**GAO-03-480R**                      Feb 24, 2003                  

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## Highlights

GAO reviewed the Federal Reserve System's rule on transactions between member banks and their affiliates. GAO found that (1) the final rule combines statutory restrictions on transactions between a member bank and its affiliates with numerous Board interpretations and exemptions in an effort to simplify compliance with sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, and (2) the Federal Reserve Board  complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.

##  Federal Reserve System: Transactions Between Member Banks and Their Affiliates, GAO-03-480R, February 24, 2003

B-291951February 24, 2003The Honorable Richard C. Shelby     Chairman     The Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes     Ranking Minority Member     Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs     United States SenateThe Honorable Michael G. Oxley     Chairman     The Honorable Barney Frank     Ranking Minority Member     Committee on Financial Services     House of Representatives     Subject:*Federal Reserve System: Transactions Between Member Banks and Their Affiliates*Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Federal Reserve System    (Board), entitled Transactions Between Member Banks and Their Affiliates (Regulation W; Docket No. R-1103).  The rule was received by the Senate on December 2, 2002, and by the    House of Representatives on December 4, 2002.  However, due to a delay in the mail, our Office did not receive the rule until February 7, 2003.  It was published in the Federal Register    as a final rule on December 12, 2002.  67 Fed. Reg. 76560.     The final rule (Regulation W) combines statutory restrictions on transactions between a member bank and its affiliates with numerous Board interpretations and exemptions in an effort to simplify    compliance with sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act.     Enclosed is our assessment of the Board's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule.  Our review indicates    that the Board complied with the applicable requirements.     If you have any questions about this report, please contact James W. Vickers, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8210.  The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the    subject matter of the rule is Thomas McCool, Managing Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment.  Mr. McCool can be reached at (202) 512-8678.                 signed     Kathleen E. Wannisky     Managing Associate General Counsel     Enclosurecc: Winthrop P. Hambley     Deputy Congressional Liaison     Federal Reserve Board            ENCLOSURE     ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C.  801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF A MAJOR RULE     ISSUED BY THE     FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM     ENTITLED     "TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN MEMBER BANKS AND THEIR AFFILIATES"     (REGULATION W; DOCKET NO. R-1103)(i) Cost-benefit analysis     The Board was not required to perform a cost-benefit analysis in connection with the issuance of the final rule.(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.  603-605, 607, and 609     The Board prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis and a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis in connection with the proposed and final rules, respectively.  The analyses comply    with the informational requirements of the Act.  The Board concludes that the final rule will not result in additional significant burdens.  Because of the increased exemptions and    having the Board's interpretations in a single, comprehensive, public document, the Board also concludes that it may actually be less burdensome than the existing law.(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C.  1532-1535     The rule, promulgated by an independent regulatory agency, is not subject to title II of the Act.(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders     Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C.  551 etseq.     The final rule was issued using the notice and comment procedures found at 5 U.S.C. 553.  On May 11, 2001, the Board published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.     66 Fed. Reg. 24186.  In response the Board received 120 comments, which are discussed in the preamble to the final rule.     Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.  3501-3520     The final rule contains information collections that are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act.  The Board of Governors of the    Federal Reserve System has approved the collections under its delegation of authority from OMB (5 C.F.R. 1320 Appendix A.1) but also solicits comments regarding the collections, including    suggestions for reducing the burden.     Statutory authorization for the rule     The final rule is promulgated under the authority contained in section 23A(f) and 23(B)(e) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 371c(f) and 371c-1(e)).     Executive Order No. 12866     As an independent regulatory agency, rules promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System are not subject to review under the order.

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