[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 22, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 83686-83737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26225]



[[Page 83685]]

Vol. 85

Tuesday,

No. 246

December 22, 2020

Part II





 Department of the Treasury





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 Office of the Comptroller of the Currency





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12 CFR Parts 2, 5, 7, et al.





Activities and Operations of National Banks and Federal Savings 
Associations; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 85 , No. 246 / Tuesday, December 22, 2020 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 83686]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Parts 4, 5, 7, 145, and 160

[Docket ID OCC-2020-0003]
RIN 1557-AE74


Activities and Operations of National Banks and Federal Savings 
Associations

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is issuing a 
final rule to revise and reorganize its regulations relating to the 
activities and operations of national banks and Federal savings 
associations and to amend its rules relating Federal savings 
association corporate governance. This rule clarifies and codifies 
recent OCC interpretations, integrates certain regulations for national 
banks and Federal savings associations, and updates or eliminates 
outdated regulatory requirements that no longer reflect the modern 
financial system. Additionally, this rule includes related technical 
changes throughout these and other OCC regulations.

DATES: The rule is effective April 1, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Kirby, Assistant Director, 
Valerie Song, Assistant Director, Heidi M. Thomas, Special Counsel, or 
Chris Rafferty, Attorney, Chief Counsel's Office, (202) 649-5490, 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) periodically 
reviews its regulations to eliminate outdated or otherwise unnecessary 
regulatory provisions and, where possible, to clarify or revise 
requirements imposed on national banks and Federal savings 
associations.\1\ The elimination of unnecessary regulatory impediments 
together with efforts to revise regulations to reflect changes in the 
financial industry help to promote economic growth for consumers, 
businesses and communities.
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    \1\ For example, the OCC recently issued a final rule relating 
to policies and procedures for corporate activities and transactions 
involving national banks and Federal savings associations, 12 CFR 
part 5, that updates and clarifies these policies and procedures and 
eliminate unnecessary requirements consistent with safety and 
soundness. See 85 FR 80404 (Dec. 11, 2020).
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    These reviews are in addition to the OCC's decennial review of its 
regulations as required by the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork 
Reduction Act (EGRPRA).\2\ These reviews also consider, where 
appropriate, opportunities to integrate rules that apply to national 
banks with similar rules that apply to Federal savings associations in 
light of the transfer to the OCC of all functions of the former Office 
of Thrift Supervision (OTS) relating to Federal savings association by 
Title III of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection 
Act (Dodd-Frank Act).\3\
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    \2\ Public Law 104-208 (1996), codified at 12 U.S.C. 3311(b). 
Section 2222 of EGRPRA requires that, at least once every 10 years, 
the OCC along with the other Federal banking agencies and the 
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) conduct a 
review of their regulations to identify outdated or otherwise 
unnecessary regulatory requirements imposed on insured depository 
institutions. Specifically, EGRPRA requires the agencies to 
categorize and publish their regulations for comment, eliminate 
unnecessary regulations to the extent that such action is 
appropriate, and submit a report to Congress summarizing their 
review. The agencies completed their second EGRPRA review on March 
2017 and published their report in the Federal Register. 82 FR 15900 
(March 30, 2017).
    \3\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010) (transferring to 
the OCC all functions of the former OTS relating to Federal savings 
associations).
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    As part of this process, the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency (OCC) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (proposal or 
proposed rule) on July 7, 2020 to revise and reorganize subparts A 
through D of 12 CFR part 7, Activities and Operations.\4\ The OCC 
proposed to update part 7 to address developing issues and industry 
practices, to clarify OCC interpretive positions, and to integrate 
certain national bank rules by adding Federal savings associations. As 
examples, the proposed revisions to subpart A included new regulations 
covering tax equity finance transactions, derivatives activities, and 
payment system memberships. The proposed revisions to subpart B 
addressed corporate governance issues, such as expanding the ability of 
national banks to choose corporate governance provisions under State or 
other law, clarifying permissible anti-takeover provisions, and adding 
provisions relating to capital stock-related activities of national 
banks. The OCC also proposed to update and integrate rules relating to 
bank hours and closings in subpart C and to update rules relating to 
loan production and deposit production offices and remote service units 
in subpart D and to move these sections to subpart A to improve the 
organization of part 7.\5\ As a companion to the proposed rule, the OCC 
also issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) inviting 
ideas for revisions on the OCC's rules on electronic banking activities 
located at subpart E of 12 CFR part 7 and 12 CFR part 155.\6\
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    \4\ 85 FR 40794 (July 7, 2020).
    \5\ The OCC has separately issued a final rule that amends 12 
CFR 7.4001. See 84 FR 33530 (June 2, 2020) (Permissible Interest on 
Loans That Are Sold, Assigned, or Otherwise Transferred). The OCC 
also issued an interim final rule that amends 12 CFR 7.1001 and 
7.1003, which this rulemaking finalizes. See 85 FR 31943 (May 28, 
2020) (Director, Shareholder, and Member Meetings). Further, the OCC 
has issued a final rule that adds a new Sec.  7.1031, National Banks 
and Federal Savings Associations as Lenders). See 85 FR 68742 
(October 30, 2020).
    \6\ See 85 FR 40827 (July 7, 2020) (National Bank and Federal 
Savings Association Digital Activities).
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    The OCC also proposed more general changes throughout part 7 
including removing outdated or superfluous regulations; consolidating 
related regulations into one section; and making various technical 
changes throughout part 7. In addition, the OCC proposed to integrate a 
number of rules in part 7 to include Federal savings associations.
    The OCC notes that pursuant to section 4(b) of the International 
Banking Act,\7\ many of the provisions in part 7 apply to Federal 
branches and agencies. This act provides that, subject to certain 
exceptions, the operations of a foreign bank at a Federal branch or 
agency shall be conducted with the same rights and privileges as a 
national bank at the same location and shall be subject to all the same 
duties, restrictions, penalties, liabilities, conditions, and 
limitations that would apply under the National Bank Act to a national 
bank doing business at the same location.\8\ This final rule amends 
some of the provisions in part 7 to include Federal branches and 
agencies for ease of reference. However, the lack of inclusion of 
Federal branches and agencies in a particular provision does not 
necessarily indicate that the provisions is inapplicable to Federal 
branches and agencies.
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    \7\ 12 U.S.C. 3101 et seq. (Pub. L. 95-369).
    \8\ 12 U.S.C. 3102(b) (Pub. L. 95-369). See also 12 CFR 28.13.
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    The OCC received 16 comment letters on the proposal from banking 
organizations and other interested parties. These comments and the 
OCC's response are discussed in the next section of this Supplementary 
Information. As described in more detail below, the OCC is adopting the 
proposal as a final rule with accompanying modifications where noted. 
The final rule becomes effective on April 1, 2021.

[[Page 83687]]

