Alternatives to References to Credit Ratings With Respect to Permissible Activities for Foreign Branches of Insured State Nonmember Banks and Pledge of Assets by Insured Domestic Branches of Foreign Banks

The FDIC is adopting a final rule (final rule) to amend its international banking regulations consistent with section 939A (section 939A) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) and the FDIC's authority under section 5(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI Act). The final rule adopts without change the revisions and amendments that the FDIC proposed in a June 2016 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR or proposed rule). These revisions and amendments include: Replacing references to credit ratings in the regulation's definition of investment grade with an alternative standard of creditworthiness; and making changes to the eligibility criteria for the types of assets that insured branches of foreign banks may pledge for the benefit of the FDIC.