Agency Information Collection Activities: Announcement of Board Approval Under Delegated Authority and Submission to OMB

AGENCY:

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given of the final approval of proposed information collections by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) under OMB delegated authority, as per 5 CFR 1320.16 (OMB Regulations on Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public). Board-approved collections of information are incorporated into the official OMB inventory of currently approved collections of information. Copies of the Paperwork Reduction Act Submission, supporting statements and approved collection of information instruments are placed into OMB's public docket files. The Federal Reserve may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Federal Reserve Board Clearance Officer—Cynthia Ayouch—Office of the Chief Data Officer, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551 (202) 452-3829. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact (202) 263-4869, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551.

OMB Desk Officer—Shagufta Ahmed—Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.

Final approval under OMB delegated authority of the extension for three years, without revision, of the following report:

Report title: Reporting and Disclosure Requirements Associated with the Policy on Payments System Risk.

Agency form number: FR 4102.

OMB control number: 7100-0315.

Frequency: Biennial.

Reporters: Payment and securities settlement systems.

Annual reporting hours: 210 hours.

Estimated average hours per response: 70 hours.

Number of respondents: 3.

General description of report: The Federal Reserve has determined that sections 11(i) & (j), 13, 16, and 19(f) of the Federal Reserve Act authorize the Board to exercise general supervision of the Reserve Banks, to make rules and regulations to perform effectively its duties and functions, and to determine and regulate fees charged by member or nonmember banks for the collection or payment of checks, among other things (12 U.S.C. 248(i) & (j), 248-1, 342, 360, and 464). Additionally, depending upon the individual institution, the information collection may be authorized under a more specific statute. Specifically, the Board is authorized to collect information from state member banks under section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. § 324); from bank holding companies (and their subsidiaries) under section 5(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1844(c)); from savings and loan holding companies under 12 U.S.C. 1467a(b)(3) and 5412; from Edge and agreement corporations under sections 25 and 25A of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 602 and 625); and from U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks under section 7(c)(2) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3105(c)(2)), and under section 7(a) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(a)). Together, these statutory provisions provide the legal authorization for the reporting and disclosure requirements associated with the FR 4102. Because the self-assessments are to be publicly disclosed and because the Federal Reserve will not collect any information pursuant to this information collection beyond what is made publicly available, no confidentiality issue arises with regard to the FR 4102. The reporting and disclosure requirements of the FR 4102 are mandatory.

Abstract: The FR 4102 was implemented in January 2007 as a result of revisions to the Federal Reserve's Policy on Payment System Risk (PSR policy). Under the revised policy, systemically important payment and settlement systems as determined by the Board at that time and subject to the Federal Reserve's authority are expected to complete and disclose publicly self-assessments against the principles and minimum standards in the policy. The self-assessment should be reviewed and approved by the system's senior management and board of directors upon completion and made readily available to the public. In addition, a self-assessment should be updated following material changes to the system or its environment and, at a minimum, reviewed by the system every two years.

Current actions: On April 18, 2013, the Federal Reserve published a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 23253) seeking public comment for 60 days on the extension, without revision, of the FR 4102. The comment period for this notice expired on June 17, 2013. The Federal Reserve did not receive any comments.

Final approval under OMB delegated authority of the extension for three years, with revision, of the following report:

Report title: Transfer Agent Registration and Amendment Form.

Agency form number: FR TA-1.

OMB control number: 7100-0099.

Frequency: On occasion.

Reporters: State member banks (SMBs) and their subsidiaries, bank holding companies (BHCs), certain nondeposit trust company subsidiaries of BHCs, and savings and loan holding companies (SLHCs).

Annual reporting hours: 4 hours.

Estimated average time per response: Registrations: 1.25 hours; Amendments: 10 minutes.

Number of respondents: Registrations: 2; Amendments: 4.

General description of report: The FR TA-1 is mandatory and that its collection is authorized by sections 17A(c), 17(a)(3), and 23(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Act), as amended (15 U.S.C. 78q-1(c), 78q(a)(3), and 78w(a)(1)). Additionally, Section 3(a)(34)(B)(ii) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(34)(B)(ii)) provides that the Board is the appropriate regulatory agency for purposes of various filings by SMBs and their subsidiaries, BHCs, SLHCs and certain nondepository trust company subsidiaries of BHCs that act as a clearing agency or transfer agent. The registrations are public filings and are not considered confidential.

Abstract: The Act requires any person acting as a transfer agent to register as such and to amend registration information when it changes. SMBs and their subsidiaries, BHCs, and certain nondeposit trust company subsidiaries of BHCs register with the Federal Reserve System by submitting Form TA-1. The information collected is available to the public upon request and includes the company name, all business addresses, and several questions about the registrant's proposed activities as a transfer agent.

Current Actions: On April 18, 2013, the Federal Reserve published a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 23253) seeking public comment for 60 days on the extension, with revision, of the FR TA-1. The comment period for this notice expired on June 17, 2013. The Federal Reserve did not receive any comments. The revision will be implemented as proposed.