II. Description of the Proposed Rule

Subpart A--National Banks and Federal Savings Association Powers

Activities That Are Part of, or Incidental to, the Business of Banking 
(New Sec.  7.1000)
    Section 7.5001 identifies the criteria the OCC uses to determine 
whether an electronic activity is authorized for national banks as part 
of, or incidental to, the business of banking under 12 U.S.C. 
24(Seventh) or other statutory authority. While this section details 
those criteria in the context of electronic activities, the OCC uses 
these same criteria to determine whether any activity is part of, or 
incidental to, the business of banking. To confirm the broader 
applicability of the criteria listed in Sec.  7.5001, the OCC proposed 
to remove the word ``electronic'' from this section and move Sec.  
7.5001 to subpart A of part 7 as new Sec.  7.1000. As part of this 
move, the proposal redesignated current Sec.  7.1000 as Sec.  7.1024. 
These changes better organize OCC rules and clarify that the criteria 
of this new Sec.  7.1000 apply to any potential national bank activity 
and not just those that are electronic in nature. Further, the OCC 
believes that new Sec.  7.1000 belongs at the beginning of part 7 
because it provides the framework for all national bank powers that 
follow in subpart A.
    The OCC also proposed a technical change to redesignated Sec.  
7.1000(c)(1). The current rule provides a four factor test to determine 
whether an activity is part of the business of banking. However, this 
four-factor test is not necessary for activities that are specifically 
included in 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) or other statutory authority because 
they are by express statutory language within the business of banking. 
Therefore, the proposed rule added language to clarify that this four-
factor test applies to activities not specifically included in 12 
U.S.C. 24(Seventh) or other statutory authority. This clarification 
reflects the OCC's long-standing use of the four-factor test to 
determine whether an activity not expressly included in a statute is 
within the business of banking.\9\
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    \9\ The Supreme Court has held that the business of banking is 
not limited to the enumerated powers listed in 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) 
but encompasses more broadly activities that are part of or 
incidental to the business of banking. NationsBank of N.C., N.A. v. 
Variable Annuity Life Ins. Co., 513 U.S. 251, 258-60 (1995).
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    The OCC received one comment that supported new Sec.  7.1000. 
Therefore, the OCC is adopting Sec.  7.1000 as proposed.
    The final rule also corrects a technical error in the proposed 
rule. Current Sec.  7.5001(d)(3) contains an illustrative list of 
electronic activities that are incidental to the business of banking. 
The proposed rule inadvertently removed this list and the final rule 
restores it as Sec.  7.5001, with conforming changes to the cross-
reference to new Sec.  7.1000. The OCC notes that it is reviewing this 
list in the broader context of potential changes to all of subpart E 
pursuant to the ANPR on National Bank and Federal Savings Association 
Digital Activities and may make further changes in the future.\10\
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    \10\ See 85 FR 40827.
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National Bank and Federal Savings Association Acting as Finder (Sec.  
7.1002)
    The OCC proposed a technical change to its regulation at Sec.  
7.1002 relating to when a national bank acts as a finder and invited 
comment on the inclusion of Federal savings association finder 
activities in part 7. For the reasons discussed below, the OCC is 
adopting this technical change and also is amending Sec.  7.1002 to 
include Federal savings association finder activities.
    The OCC has long permitted a national bank to act as a finder to 
bring together buyers and sellers of financial and nonfinancial 
products and services.\11\ The OCC's regulations include two separate 
rules relating to permissible national bank finder activities. Section 
7.1002, which codifies OCC interpretive letters, provides that finder 
activities are part of the business of banking.\12\ This section also 
describes permissible finder activities; provides an illustrative, non-
exclusive list of permissible finder activities; clarifies that a 
national bank's finder authority does not allow it to engage in 
brokerage activities that have not been found to be permissible for 
national banks; and authorizes a national bank to advertise and accept 
fees for finder services unless otherwise prohibited by Federal law. 
Section 7.5002 provides that a national bank generally may perform, 
provide, or deliver through electronic means and facilities any 
activity, function, product, or service that is otherwise permissible. 
Section 7.5002(a)(1) clarifies that a national bank may act as an 
electronic finder and includes a list of permissible electronic finder 
activities.
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    \11\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 607 (Aug. 24, 1992).
    \12\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 824 (Feb. 27, 1998).
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    The OCC proposed amending its regulations by adding a new Sec.  
7.1002(b)(8) that would cross-reference the permissible electronic 
finder activities listed in Sec.  7.5002(a)(1). This change would 
reference all examples of permissible finder activities for national 
banks in one rule.
    The OCC received one comment letter on Sec.  7.1002. The commenter 
recommended revising the list of examples to reflect how finder 
authority is exercised in the modern financial system. The commenter 
specifically suggested that the OCC consider consolidating the finder 
authority in Sec. Sec.  7.1002 and 7.5002. The OCC disagrees with this 
recommendation. The cross-reference sufficiently clarifies that 
additional finder activities are listed in that section. Further, the 
OCC's ANPR on National Bank and Federal Savings Association Digital 
Activities requested comment on the electronic finder activities list 
in 12 CFR 7.5002(a)(1).\13\ Through that rulemaking process, the OCC 
will consider further revisions related to electronic finder 
activities. A cross-reference will capture these possible revisions 
without again having to revise Sec.  7.1002. The OCC also may consider 
consolidating the finder authority in Sec. Sec.  7.1002 and 7.5002 
during the subpart E revision process.
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    \13\ See 85 FR 40827, at 40830.
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    The commenter further suggested that the final rule add to the list 
in Sec.  7.1002(b) the making or receiving of a referral to or from a 
third party for a fee, and more generally suggested that the rule 
permit banks to accept reasonable finder fees. The OCC notes that Sec.  
7.1002 contemplates making referrals for a fee, and the list of 
examples in Sec.  7.1002 includes ``[a]rranging for third-party 
providers to offer reduced rates to those customers referred by the 
bank.'' \14\ The OCC also believes that continuing to limit fees to 
those permitted by Federal law is appropriate. Therefore, the final 
rule does not add a reasonableness requirement. However, the OCC notes 
that the reasonableness of fees received may raise other concerns and 
that Sec.  7.4002(b) provides considerations for national banks in 
setting non-interest charges and fees.
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    \14\ 12 CFR 7.1002(b)(3).
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    The commenter's recommendation to add receiving a referral for a 
fee also involves adding a bank receiving and paying for finder 
services from a third party. Longstanding OCC interpretations confirm 
that banks may pay for finder services, subject to fact-specific 
considerations.\15\ However, Sec.  7.1002 covers banks acting as 
finders, and the proposal did not address the authority

[[Page 83688]]

of banks to be finder clients. Accordingly, the OCC does not believe 
that the final rule should add provisions on banks receiving and paying 
for finder services.
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    \15\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 504 (May 18, 1990) 
(describing how ``finder's fees [paid by a bank] must be high enough 
to be attractive to potential sources of referrals, yet not so high 
as to be financially detrimental to the Bank or create an appearance 
of profit sharing, which could lead to the inference of a joint 
venture or partnership'').
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    The same commenter recommended the OCC confirm that payment or 
collection of finder fees as a share of revenue is permitted. Section 
7.1002(d) permits finder fees that do not violate Federal law and does 
not expressly prohibit specific fee arrangements. The OCC has permitted 
collection and payment of finder fees as a share of revenue in certain 
contexts.\16\ However, revenue sharing arrangements may raise 
supervisory and legal concerns, including whether they result in a 
joint venture and unlimited liability, which national banks do not have 
the power to assume.\17\ Rather than codify the permissibility of any 
specific fee arrangement, the OCC believes that continuing to permit 
banks to accept fees except as otherwise prohibited by Federal law is 
appropriate. As described above, the final rule does not add provisions 
on banks paying finder services, whether those fees are based on 
revenue or not.
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    \16\ See, e.g., id.; OCC Interpretive Letter No. 824.
    \17\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 504 (``National 
banks are not permitted to be members of general partnerships or, by 
extension, joint ventures.''); Merchants' Nat. Bank of Cincinnati v. 
Wehrmann, 202 U.S. 295, 301 (1906) (describing the assumption of 
unlimited personal liability as ``precisely what a national bank has 
no authority to do''); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1022 (Feb. 15, 
2005).
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    The commenter further recommended that the final rule codify prior 
OCC interpretations finding that the sharing of revenue or profit alone 
in a referral relationship would not constitute a joint venture under 
State law if the parties express an intent not to create a joint 
venture. The proposal did not address joint ventures, and we are not 
inclined to address it in this rulemaking.
    The commenter also recommended that the OCC confirm that a bank is 
not required to disclose finder fees paid or collected. The proposal 
did not address fee disclosure, and the OCC is not inclined to adopt 
this recommendation. We also note that OCC precedent requires 
disclosure of finder fees in certain contexts and inadequate disclosure 
may raise supervisory and legal concerns.\18\
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    \18\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 850 (Jan. 27, 1999) 
(citing OCC precedent on disclosure of finder fees in connection 
with the marketing of trust services); OCC Corporate Decision No. 
2002-11 (June 28, 2002) (describing potential conflicts of interest 
from receiving finder fees and the OCC's expectation that the bank's 
``interest in promoting specific'' products and services be 
disclosed).
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    While finder activities are part of the business of banking for a 
national bank, a Federal savings association may engage in finder 
activities only to the extent that the activities are incidental to 
Federal savings association powers authorized under the Home Owners' 
Loan Act (HOLA) (12 U.S.C. 1461 et seq).\19\ The former OTS determined 
that, if certain factors are met, a Federal savings association may 
collect fees for referring customers to third parties \20\ and may 
provide services and products to customers indirectly through a third-
party discount program \21\ as activities incidental to their 
statutorily enumerated powers. The OCC also has recognized Federal 
savings association finder authority in its Retail Nondeposit 
Investment Products Booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook.\22\
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    \19\ The OCC and the predecessor agencies previously responsible 
for the supervision of Federal savings associations ``have long 
recognized that federal savings associations possess `incidental' 
powers, i.e., powers that are incident to the express powers of 
federal savings associations as set forth in the Home Owners' Loan 
Act.'' OTS Op. Acting Ch. Couns. at 3 (Mar. 25, 1994).
    \20\ OTS Op. Ch. Couns. (May 5, 2000).
    \21\ OTS Op. Ch. Couns. (Aug. 5, 2008).
    \22\ OCC, Comptroller's Handbook: Retail Nondeposit Investment 
Products Booklet at 9 (Jan. 2015).
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    As noted above, the OCC did not propose amendments to Sec.  7.1002 
related to Federal savings associations but invited comment on whether 
it should add a separate provision to Sec.  7.1002 to set forth Federal 
savings association finder authority. In the preamble to the proposed 
rule, the OCC offered options to integrate Federal savings associations 
into Sec.  7.1002. It described a provision for a Federal savings 
association to engage in finder activities to the extent that those 
activities are incidental to Federal savings association powers 
expressly authorized under the HOLA. The OCC also suggested a list of 
Federal savings association finder activities that the former OTS or 
the OCC have determined are permissible, such as collecting fees for 
referring customers to third parties and providing services and 
products indirectly to customers through a third-party discount 
program. The OCC specifically requested comment on what other Federal 
savings association finder activities the OCC could add to this list.
    No commenters directly responded to the request for input on 
Federal savings association finder activities. However, one commenter 
recommended that the rule include new examples of how national banks 
and Federal savings associations have exercised finder authority. 
Because the current rule is limited to national banks, the OCC 
interprets this comment as a recommendation to incorporate Federal 
savings associations in Sec.  7.1002.
    The OCC agrees that the authority of Federal savings associations 
to act as finders should be codified in the OCC's regulations. 
Therefore, the final rule clarifies that Federal savings associations 
may act as finders to the extent those activities are incidental to 
their expressly authorized powers under HOLA. In determining whether an 
activity is incidental, the OCC considers whether (1) the activity 
facilitates or is similar to the conduct of an activity that Congress 
expressly authorized, (2) the activity relates to Federal savings 
associations' intended role as financial intermediaries, (3) the 
activity is necessary to enable the Federal savings association to 
remain competitive and relevant in the modern economy, and (4) the 
activity is consistent with the purpose and function Congress 
envisioned for Federal savings associations.\23\ Each factor need not 
support the permissibility of an activity, and the relative weights of 
each factor may vary.\24\
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    \23\ See OTS Op. Ch. Couns. (May 5, 2000). All precedents 
(orders, resolutions, determinations, agreements, regulations, 
interpretive rules, interpretations, guidelines, procedures, and 
other advisory materials) made, prescribed, or allowed to become 
effective by the former OTS or its Director that apply to Federal 
savings associations remain effective until the OCC modifies, 
terminates, sets aside, or supersedes those precedents. 12 U.S.C. 
5414(b).
    \24\ See OTS Op. Ch. Couns. (May 5, 2000).
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    The source of finder authority for Federal savings associations is 
more limited and fact-specific than for national banks. The former OTS' 
approval of referral fees dealt with referrals to registered investment 
advisors and considered how those services related to a Federal savings 
association's expressly authorized powers.\25\ Similarly, the former 
OTS's approval of the third-party discount program considered how the 
product offerings would facilitate expressly authorized activities of 
Federal savings associations.\26\ The final rule includes both 
referrals and third-party discount programs as illustrative examples of 
the types of finder services that a Federal savings association may 
provide. However, certain referral and discount programs may not be 
within the incidental powers of Federal savings associations. 
Therefore, the final rule clarifies that the examples are permissible 
if they are incidental to a Federal savings association's express 
powers. It also states that the OCC may

