement              formula above) is 5.40%:
     E. Time Accounts With a Stated Maturity                 period. Pursuant to § 1030.6(b), however, if          APY Earned = 100 [(6.50/1,500)(365/30)¥1]
     Greater Than One Year That Pay Interest at              an institution uses the average daily balance         APY Earned = 5.40%
     Least Annually                                          method and calculates interest for a period
                                                                                                                     (3) Assume an institution calculates
       1. For time accounts with a stated maturity           other than the statement period, the annual
                                                                                                                   interest on the average daily balance for a
     greater than one year that do not compound              percentage yield earned shall reflect the
                                                                                                                   quarter (for example, the calendar months of
     interest on an annual or more frequent basis,           relationship between the amount of interest
                                                                                                                   September through November), and provides
     and that require the consumer to withdraw               earned and the average daily balance in the
                                                                                                                   monthly periodic statements covering
     interest at least annually, the annual                  account for that other period.
                                                                                                                   calendar months. The account has a balance
     percentage yield may be disclosed as equal                 The annual percentage yield earned shall
                                                             be calculated by using the following formulas         of $1,000 throughout the 30 days of
     to the interest rate.                                                                                         September, a balance of $2,000 throughout
                                                             (‘‘APY Earned’’ is used for convenience in
     Example                                                 the formulas):                                        the 31 days of October, and a balance of
       (1) If an institution offers a $1,000 two-year                                                              $3,000 throughout the 30 days of November.
                                                             A. General Formula                                    The average daily balance for the quarter is
     certificate of deposit that does not compound
     and that pays out interest semi-annually by             APY Earned = 100 [(1 + Interest earned/               $2,000, which results in $21 in interest
     check or transfer at a 6.00% interest rate, the               Balance)(365/Days in period)¥1]                 earned for the quarter. The annual percentage
     annual percentage yield may be disclosed as                                                                   yield earned would be shown on the periodic
                                                                ‘‘Balance’’ is the average daily balance in
     6.00%.                                                                                                        statement for November. The annual
                                                             the account for the period.
       (2) For time accounts covered by this                                                                       percentage yield earned (using the formula
                                                                ‘‘Interest earned’’ is the actual amount of
     paragraph that are also stepped-rate accounts,                                                                above) is 4.28%:
                                                             interest earned on the account for the period.
     the annual percentage yield may be disclosed               ‘‘Days in period’’ is the actual number of         APY Earned = 100 [(1 + 21/2,000)(365/91)¥1]
     as equal to the composite interest rate.                days for the period.                                  APY Earned = 4.28%
     Example                                                 Examples                                              B. Special Formula for Use Where Periodic
       (1) If an institution offers a $1,000 three-             (1) Assume an institution calculates               Statement Is Sent More Often Than the
     year certificate of deposit that does not               interest for the statement period (and uses           Period for Which Interest Is Compounded
     compound and that pays out interest                     either the daily balance or the average daily           Institutions that use the daily balance
     annually by check or transfer at a 5.00%                balance method), and the account has a                method to accrue interest and that issue
     interest rate for the first year, 6.00% interest        balance of $1,500 for 15 days and a balance           periodic statements more often than the
     rate for the second year, and 7.00% interest            of $500 for the remaining 15 days of a 30-            period for which interest is compounded
     rate for the third year, the institution may            day statement period. The average daily               shall use the following special formula:




       The following definition applies for use in             Assume an institution calculates interest           The account has a daily balance of $1,000 for
     this formula (all other terms are defined               for the statement period using the daily              a 30-day statement period. The interest
     under Part II):                                         balance method, pays a 5.00% interest rate,           earned is $4.11 for the period, and the annual
       ‘‘Compounding’’ is the number of days in              compounded annually, and provides                     percentage yield earned (using the special
     each compounding period.                                periodic statements for each monthly cycle.           formula above) is 5.00%:
                                                                                                                                                                    EP10DE18.001</GPH>
                                                                                                                                                                    EP10DE18.000</GPH>




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     63444                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Proposed Rules