[[Page 83689]]

determine that other activities are permissible.
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    \25\ See id.
    \26\ OTS Op. Ch. Couns. (Aug. 5, 2008).
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    Consistent with the current rule's treatment of national banks, the 
final rule permits Federal savings associations to advertise the 
availability of and accept a fee for finder services, unless otherwise 
prohibited by Federal law, and does not enable a Federal savings 
association to engage in brokerage activities that have not been found 
to be permissible for Federal savings associations.
    As a result of adding Federal savings associations to Sec.  7.1002, 
the final rule revises paragraph (a) to include the general description 
of finder activity currently included in paragraph (b) and the 
statement of authority for both national bank and Federal savings 
association finder activity. Paragraph (b)(1) includes the nonexclusive 
list of permissible finder activities for national banks. Paragraph 
(b)(2) includes the nonexclusive list of permissible finder activities 
for Federal savings associations. Paragraphs (c) and (d) remain 
unchanged except for the addition of Federal savings associations.
Money Lent by a National Bank at Banking Offices or at Facilities Other 
Than Banking Offices (Sec.  7.1003)
    Twelve U.S.C. 81 provides that a national bank must transact 
business in the place specified in its organization certificate and in 
any branches established or maintained in accordance with 12 U.S.C. 36. 
The OCC interprets 12 U.S.C. 81 to mean that money is deemed to be lent 
at a bank's main office unless there is a sufficient nexus tying the 
transaction to another location, in which case that location must be 
licensed as a branch office.
    Twelve U.S.C. 36 and 12 CFR 5.30 define ``branch'' as a place of 
business established by the national bank where ``deposits are 
received, or checks paid, or money lent.'' Section 7.1003 provides that 
for purposes of what constitutes a branch within the meaning of 12 
U.S.C. 36 and 12 CFR 5.30, ``money'' is deemed to be ``lent'' only at 
the place, if any, where the borrower in-person receives loan proceeds 
directly from bank funds either (1) from the lending bank or its 
operating subsidiary or (2) at a facility that is established by the 
lending bank or its operating subsidiary. Section 7.1003(b) further 
provides that a borrower may receive loan proceeds directly from bank 
funds in person at a place that is not the bank's main office and is 
not licensed as a branch without violating 12 U.S.C. 36, 12 U.S.C. 81, 
and 12 CFR 5.30, provided that a third party is used to deliver the 
funds and the place is not established by the lending bank or its 
operating subsidiary. This paragraph defines a third party to include a 
person who satisfies the requirements of Sec.  7.1012(c)(2) or one who 
customarily delivers loan proceeds directly from bank funds under 
accepted industry practice, such as an attorney or escrow agent at a 
real estate closing.
    The OCC proposed amending Sec.  7.1003 to incorporate an OCC 
interpretation that further clarifies when the OCC considers money to 
be lent at a location other than the main office. Specifically, 
proposed paragraph (c) provided that a national bank operating 
subsidiary may distribute loan proceeds from its own funds or bank 
funds directly to the borrower in person at offices the operating 
subsidiary established without violating 12 U.S.C. 36, 12 U.S.C. 81, 
and 12 CFR 5.30 if the operating subsidiary provides similar services 
on substantially similar terms and conditions to customers of 
unaffiliated entities, including unaffiliated banks.\27\ Based on 
Supreme Court precedent,\28\ OCC interpretations have recognized that a 
facility must provide a convenience to bank customers that gives the 
bank a competitive advantage in obtaining customers for the facility to 
be considered a branch for purposes of 12 U.S.C. 36 and 12 CFR 
5.30.\29\ The OCC has found that a facility where members of the 
public, customers, and noncustomers alike receive substantially similar 
services on substantially similar terms is not a facility created to 
attract bank customers and thus the establishment of this type of 
facility offers no competitive advantage to the national bank.\30\ 
Proposed paragraph (c) reflects this OCC precedent.
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    \27\ See Interpretive Letter No. 814 (Nov. 3, 1997).
    \28\ In First National Bank in Plant City v. Dickinson, the 
Supreme Court explained that because the purpose of 12 U.S.C. 36 is 
to maintain competitive equality, it is relevant in construing the 
term ``branch'' to consider whether the facility gives the bank an 
advantage in its competition for customers. First National Bank in 
Plant City v. Dickinson, 396 U.S. 122, 136-137 (1969).
    \29\ See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 635 (July 23, 1993). See 
also 61 FR 60342, at 60347 (Nov. 27, 1996).
    \30\ See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 814 (Nov. 3, 1997).
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    The OCC received two comments on this proposed change. One 
commenter stated that if the distribution of loan proceeds by national 
bank operating subsidiaries does not constitute lending money then, 
consistent with OCC precedent, the rule should also require that the 
operating subsidiary actively solicit and service noncustomers and that 
providing services to noncustomers comprise the predominate share of 
the subsidiary's business. Otherwise, the commenter stated, the 
proposed rule will result in competitive inequality and thus be 
detrimental to the dual banking system. The OCC disagrees with this 
commenter and does not believe it needs to alter proposed paragraph (c) 
to be consistent with OCC precedent. The provision in the proposed 
regulation that the operating subsidiary ``provides similar services on 
substantially similar terms and conditions to customers of unaffiliated 
entities including unaffiliated banks'' should be understood to include 
the requirement that the bank act substantially similarly in soliciting 
business from customers and noncustomers. Therefore, the proposed 
change adequately reflects OCC precedent.
    The second commenter supported the proposed changes but suggested 
that Sec.  7.1003 be broadened to apply equally to facilities of either 
the national bank or its operating subsidiary. The OCC believes that 
even if a facility of the national bank itself attempted to provide 
services to both customers and noncustomers on substantially similar 
terms and conditions, the public would still perceive it as favoring 
bank customers and would associate it with the bank, thus giving it a 
competitive advantage in attracting bank customers. Thus, the OCC 
declines to extend this provision to include national bank facilities.
    For the reasons discussed above, the OCC is adopting Sec.  7.1003 
as proposed, with a clarifying change to the section heading, 
clarifying changes throughout to reference ``national banks'' instead 
of ``banks,'' and the removal of an unnecessary comma in paragraph (c).
Establishment of a Loan Production Office by a National Bank (Sec.  
7.1004)
Credit Decisions at Other Than Banking Offices of a National Bank 
(Sec.  7.1005)
    Section 7.1004 provides that a national bank may use the services 
of persons not employed by the bank for originating loans. It also 
provides that an employee or agent of a national bank or its subsidiary 
may originate a loan at a site other than the main office or a branch 
office of the bank without violating the branching and place of 
business requirements of 12 U.S.C. 36 and 12 U.S.C. 81 if the loan is 
approved and made at the main office or a branch office of the bank or 
at an office of an operating subsidiary located on the premises of, or 
contiguous to, the main office or branch office of the bank. Section 
7.1005 provides that a national bank and its operating subsidiary may 
make a credit decision regarding a loan

[[Page 83690]]

application at a site other than the main office or a branch office of 
the bank provided that ``money'' is not ``lent'' at those other sites 
within the meaning of Sec.  7.1003.
    Section 7.1004 is not intended to prescribe where a bank must 
perform certain activities but rather to help avoid violations of the 
branching laws by defining a ``safe harbor'' for loan origination 
activities that will not constitute branching.\31\ Section 7.1005, in 
turn, which addresses credit decisions made at a site other than 
offices of the bank, is based on OCC precedent finding that it is 
permissible for loans originated at an LPO to be approved at separate 
back office facilities not located on the premises of, or contiguous 
to, a main or branch office of the bank.\32\ When the OCC adopted Sec.  
7.1005, it noted that it was retaining Sec.  7.1004 despite the 
potential tension between the two sections because Sec.  7.1004 is a 
judicially recognized safe harbor and that it did not view a lending 
related activity that falls outside the scope of Sec.  7.1004, as with 
Sec.  7.1005, as necessarily violating branching statutes.\33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 634 (July 23, 1993).
    \32\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 667 (Oct. 12, 1994).
    \33\ 61 FR 4849, at 4851 (Feb. 9, 1996).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC proposed amending Sec.  7.1004 to describe the permitted 
activities as ``loan production activities,'' and to remove Sec.  
7.1005 to simplify and streamline its rules. As proposed, paragraph (a) 
of Sec.  7.1004 provided that a national bank or its operating 
subsidiary may engage in loan production activities at a site other 
than the main office or a branch office of the bank. Proposed paragraph 
(a) permitted a national bank or its operating subsidiary to solicit 
loan customers, market loan products, assist persons in completing 
application forms and related documents to obtain a loan, originate and 
approve loans, make credit decisions regarding a loan application, and 
offer other lending-related services such as loan information and 
applications at a loan production office without violating 12 U.S.C. 36 
and 12 U.S.C. 81, provided that ``money'' is not deemed to be ``lent'' 
at that site within the meaning of Sec.  7.1003 and the site does not 
accept deposits or pay withdrawals. This description of activities is 
not intended to alter the description of ``money lent'' in Sec.  7.1003 
nor affect the scope of activities that are permissible for a national 
bank to perform at a non-branch location. Rather, the OCC proposed this 
description to clarify the activities a national bank may conduct at a 
loan production office. The OCC proposed to redesignate former 
paragraph (a) as paragraph (b) and amend it to reference loan 
production activities instead of originating loans.
    One commenter opposed combining Sec. Sec.  7.1004 and 7.1005, 
stating this would allow national bank LPOs to conduct both loan 
origination and loan approval at an office accessible to the public 
without causing that LPO to be a branch because under the rule it would 
not be engaged in lending money. This commenter contends that OCC 
interpretive rulings and regulations have consistently maintained that 
money is lent at an office that conducts both loan origination and loan 
approval because the combination or aggregation of these activities 
constitutes the substantial equivalent of lending money for purposes of 
the definition of branch (``aggregation theory''). The commenter 
therefore claims that although the OCC stated that proposed Sec.  
7.1004 was not intended to ``affect the scope of activities that are 
permissible for a national bank to perform at a non-branch location,'' 
this revision does expand the scope of permissible LPO activities and 
thereby narrows the scope of activities subject to branching 
restrictions.
    The OCC disagrees with this commenter. The proposed revisions to 
Sec. Sec.  7.1004 and 7.1005 are consistent with the OCC's precedent 
and practice for the last two decades.
    The OCC abandoned in the 1990s the aggregation theory relied upon 
by the commenter.\34\ Current Sec.  7.1004 is a safe harbor based on 
specific judicial precedent.\35\ The proposed revisions remove the 
Sec.  7.1004 safe harbor because it is redundant with the broader 
permissibility standard in Sec.  7.1005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 667 (Oct. 12, 1994); OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 902 (Nov. 16 2000); 61 FR 4849, at 4851 
(Feb. 9, 1996); 60 FR 11924, at 11926 (March 3, 1995).
    \35\ See Indep. Bankers Ass'n of America v. Heimann, 627 F.2d 
486, 487 (D.C. Cir. 1980), as discussed in 61 FR 4849, at 4851 (Feb. 
9, 1996).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because proposed Sec.  7.1004 is consistent with the OCC precedent 
discussed, no changes are needed in response to this comment.
    This commenter also stated that the proposed ``non-branch'' rules 
conflict with the limits on National Bank Act preemption prescribed by 
Congress that provide that National Bank Act preemption does not apply 
to agents, affiliates or subsidiaries of national banks. The OCC 
disagrees with this comment. The Dodd-Frank Act's limits on preemption 
for agents, affiliates, or subsidiaries of national banks are not 
implicated by this rulemaking. The proposal incorporated OCC 
interpretations of what constitutes a branch and a non-branch office 
and does not raise new preemption issues.
    Lastly, this commenter stated that the proposed rule enables banks 
to avoid Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) obligations associated with 
licensed branches by expanding what can occur at non-branch national 
bank offices. However, the new CRA regulation provides that ``[a] bank 
must delineate an assessment area encompassing each location where the 
bank maintains a main office, a branch, or a non-branch deposit-taking 
facility that is not an ATM . . . .'' \36\ Thus, national banks cannot 
use non-branch locations to avoid complying with the CRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ 12 CFR 25.09; 85 FR 34734, at 34798 (June 5, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the reasons discussed above, the OCC adopts Sec.  7.1004 as 
proposed.
Loan Agreement Providing for a National Bank Share in Profits, Income, 
or Earnings or for Stock Warrants (Sec.  7.1006)
    Section 7.1006 permits a national bank to take as consideration for 
a loan: (1) A share in the profit, income, or earnings from a business 
enterprise of a borrower or (2) a stock warrant issued by the business 
enterprise of a borrower provided the bank does not exercise the 
warrant. This arrangement is known as an ``equity kicker.'' Section 
7.1006 further provides that the national bank may take the share or 
stock warrant in addition to, or in lieu of, interest. However, the 
national bank may not condition the borrower's ability to repay 
principal on the value of the profit, income, earnings of the business 
enterprise or upon the value of the warrant received.
    The former OTS and its predecessor, the Federal Home Loan Bank 
Board, permitted a Federal savings association to take a share of 
profit, income, or earnings as consideration for a loan. OTS found this 
to be not inconsistent with Federal savings association lending 
authority under HOLA \37\ to maintain parity with the commercial 
lending practices of national banks.\38\ In addition, the former OTS 
permitted a Federal savings association to acquire warrants as an 
incidental power of its authority to make secured loans for commercial, 
corporate, or business purposes under HOLA and applied the

[[Page 83691]]

same restrictions on exercising those warrants as applied to national 
banks.\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ 12 U.S.C. 1464(c)(2).
    \38\ Unpublished letter from Jordan Luke, Gen. Couns., Federal 
Home Loan Bank Board (Dec. 19, 1988), available on Westlaw: OTS, 
1988 WL 1022319.
    \39\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC proposed to amend Sec.  7.1006 to include Federal savings 
associations and to codify these interpretations to clarify this 
authority and to better provide parity with national banks. The OCC 
received no comments on the proposed change and adopts it in the final 
rule as proposed.
National Bank Holding Collateral Stock as Nominee (Sec.  7.1009)
    Section 7.1009 states that a national bank may transfer stock it 
has received as collateral for a loan into the bank's name as 
nominee.\40\ The OCC proposed to delete this provision as unnecessary.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ See 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC permits a bank to perfect its security interests in 
collateral under applicable State laws consistent with the Uniform 
Commercial Code.\41\ In situations where a bank holds stock as 
collateral, one method to perfect that interest under State law is to 
list the bank as nominee on the stock certificate. However, recent 
versions of the Uniform Commercial Code \42\ provide other potentially 
less burdensome methods to perfect an interest in securities 
collateral, for example, by obtaining control over a brokerage account 
holding the stock. Therefore, the OCC believes that Sec.  7.1009 is not 
necessary. Removing this provision streamlines the rule while not 
substantively changing the methods national banks may use to perfect 
their interests in stock or other securities obtained as collateral for 
loans, which continue to include being listed as nominee if permitted 
under State law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ See OCC, Comptroller's Handbook: Asset-Based Lending at 21-
22 (2017).
    \42\ Primarily Articles 8 and 9, which have been substantively 
adopted by all U.S. jurisdictions. See https://www.uniformlaws.org/acts/ucc.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received one comment on this provision. The commenter 
argued that removing the provision may cause national banks to believe 
the OCC is now requiring the use of the least burdensome method for 
perfecting stock collateral and it is now impermissible to hold 
collateral stock as nominee. The commenter requested that the OCC 
retain the provision in the rule.
    The OCC disagrees with the commenter's suggestion. Nothing in the 
former provision or in removing the provision requires a national bank 
to use the least burdensome method for perfecting its interest in stock 
collateral or prohibits other methods of perfection. As explained 
above, the OCC permits a bank to use any legally acceptable method to 
perfect its security interests in stock collateral under applicable 
State laws,\43\ including by being listed as nominee. In contrast, 
specifically identifying only a single method to perfect an interest in 
stock collateral as in Sec.  7.1009 could lead a bank to believe that 
being listed as nominee is the only acceptable method for perfection. 
Therefore, the OCC is removing Sec.  7.1009 as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \43\ See OCC, Comptroller's Handbook: Asset-Based Lending at 21-
22 (2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Postal Services by National Banks and Federal Savings Associations 
(Sec.  7.1010)
    Section 7.1010 provides that a national bank may operate and 
receive income from a postal substation on banking premises. It 
describes permissible services and states that a national bank may 
advertise to attract customers to the bank. It also requires the bank 
to operate the substation in accordance with the rules and regulations 
of the United States Postal Service (USPS) and to keep books and 
records on the substation, which are subject to inspection by the USPS, 
separate from those of other banking operations.
    The OCC proposed to amend Sec.  7.1010 to also apply to Federal 
savings associations. This would be consistent with the position taken 
in agency guidance.\44\ The OCC also proposed to replace the phrase 
``operate a postal substation'' with ``provide postal services'' 
because the term ``postal substation'' is no longer used in USPS 
regulations. This change in terminology clarifies that national banks 
and Federal savings associations may offer a limited menu of postal 
services and are not required to operate full-service post offices.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ The former OTS previously concluded that Federal savings 
associations are authorized to operate a postal substation on 
premises. See OTS Op. Acting Ch. Couns. (Mar. 25, 1994).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received no comments on these proposed amendments and 
adopts Sec.  7.1010 as proposed.
National Bank and Federal Savings Association Investments in Small 
Business Investment Companies (Sec.  7.1015)
    Fifteen U.S.C. 682(b)(1) permits a national bank to invest in one 
or more small business investment companies (SBICs) or in any entity 
established solely to invest in SBICs, provided that the total amount 
of all SBIC investments does not exceed five percent of the bank's 
capital and surplus.\45\ Section 7.1015 provides that a national bank 
may purchase stock of a SBIC and receive benefits of the stock 
ownership. This section further provides that the receipt and retention 
of a dividend from a SBIC in the form of stock of a corporate borrower 
of the SBIC is not a purchase of stock within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 
24(Seventh).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ National banks also may invest in SBICs pursuant to their 
community development investment authority See 12 U.S.C. 
24(Eleventh); 12 CFR part 24.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC proposed to amend Sec.  7.1015 to provide that a national 
bank may invest in a SBIC or in any entity established solely to invest 
in SBICs, and that purchasing stock in a SBIC is one example of this 
type of investment. This amendment more closely aligns Sec.  7.1015 to 
15 U.S.C. 682(b). In addition, the OCC proposed to amend Sec.  7.1015 
to provide that a national bank's SBIC investments are subject to 
appropriate capital limitations.
    Fifteen U.S.C. 682(b)(2) provides a Federal savings association 
with similar authority to invest in SBICs.\46\ This authority is 
codified in OCC regulations at 12 CFR 160.30. To clarify this 
authority, the OCC proposed to add a reference to Federal savings 
association SBIC authority in Sec.  7.1015 and cross-reference to 12 
CFR 160.30.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ As with national banks, Federal savings associations also 
may invest in SBICs pursuant to their community development 
investment authority. See 12 U.S.C. 1464(c)(4)(B) and 12 CFR 5.59 
(Service corporations of Federal savings associations).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC also proposed to amend Sec.  7.1015 to clarify that a 
national bank or Federal savings association may invest in a SBIC that 
is either (1) already organized and has obtained a license from the 
Small Business Administration or (2) in the process of being organized. 
The OCC has previously interpreted this authority to permit a national 
bank to invest in a SBIC that is in the process of being organized.\47\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 832 (June 18, 1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC did not receive any comments on the proposed amendments to 
this section. Therefore, the OCC adopts these changes as proposed.
    However, the OCC received one comment requesting that the OCC 
clarify that a national bank may retain an investment in a SBIC that 
has surrendered its license to operate as a SBIC during its wind-down 
period so long as it does not make new investments (other than 
investments in cash equivalents). The commenter further noted that this 
change would align with the Volcker Rule implementing regulations, 
which exclude SBICs from the definition of ``covered fund,'' and which 
were recently revised to make clear that this exclusion would continue 
to apply where a SBIC issuer has voluntarily