         APY Earned=5.00%                                    heat treatment has been done, and                     216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198;
     ■ 14. In Supplement I to part 1030,                     replacement or repair if necessary. Since             telephone and fax 206–231–3229.
     under Section 1030.7—Payment of                         we issued AD 2016–16–01, we have                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     Interest, paragraph 7(c)—Date interest                  determined that additional affected
                                                             parts in the cabin compartment                        Comments Invited
     begins to accrue is revised to read as
     follows:                                                structure must also be inspected. This                  We invite you to send any written
                                                             proposed AD would retain the                          relevant data, views, or arguments about
     Supplement I to Part 1030—Official                      requirements of AD 2016–16–01 and                     this proposal. Send your comments to
     Interpretations                                         require inspection of additional                      an address listed under the ADDRESSES
     *      *     *       *      *                           locations of the cabin compartment                    section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–
                                                             structure. We are proposing this AD to                2018–1005; Product Identifier 2018–
     Section 1030.7—Payment of Interest
                                                             address the unsafe condition on these                 NM–109–AD’’ at the beginning of your
     *      *     *       *      *                           products.
        (c) Date interest begins to accrue.                                                                        comments. We specifically invite
        1. Relation to Regulation CC. Institutions           DATES:  We must receive comments on                   comments on the overall regulatory,
     may rely on the Expedited Funds Availability            this proposed AD by January 24, 2019.                 economic, environmental, and energy
     Act (EFAA) and Regulation CC (12 CFR part                                                                     aspects of this proposed AD. We will
                                                             ADDRESSES: You may send comments,
     229) to determine, for example, when a                                                                        consider all comments received by the
     deposit is considered made for purposes of              using the procedures found in 14 CFR
                                                                                                                   closing date and may amend this
     interest accrual, or when interest need not be          11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following
                                                                                                                   proposed AD based on those comments.
     paid on funds because a deposited check is              methods:
                                                                                                                     We will post all comments we
     later returned unpaid.                                    • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
        2. Ledger and collected balances.                                                                          receive, without change, to http://
                                                             http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
     Institutions may calculate interest by using a                                                                www.regulations.gov, including any
                                                             instructions for submitting comments.
     ‘‘ledger’’ or ‘‘collected’’ balance method, as                                                                personal information you provide. We
                                                               • Fax: 202–493–2251.                                will also post a report summarizing each
     long as the crediting requirements of the
     EFAA are met (12 CFR 229.14).                             • Mail: U.S. Department of                          substantive verbal contact we receive
        3. Withdrawal of principal. Institutions             Transportation, Docket Operations, M–                 about this proposed AD.
     must accrue interest on funds until the funds           30, West Building Ground Floor, Room
     are withdrawn from the account. For                     W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,                   Discussion
     example, if a check is debited to an account            Washington, DC 20590.                                    We issued AD 2016–16–01,
     on a Tuesday, the institution must accrue                 • Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail                    Amendment 39–18599 (81 FR 51325,
     interest on those funds through Monday.                 address above between 9 a.m. and 5                    August 4, 2016) (corrected September 1,
       By order of the Board of Governors of the             p.m., Monday through Friday, except                   2016 (81 FR 60246)) (‘‘AD 2016–16–
     Federal Reserve System, November 19, 2018.              Federal holidays.                                     01’’), for certain Airbus SAS Model
     Ann E. Misback,                                           For service information identified in               A330–200 Freighter, –200, and –300
     Secretary of the Board.                                 this NPRM, contact Airbus SAS,                        series airplanes. AD 2016–16–01
       Dated: September 20, 2018.                            Airworthiness Office—EIAS, Rond-                      requires an inspection of affected
     Mick Mulvaney,                                          Point Emile Dewoitine No: 2, 31700                    structural parts in the cargo and cabin
     Acting Director, Bureau of Consumer                     Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 5                compartments to determine if proper
     Financial Protection.                                   61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email             heat treatment has been done, and
     [FR Doc. 2018–25746 Filed 12–7–18; 8:45 am]             account.airworth-eas@airbus.com;                      replacement or repair if necessary. AD
     BILLING CODE P
                                                             internet http://www.airbus.com. You                   2016–16–01 was prompted by a report
                                                             may view this referenced service                      of a manufacturing defect that affects
                                                             information at the FAA, Transport                     the durability of affected parts in the
                                                             Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th St.,               cargo and cabin compartment. We
     DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                                             Des Moines, WA. For information on the                issued AD 2016–16–01 to address crack
     Federal Aviation Administration                         availability of this material at the FAA,             initiation and propagation in structural
                                                             call 206–231–3195.                                    parts of the cargo and cabin
     14 CFR Part 39                                          Examining the AD Docket                               compartments, which could result in
                                                                                                                   reduced structural integrity of the
     [Docket No. FAA–2018–1005; Product                         You may examine the AD docket on                   fuselage.
     Identifier 2018–NM–109–AD]                              the internet at http://
     RIN 2120–AA64                                           www.regulations.gov by searching for                  Actions Since AD 2016–16–01 Was
                                                             and locating Docket No. FAA–2018–                     Issued
     Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS                    1005; or in person at Docket Operations                  Since we issued AD 2016–16–01, we
     Airplanes                                               between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday                     have determined that additional affected
                                                             through Friday, except Federal holidays.              parts in the cabin compartment
     AGENCY: Federal Aviation
                                                             The AD docket contains this NPRM, the                 structure must also be inspected.
     Administration (FAA), DOT.
                                                             regulatory evaluation, any comments                      The European Aviation Safety Agency
     ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
                                                             received, and other information. The                  (EASA), which is the Technical Agent
     (NPRM).                                                 street address for Docket Operations                  for the Member States of the European
     SUMMARY:   We propose to supersede                      (phone 800–647–5527) is in the                        Union, has issued EASA AD 2018–0147,
     Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016–16–                   ADDRESSES section. Comments will be                   dated July 13, 2018 (referred to after this
     01, which applies to certain Airbus SAS                 available in the AD docket shortly after              as the Mandatory Continuing
     Model A330–200 Freighter, –200, and                     receipt.                                              Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the
     –300 series airplanes. AD 2016–16–01                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition
     requires an inspection of affected                      Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer,                 for certain Model A330–200 Freighter,
     structural parts in the cargo and cabin                 International Section, Transport                      –200, and –300 series airplanes. The
     compartments to determine if proper                     Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South                     MCAI states:


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Document Created: 2018-12-08 00:21:56
Document Modified: 2018-12-08 00:21:56
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionProposed rule and reopening of comment period for existing proposed rule.
DatesComments on the 2018 Proposal and the 2011 Funds Availability Proposal must be received on or before February 8, 2019.
ContactBoard: Gavin L. Smith, Senior Counsel (202) 452-3474, Legal Division, or Ian C.B. Spear, Manager (202) 452- 3959, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems; for users of Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) only, contact (202) 263-4869.
FR Citation83 FR 63431 
RIN Number3170-AA31
CFR Citation12 CFR 1030
12 CFR 229
CFR AssociatedAdvertising; Consumer Protection; National Banks; Savings Associations; Banks; Banking; Federal Reserve System and Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

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