[[Page 83692]]

surrendered its license to operate as a SBIC in accordance with 13 CFR 
107.1900 and does not make new investments (other than investments in 
cash equivalents) after such voluntary surrender. Further, the 
commenter suggested that introducing similar clarity into part 7 would 
provide certainty to banks wanting to invest in SBICs and would 
increase investment in small businesses.
    The OCC agrees with the commenter that it would be helpful to 
clarify that a bank may retain an interest in a SBIC during its wind-
down period. This change would align with the Volcker Rule implementing 
regulations, and it would provide certainty to banks planning to invest 
in SBICs. Therefore, the OCC is revising its final rule to clarify that 
a national bank may retain an investment in a SBIC that has surrendered 
its license to operate as a SBIC during its wind-down period so long as 
it does not make new investments in a SBIC that is winding down (other 
than investments in cash equivalents).
Independent Undertakings Issued by a National Bank or Federal Savings 
Association To Pay Against Documents (Sec.  7.1016)
    Pursuant to 12 CFR 7.1016, a national bank may issue letters of 
credit and other independent undertakings within the scope of the 
applicable laws or rules of practice. Section 7.1016(b) provides that a 
national bank entering into an independent undertaking should not 
expose itself to undue risk and also outlines certain safety and 
soundness considerations for these activities. Section 7.1016 also 
describes specific required or recommended protections for certain 
undertakings, provides that a national bank should possess operational 
expertise that is commensurate with the sophistication of its 
independent undertaking activities, and requires a bank to accurately 
reflect its undertakings in its records.
    Pursuant to Sec.  160.50, a Federal savings association may issue 
letters of credit and may issue other independent undertakings as are 
approved by the OCC, subject to the restrictions in Sec.  160.120. 
Section 160.120 contains provisions that are largely similar to the 
provisions applicable to national banks in Sec.  7.1016.\48\ However, 
Sec. Sec.  160.50 and 160.120 provide that, unless it is a letter of 
credit, a Federal savings association only may issue independent 
undertakings that have been approved by the OCC. The OTS explained when 
it updated its regulation that Federal savings associations were not 
traditionally involved in international banking transactions, which 
utilized these independent undertakings, as were national banks.\49\ 
The OTS stated that the approval requirement provided ``the appropriate 
balance between giving thrifts greater flexibility to potentially 
engage in new types of transactions while at the same time ensuring 
that thrifts have properly evaluated the risks posed by a particular 
transaction consistent with prudent banking practice.'' \50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ See 61 FR 50951, at 50958 (Sept. 30, 1996).
    \49\ Id.
    \50\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC proposed to apply Sec.  7.1016 to Federal savings 
associations and to remove Sec. Sec.  160.50 and 160.120 because of the 
similarities between the national bank and Federal savings association 
independent undertaking regulations. The OCC also proposed technical 
changes to the footnote to Sec.  7.1016 to reflect updates to the laws 
and rules of practice cited. The OCC did not receive any comments on 
these amendments and adopts them as proposed.
    The OCC also proposed to clarify that Federal branches and agencies 
of foreign banks may issue letters of credit and other independent 
undertakings, consistent with the conditions outlined in Sec.  
7.1016.\51\ Two commenters requested clarification as to whether the 
proposed reference to Federal branches and agencies in Sec.  7.1016 
implies that other sections in part 7 are not intended to apply to 
Federal branches and agencies. One commenter recommended that the final 
rule clarify that nothing in proposed Sec.  7.1016 is meant to imply 
that other sections of part 7 do not apply equally to Federal branches 
and agencies as to national banks and Federal savings associations, 
consistent with the International Banking Act. After considering these 
comments, the OCC has decided to remove the language regarding Federal 
branches and agencies. Although the OCC did not intend the 
clarification that Federal branches and agencies of foreign banks may 
issue letters of credit and other independent undertakings, consistent 
with the conditions outlined in Sec.  7.1016, to affect the 
applicability of the International Banking Act and 12 CFR 28.13 to 
other sections of part 7, it understands that the inclusion of this 
language in Sec.  7.1016 regarding Federal branches and agencies and 
not in other sections in part 7 may introduce confusion. Instead, the 
OCC expects to add this language to Sec.  7.1016 and other provisions 
of part 7, as appropriate, in a future rulemaking.\52\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ Section 4(b) of the International Banking Act, 12 U.S.C. 
3102(b) (Pub. L. 95-369) provides that the operations of a foreign 
bank at a Federal branch or agency shall be conducted with the same 
rights and privileges as a national bank at the same location and 
shall be subject to all the same duties, restrictions, penalties, 
liabilities, conditions, and limitations that would apply under the 
National Bank Act to a national bank doing business at the same 
location. See also 12 CFR 28.13.
    \52\ As indicated below, the final rule adds Federal branches 
and agencies to Sec.  7.3000, National bank and Federal savings 
association hours. Because of the difference in corporate structure 
of these entities as compared to national branches and Federal 
savings associations, it is necessary to have separate language for 
Federal branches and agencies in this provision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One commenter recommended that the OCC reinforce that the risk 
management considerations outlined for letters of credit and 
independent undertakings in Sec.  7.1016 are not mandatory safety and 
soundness conditions by removing them from the text of the rule. The 
OCC disagrees. Section 7.1016(b) provides safety and soundness 
considerations for banks that issue independent undertakings. Section 
7.1016(b)(1) states that, as a matter of safety and soundness, banks 
that issue independent undertakings should not be exposed to undue risk 
and should, at a minimum, consider the following before issuing 
independent undertakings: (1) Whether the terms make clear the 
independence of the undertaking; (2) whether the amount of the 
undertaking is limited; (3) whether the undertaking is limited in 
duration or, if not, whether the bank has an ability to end the 
undertaking or demand cash collateral from the applicant; and (4) 
whether the undertaking will be collateralized or include a 
reimbursement right. Section 7.1016(b) provides additional 
considerations in special circumstances to protect against credit, 
operational, and market risk. Section 7.1016(b)(3) states that the 
national bank or Federal savings association should possess operational 
expertise that is commensurate with the sophistication of its 
independent undertaking activities. By using the word ``should,'' these 
provisions clearly indicate that the listed safety and soundness 
considerations are not mandatory. Furthermore, the OCC finds that it is 
helpful to include these recommended considerations in the rule text so 
that national banks and Federal savings associations understand what 
the OCC may consider to be undue risk.
Financial Literacy Programs Not Branches of National Banks (Sec.  
7.1021)
    Twelve CFR 7.1021 provides that a national bank may participate in 
a financial literacy program on the

[[Page 83693]]

premises of, or at a facility used by, a school. Section 7.1021 also 
provides that the school premises or facility will not be considered a 
branch of the bank if: (1) The bank does not establish and operate the 
school premises or facility on which the financial literacy program is 
conducted; and (2) the principal purpose of the program is educational.
    Facilities or premises are only considered to be branches of a 
national bank if they are established and operated by the national 
bank. The proposal provided that the OCC would consider establishment 
and operation in this context on a case by case basis, considering the 
facts and circumstances. However, the proposal stated that the premises 
or facility would not be a branch of the national bank if the bank met 
the safe harbor test in 12 CFR 7.1012(c)(2) applicable to messenger 
services established by third parties. The proposal also stated that 
the factor discussed in Sec.  7.1012(c)(2)(i) could be met if bank 
employee participation in the financial literacy program consisted of 
managing the program or conducting or engaging in financial education 
activities provided the school or other organization retained control 
over the program and over the premises or facilities at which the 
program is held.
    Further, the OCC proposed expanding the scope of financial literacy 
programs beyond schools to encompass other community-based 
organizations, such as non-profit organizations, that provide financial 
literacy programs. Finally, the proposal moved the definition of 
financial literacy program to the beginning of the section to clarify 
that, while a financial literacy program is a program for which the 
primary purpose is educational, this is not a factor in determining 
whether the premises or facility is a branch for purposes of section 
36.
    One commenter provided recommendations for simplifying the 
requirements for operating financial literacy programs. This commenter 
suggested incorporating the relevant standards for operating a 
financial literacy program within the messenger service safe harbor 
directly into the rule, without cross-referencing the messenger service 
rule. This commenter also suggested that Sec.  7.1021 directly state, 
as a stand-alone provision, that a bank employee may manage the 
financial literacy program or engage in other financial education 
activities, provided the organization retains control over the program 
and premises at which the program is held. Along the same lines, this 
commenter recommended expressly permitting a bank employee to accept 
checks at a financial literacy program event, subject to certain 
safeguards to prevent operation of the program as a branch--such as 
having a school official accept the checks and deposit them in a 
portable lockbox which the branch employee could then be responsible 
for bringing to the branch. Further, this commenter recommended 
removing language from the proposal indicating that the OCC would 
consider the facts and circumstances on a case-by-case basis in 
determining whether other financial literacy programs outside of the 
safe harbor constitute a branch. Additionally, this commenter suggested 
not referring to the messenger service safe harbor as a ``test'' in 
order to avoid the implication of additional compliance and audit 
requirements for the operation of financial literacy programs.
    The OCC disagrees with this commenter's recommendations for the 
reasons set forth below and thus adopts Sec.  7.1021 as proposed. 
First, the OCC believes that cross referencing the messenger service 
regulation at Sec.  7.1012 is the best approach for Sec.  7.1021 
because the safe harbor for a messenger service may evolve through 
regulatory changes, statutory changes, new judicial decisions, or new 
OCC interpretations. By using a cross reference, the OCC automatically 
incorporates into the financial literacy regulation all evolutions of 
the messenger service precedent.
    Second, the OCC disagrees with the commenter's suggestion that a 
bank employee may manage the financial literacy program or engage in 
other financial education activities without the facility being 
considered a branch so long as the school or organization retains 
control over the program and over the premises or facilities at which 
the program is held. Whether a third party other than a national bank 
owns or rents the facility involved is only one factor in the safe 
harbor described in Sec.  7.1012(c)(2) for a messenger service to be 
clearly ``established'' by a third-party. The OCC does not believe it 
is appropriate to disregard all the other factors necessary to qualify 
for the safe harbor when considering school literacy programs as 
analysis of other factors in Sec.  7.1012 may be determinative under 
some circumstances. However, it will continue to evaluate programs that 
do not fulfill all the factors of the safe harbor on an individual 
basis.
    Third, the OCC disagrees with the commenter's recommendation of 
setting forth a provision that expressly permits a bank employee to 
accept checks at a financial literacy program event, subject to certain 
safeguards to prevent operation of the program as a branch. A person 
transporting items related to branching functions to the bank would be 
a messenger service, and messenger services are considered branches 
unless they are established by a third-party.\53\ If the service is 
being performed by a bank employee as part of his duties, it is not 
established by a third party.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ See First Nat'l Bank of Plant City v. Dickinson, 396 U.S. 
122 (1969); Brown v. Clarke, 878 F.2d 627 (2d Cir. 1989).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Fourth, the OCC is retaining the language regarding the agency's 
commitment on a case-by-case basis to evaluate situations outside of 
the safe harbor. This language is meant to clarify that premises and 
facilities in such situations will not automatically be found to be 
branches. This language is not meant to impose an obligation on banks 
to always submit a request to the OCC for a determination before 
implementing a financial literacy program outside of the scope of the 
safe harbor. Banks may forgo asking for an OCC interpretation if they 
are comfortable with how their program would fit into the OCC's 
expectations and precedent.
    Finally, the OCC clarifies that, by use of the term ``test,'' it 
does not mean to impose any extra audit or other compliance 
requirements on these programs or to suggest that these programs must 
be subjected to measurement, ratings, or other performance measures. 
The OCC has routinely referred to safe harbors as ``tests'' in 
interpretive letters, guidance, and regulations without the implication 
of additional obligations.
    For the reasons explained above, the OCC is adopting Sec.  7.1021 
as proposed.
National Banks' Authority To Buy and Sell Exchange, Coin, and Bullion 
(Sec.  7.1022) Federal Savings Associations, Prohibition on Industrial 
or Commercial Metal Dealing or Investing (Sec.  7.1023)
    The OCC proposed a technical change to Sec. Sec.  7.1022 and 
7.1023. Section 7.1022 prohibits a national bank from acquiring or 
selling industrial or commercial metal for purposes of dealing or 
investing. Section 7.1022 excludes industrial and commercial metals 
from the national bank authority to ``buy and sell exchange, coin, and 
bullion.'' Section 7.1023 similarly prohibits a Federal savings 
association from dealing or investing in industrial or commercial 
metal. Both sections require a national bank and a Federal savings 
association to dispose of any industrial or commercial metal held as a 
result of dealing or investing in that metal as soon as practicable, 
but not later than one year from the effective date of the

[[Page 83694]]

regulation. The OCC may grant up to four separate one-year extensions 
if the bank makes a good faith effort to dispose of the metal and the 
retention of the metal for an additional year is not inconsistent with 
the safe and sound operation of the bank. The OCC proposed to replace 
the phrase ``one year from the effective date of this regulation'' with 
the actual effective date of that final rule, April 1, 2018 in each 
section. The OCC received no comments on this technical change and 
adopts it as proposed.
Tax Equity Finance Transactions by National Banks and Federal Savings 
Associations (New Sec.  7.1025)
    The OCC proposed a new Sec.  7.1025 that codifies the authority of 
national banks and Federal savings associations to engage in tax equity 
finance (TEF) transactions under 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) and 1464 lending 
authority, respectively.\54\ As defined in proposed paragraph (b)(1), a 
TEF transaction is a transaction in which a national bank or Federal 
savings association provides equity financing to fund a project that 
generates tax credits and other tax benefits and the use of an equity-
based structure allows the transfer of those tax credits and other tax 
benefits to the bank or savings association. Specifically, the OCC 
proposed in paragraph (a) of Sec.  7.1025 that a national bank and 
Federal savings association may engage in a TEF transaction pursuant to 
12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) and 1464, respectively, if the transaction is the 
functional equivalent of a loan, as provided in proposed paragraph (c), 
and if the TEF transaction satisfies the applicable conditions of 
proposed paragraph (d). Paragraphs (c) and (d) are described below in 
the context of the comments received.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \54\ For a discussion of existing precedent on such authority, 
see 85 FR 40794 (July 7, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received eight comments on this section. One commenter 
stated that the proposed rule would increase administrative compliance 
burden and suggested the OCC should not codify a rule that addresses 
the underwriting process but rather should generally require the 
institutions it regulates to establish safety and soundness standards 
consistent with other extensions of credit. The OCC disagrees with this 
comment. Proposed Sec.  7.1025 distills current precedent and 
standards. Rather than attempt to prescribe the underwriting process 
for national banks and Federal savings associations, the proposal 
required national banks and Federal savings associations to use 
underwriting and credit approval criteria and standards that are 
substantially equivalent to the underwriting and credit approval 
criteria and standards used for traditional loans. This is consistent 
with the notion that a permissible TEF transaction is the functional 
equivalent of a loan.
    One commenter stated that there is an existing rental affordability 
crisis and therefore the OCC should not impose burdensome requirements 
and restrictions on tax equity finance transactions that might reduce 
low income housing tax credit investment. The OCC believes the clarity 
and safety and soundness benefits of Sec.  7.1025 outweigh any 
potential burden. Moreover, Sec.  7.1025 provides an additional 
authority for national banks and Federal savings associations to make 
TEF transactions. It does not limit or impede a national bank or 
Federal savings association from participating in transactions under 
other existing authorities. Therefore, if a national bank or Federal 
savings association wishes to engage in a low income housing tax credit 
investment under existing public welfare investment or community 
development authority, it could do so as long as it meets the 
requirements of those existing authorities.
    Relatedly, the OCC received eight comments requesting that the OCC 
confirm that TEF authority is separate and apart from the public 
welfare investment authority and community development investment 
authority. As indicated above, the authority granted under Sec.  7.1025 
operates in addition to the existing public welfare investment 
authority and community development investment authority under 12 
U.S.C. 24(Eleventh), 12 U.S.C. 1464(c)(3)(A), 12 CFR part 24, 12 CFR 
160.30, and 12 CFR 160.36, and will not be a replacement authority. To 
the extent an investment would qualify under multiple authorities, the 
national bank or Federal savings association may determine which 
authority it is using to engage in the transaction. To eliminate any 
confusion on this point, the final rule adds a sentence to Sec.  
7.1025(a) indicating that the authority under Sec.  7.1025 is pursuant 
to 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) and 1464 lending authority and is separate 
from, and does not limit, other investment authorities available to 
national banks and Federal savings associations.
    One commenter supported the intent of the proposed rule but 
suggested the OCC needs to familiarize itself with, and contemplate the 
impact of, certain Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules and standards 
relating to TEF transactions and structures, including sections 49 and 
50 of the Internal Revenue Code, Revenue Procedure 2007-65 and Revenue 
Procedure 2014-12, and whether the proposed rule would make renewable 
energy TEF transactions non-compliant with these laws and IRS 
Procedures. The OCC is familiar with sections 49 and 50 of the Internal 
Revenue Code, Revenue Procedures 2007-65 and 2014-12, as well as other 
IRS rules and guidance on tax credits, and believes the TEF provision 
would not prevent a national bank or Federal savings association from 
complying with IRS rules, procedures, and standards. Therefore, OCC is 
finalizing Sec.  7.1025(a) as proposed.
    The OCC proposed to define a ``tax equity finance transaction'' in 
Sec.  7.1025(b)(1) as a transaction in which a national bank or Federal 
savings association provides equity financing to fund a project that 
generates tax credits and other tax benefits and the use of an equity-
based structure allows the transfer of those credits to the bank or 
savings association. The OCC received two comments on this provision. 
One commenter suggested that the OCC should review current draft 
legislation for impacts on the terms ``generation'' and ``renewable'' 
if energy storage is added to section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code. 
Proposed Sec.  7.1025(b)(1) defines a tax equity finance transaction in 
part to mean a transaction that generates tax credits and other 
benefits. In response, the OCC notes that, because the definition does 
not limit tax equity finance transactions to only those that relate to 
energy generation, if section 48 were amended to add energy storage, 
national banks and Federal savings associations would be able to engage 
in transactions involving energy storage that met the requirements of 
Sec.  7.1025.
    Another commenter noted that a TEF structure may involve other tax 
benefits in addition to tax credits, such as deductions and other items 
that fall under the category of tax equity. The OCC acknowledges that 
tax benefits may take many forms and is revising proposed Sec.  
7.1025(b)(1), redesignated as Sec.  7.1025(b)(3) in the final rule, to 
change ``generates tax credits and other tax benefits'' to ``generates 
tax credits or other tax benefits.''
    The OCC also requested comment on whether national banks and 
Federal savings associations are currently participating in TEF 
transactions through fund-based structures and, if not, whether 
national banks and Federal savings associations would want to 
participate in TEF transactions through fund-based structures. A fund-
based structure is a structure in which a national bank or Federal 
savings

[[Page 83695]]

association invests in a fund that is invested or will invest in 
multiple TEF transactions. Seven commenters responded to this question 
and suggested that the final rule should allow TEF investments through 
investment funds or other funds-based structures. For the reasons 
discussed by commenters, including diversifying risk, enabling smaller 
investments, and permitting less experienced national banks and Federal 
savings associations to participate alongside more experienced TEF 
investors, the OCC will permit TEF investments through investment funds 
as long as the investment meets all of the requirements and conditions 
of Sec.  7.1025. The OCC is revising proposed Sec.  7.1025(b)(1), 
redesignated as Sec.  7.1025(b)(3) in the final rule, to change ``. . . 
to fund a project that generates tax credits . . .'' to ``. . . to fund 
a project or projects that generate tax credits . . . .''
    The OCC is adopting the proposed definition of ``tax equity finance 
transaction'' with these two changes discussed above.
    The proposed rule included an aggregate total dollar limitation on 
TEF transactions that a national bank or Federal savings association 
could engage in based on a percentage of a national bank or Federal 
savings association's capital and surplus. The OCC proposed to define 
``capital and surplus'' in Sec.  7.1025(b)(2) by cross-referencing to 
its definition in the OCC's lending limit rule at 12 CFR part 32.\55\ 
As defined in the lending limit rule, for qualifying community banking 
organizations that have elected to use the community bank leverage 
ratio framework as set forth under the OCC's Capital Adequacy Standards 
at 12 CFR part 3, ``capital and surplus'' means a qualifying community 
banking organization's tier 1 capital, as used under 12 CFR 3.12, plus 
a qualifying community banking organization's allowance for loan and 
lease losses or adjusted allowances for credit losses, as applicable, 
as reported in the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call 
Report). For all other national banks and Federal savings associations, 
``capital and surplus'' means a national bank's or savings 
association's tier 1 and tier 2 capital, calculated under the risk-
based capital standards applicable to the institution as reported in 
the Call Report, plus the balance of a national bank's or Federal 
savings association's allowance for loan and lease losses or adjusted 
allowances for credit losses, as applicable, not included in the bank's 
or savings association's tier 2 capital, for purposes of the 
calculation of risk-based capital, as reported in the national bank's 
or savings association's Call Report. The OCC received no comments on 
proposed Sec.  7.1025(b)(2) and is finalizing it as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ The OCC recently amended the definition of ``capital and 
surplus'' in 12 CFR 32.2 in its recent community bank leverage ratio 
rule. See 84 FR 61776 (November 13, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under proposed Sec.  7.1025(c), a TEF transaction would qualify as 
the functional equivalent of a loan if it meets seven requirements that 
derive from OCC interpretations. First, paragraph (c)(1) provides that 
the TEF transaction structure must be necessary for making the tax 
credits and other tax benefits available to the national bank or 
Federal savings association. One commenter suggested that the OCC 
should clarify that the tax equity finance transaction structure may be 
necessary for making the tax credits or other tax benefits available. 
The OCC acknowledges that tax benefits may take many forms and is 
revising proposed Sec.  7.1025(c)(1) to change ``making the tax credits 
and other tax benefits available'' to ``making the tax credits or other 
tax benefits available.'' With this revision, the OCC is finalizing 
Sec.  7.1025(c)(1).
    Second, paragraph (c)(2) provides that the TEF transaction must be 
of limited tenure and not indefinite. Under this requirement, a 
national bank or Federal savings association would need to be able to 
achieve its targeted return in a reasonable time, and the TEF 
transaction would need to have a defined termination point. A national 
bank or Federal savings association could satisfy this requirement if 
the TEF transaction will terminate within a reasonable time of the 
transaction's initiation or if a project sponsor has an option to 
purchase a national bank's or Federal savings association's interest at 
or near fair market value. The national bank or Federal savings 
association cannot control whether it retains the interest 
indefinitely. The proposed rule permitted a national bank or Federal 
savings association to retain a limited investment interest if that 
interest is required by law to obtain continuing tax benefits from the 
TEF transaction. The OCC received five comments on this requirement.
    Three commenters requested clarification that the 15-year holding 
period for LIHTC investments would not violate the limited tenure 
requirement. The OCC confirms that under Sec.  7.1025(c)(2), a national 
bank or Federal savings association may hold an investment in order to 
obtain and retain tax benefits as required by law, including holding 
the investment to comply with the 15-year recapture period for LIHTC 
investments.
    Three commenters suggested that a requirement that the sponsor have 
a call option would have adverse tax consequences in certain TEF 
transactions and suggested removing that requirement. However, proposed 
Sec.  7.1025(c)(2) does not require that a sponsor must have a call 
option in order to comply with Sec.  7.1025; it requires only that the 
transaction is of limited tenure and is not indefinite, such as a 
limited investment interest requirement by law to obtain continuing tax 
benefits. The OCC used a call option as an example in the preamble to 
the proposed rule as one way a national bank or Federal savings 
association could comply with the limited tenure requirement. The OCC 
did not intend this to be an exhaustive list.
    One commenter suggested the OCC clarify in the final rule that TEF 
investments may be retained for the duration needed to obtain the 
expected rate of return consistent with market practices for such an 
investment. The OCC agrees with the commenter and is revising Sec.  
7.1025(c)(2) to require that the transaction is of limited time and is 
not indefinite, including retaining a limited investment interest that 
is (1) required by law to obtain continuing tax benefits or (2) needed 
to obtain the expected rate of return.
    One commenter suggested proposed Sec.  7.1025 could result in the 
sale of an investment at a price lower than the bank could otherwise 
obtain. Although a national bank or Federal savings association may 
exit a TEF transaction through a sale to a third party, the OCC does 
not expect that sale to be immediate if it would result in fire sale 
pricing. One commenter suggested the OCC should clarify that it is 
permissible to have a purchase option price that includes an amount 
necessary for a national bank or Federal savings association to achieve 
its expected rate of return. The OCC notes that an option to purchase 
may include an amount necessary for a national bank or Federal savings 
association to achieve its expected rate of return, and the OCC 
believes this would be consistent with the requirements and conditions 
of Sec.  7.1025.
    One commenter requested the OCC explicitly permit other structures 
that are required by law to obtain tax benefits. This commenter cited 
to Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 2014-12, which the 
commenter stated provides a safe harbor for an exit structure in which 
the investor ``puts'' its interest back to the

[[Page 83696]]

project instead of the sponsor having an option to purchase the 
interest at or near fair market value. The OCC agrees with the 
commenter that transaction structures that provide different exit 
options may satisfy Sec.  7.1025(c) as long as the national bank or 
Federal savings association does not control whether it retains the 
interest indefinitely. However, the safe harbor provided in IRS Revenue 
Procedure 2014-12, in which the national bank or Federal savings 
association would have a put option that it could have the sponsor 
purchase the interest at or near market value, would not satisfy, by 
itself, the requirements of Sec.  7.1025(c)(2) because a put option 
alone would allow the national bank or Federal savings association to 
decide whether it would hold the investment indefinitely (i.e., let the 
put expire). The national bank or Federal savings association could 
couple the put option with another exit mechanism in which both the IRS 
safe harbor and the requirements of the TEF provision are met, such as 
a put option coupled with a contract provision providing that after a 
certain amount of time has passed or a certain rate of return has been 
reached, the interest will revert from the national bank or Federal 
savings association to the sponsor. With the change described above, 
the OCC is finalizing Sec.  7.1025(c)(2).
    Third, paragraph (c)(3) provides that the tax benefits and other 
payments received by the national bank or Federal savings association 
from the TEF transaction must repay the investment and provide an 
implied rate of return. As a result of this proposed requirement, the 
national bank's or Federal savings association's underwriting could not 
place undue reliance on the value of any residual stake in the project 
and the proceeds of disposition following the expiration of the tax 
credits' compliance period. The OCC received two comments on proposed 
Sec.  7.1025(c)(3). One commenter suggested that the OCC should clarify 
in the final rule that the calculation of the rate of return is the 
expected rate of return at the time the investment is initially made 
and revise Sec.  7.1025(c)(3) to refer to the expected rate of return 
at original underwriting. The OCC agrees with the commenter and is 
revising Sec.  7.1025(c)(3) to refer to the expected rate of return at 
the time of underwriting.
    One commenter suggested that the OCC consider Sacks v. 
Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service \56\ and its use of ``implied 
rate of return'' so that the final rule does not render moot the 
decision in this case that recognized the congressional purposes 
underlying Federal tax credits and held that a pretax profit was not 
required for economic substance purposes. The OCC does not believe that 
Sec.  7.1025(c)(3) renders this case moot. Consistent with Sacks,\57\ 
Sec.  7.1025(c)(3) does not require a pretax profit, rather, it simply 
requires an expected rate of return that contemplates the tax credit 
and other benefits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ Sacks v. Commissioner, Internal Review Service, 69 F.3d 
982, 991 (9th Cir. 1995).
    \57\ See 69 F.3d at 991.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One commenter suggested that in matters concerning any residual 
stake in the project, the IRS true lease authority must be understood, 
and the OCC should not force or cause a renewable energy project 
sponsor to violate IRS requirements. Proposed Sec.  7.1025(c)(3) does 
not contain residual stake language. Rather, as the preamble to the 
proposed rule explained, a national bank's or Federal savings 
association's underwriting should not place undue reliance on the value 
of any residual stake in the project. The OCC does not believe that 
this language in any way would cause or force a project sponsor to 
violate IRS requirements. With the revision discussed above, the OCC is 
finalizing Sec.  7.1025(c)(3).
    Fourth, paragraph (c)(4) provides that the national bank or Federal 
savings association must not rely on appreciation of value in the 
project or property rights underlying the project for repayment. As 
discussed in OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1139 (November 13, 2013), wind 
turbines, solar panels, and other ancillary equipment are not 
considered real property under 12 U.S.C. 29, and acquisition of 
interests in real estate incidental to the provision of financing is 
not inconsistent with 12 U.S.C. 29. The OCC received no comments on 
this requirement and is finalizing Sec.  7.1025(c)(4) as proposed.
    Fifth, paragraph (c)(5) provides that the national bank or Federal 
savings association must use underwriting and credit approval criteria 
and standards that are substantially equivalent to the underwriting and 
credit approval criteria and standards used for a traditional 
commercial loan. To comply with this requirement, the documents 
governing the TEF transaction should contain terms and conditions 
equivalent to those found in documents governing typical lending 
relationships and transactions. The OCC received no comments on this 
requirement and is finalizing Sec.  7.1025(c)(5) as proposed.
    Sixth, paragraph (c)(6) provides that the national bank or Federal 
savings association must be a passive investor in the transaction and 
must not be able to direct the affairs of the project company. This 
means that the national bank or Federal savings association is not able 
to direct day-to-day operations of the project. However, the OCC does 
not consider temporary management activities in the context of 
foreclosure or similar proceedings as violating this requirement. One 
commenter suggested that the OCC should clarify in the final rule that 
customary protective rights and covenants are permitted and do not 
violate the ``passive investor'' requirement of Sec.  7.1025(c)(6). The 
OCC agrees that customary protective rights and covenants are permitted 
and do not violate Sec.  7.1025(c)(6). However, the OCC does not 
believe changing the proposed rule text is necessary. TEF transactions 
are the functional equivalent of loans and many of the same terms, 
conditions, and covenants found in lending and lease financing 
transactions are permissible for TEF transactions. In some cases, these 
terms, conditions, and covenants may be necessary to comply with the 
requirement in Sec.  7.1025(c)(5) that underwriting and credit approval 
criteria and standards must be substantially the same as those used for 
traditional commercial loans. The OCC is finalizing Sec.  7.1025(c)(6) 
as proposed.
    Seventh, paragraph (c)(7) provides that the national bank or 
Federal savings association must appropriately account for the 
transaction initially and on an ongoing basis and document 
contemporaneously its accounting assessment and conclusion. Although 
TEF transactions can be the functional equivalent of loans pursuant to 
a national bank's or Federal savings association's lending authority, 
the accounting treatment of tax equity investments may differ from the 
treatment of a loan. Two commenters noted that investments in housing 
credit transactions are structured as equity investments and requested 
that those investments be treated as equity investments and not loans 
for Federal income purposes. The OCC acknowledges that although a 
transaction may be the functional equivalent of a loan for 
permissibility purposes, it may be treated as an equity investment for 
accounting or tax purposes. Section 7.1025(c) provides that a national 
bank or Federal savings association must appropriately account for the 
transaction initially and on an ongoing basis and document its 
accounting assessment and conclusion. The OCC is finalizing Sec.  
7.1025(c)(7) as proposed.
    Proposed paragraph (d) provides that a national bank or Federal 
savings

[[Page 83697]]

association only may engage in TEF transactions if it meets the 
following four additional requirements. First, proposed paragraph 
(d)(1) provides that the national bank or Federal savings association 
cannot control the sale of energy, if any, from the project. To satisfy 
this requirement, a national bank or Federal savings association could 
enter into a long-term contract with creditworthy counterparties to 
sell energy from the project, as articulated in OCC Interpretive Letter 
1139, or have the project sponsor bear responsibility for selling 
generated power into the energy market so long as those sales are 
stabilized by a hedge contract that provides reasonable price and cash 
flow certainty, as articulated in OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1141 
(April 22, 2014). One commenter suggested that the final rule should 
clarify that national banks and Federal savings associations have 
appropriate flexibility in satisfying this requirement and that the OCC 
should not require a long-term contract or hedge if the national bank 
or Federal savings association has otherwise determined that exposure 
to cash flow certainty has been adequately mitigated. The OCC confirms 
that national banks and Federal savings associations have flexibility 
to satisfy this requirement. Proposed Sec.  7.1025(d)(1) requires that 
national banks and Federal savings associations cannot control the sale 
of energy from a project, but the provision does not prescribe that 
certain agreements or arrangements must be used. Although, the preamble 
for proposed Sec.  7.1025(d)(1) lists two examples of ways a national 
bank or Federal savings association could comply with the requirement, 
these examples are not the only ways a national bank or Federal savings 
association could satisfy this requirement.
    One commenter suggested the OCC should confirm that contracts for 
the sale of energy can be entered into with affiliates of the national 
bank or Federal savings association participating in the TEF 
transaction, so long as such contracts are consistent with the TEF 
requirements and do not create negative tax consequences. The OCC 
confirms that a national bank or Federal savings association may enter 
into energy sale contracts with affiliates as long as the requirements 
of Sec.  7.1025 are met and any transaction with an affiliate complies 
with 12 U.S.C. 371c, 12 U.S.C. 371c-1, 12 CFR part 223, and any other 
applicable laws and regulations regarding affiliate transactions. 
Similarly, one commenter requested that the OCC explicitly confirm that 
the project company's hedging counterparty does not need to be an 
unaffiliated third party and may be the national bank or Federal 
savings association itself or an affiliate of the national bank or 
Federal savings association. The OCC confirms that a project company's 
hedging counterparty need not be an unaffiliated third party and may be 
an affiliate of the national bank or Federal savings association so 
long as the sale meets the requirements of Sec.  7.1025 and any 
applicable affiliate transactions laws and regulations, including 12 
U.S.C. 371c and 371c-1, and 12 CFR part 223, and is conducted in a safe 
and sound manner (e.g., the counterparty is creditworthy). However, a 
national bank or Federal savings association itself may not be the 
hedging counterparty for one of its TEF investments.
    One commenter requested the OCC clarify that the right of a 
national bank or Federal savings association to prohibit certain sales 
does not constitute inappropriate control of the right to sell power. 
The OCC confirms a national bank or Federal savings association may 
prohibit certain sales or institute certain credit or other 
requirements for third party purchasers of the energy if done pursuant 
to prudent underwriting to ensure the project's success and not in an 
attempt to control, influence, or manipulate the energy market. One 
commenter requested the OCC recognize that a TEF project may sell a 
portion of the electricity that it generates into the merchant market, 
and not pursuant to a power purchase agreement or a hedge contract, and 
permit a national bank or Federal savings association to invest in such 
projects as long as it has reasonably determined that any merchant 
sales by the project company contribute favorably to the overall 
financial health of the project company. The OCC confirms a TEF project 
may sell energy into a merchant market as long as the national bank or 
Federal savings association is not controlling the sale of the energy 
and the TEF transaction otherwise complies with the requirements and 
conditions of Sec.  7.1025.
    One commenter suggested that certain terms, such as ``long term,'' 
``creditworthy,'' and ``sell'' make the provision unworkable given 
market realities. The OCC recognizes that there may be changes in 
market practice and standards in the evolving space of TEF 
transactions, and renewable energy transactions in particular. For that 
reason, Sec.  7.1025(d)(1) does not prescribe how a national bank or 
Federal savings association must comply with the requirement not to 
control energy from the sale of the project. Rather, Sec.  7.1025(d)(1) 
simply requires that a national bank or Federal savings association 
must not control the sale of energy from the project. In the preamble 
to the proposed rule, the OCC provided a couple of examples of how a 
national bank or Federal savings association may satisfy the 
requirement, but these examples are illustrative only. The terms 
``creditworthy'' and ``sell'' do not appear in the proposed rule text 
and instead are used in the proposed rule's preamble to describe 
examples of how a national bank or Federal savings association may 
satisfy the requirement in Sec.  7.1025(d)(1). The OCC is finalizing 
Sec.  7.1025(d)(1) as proposed.
    Second, proposed paragraph (d)(2) provides that the national bank 
or Federal savings association must limit the total dollar amount of 
TEF transactions to no more than five percent of its capital and 
surplus unless the OCC determines, by written approval of a written 
request by the national bank or Federal savings association to exceed 
the five percent limit, that a higher aggregate limit will not pose an 
unreasonable risk to the national bank or Federal savings association 
and that the TEF transactions in the national bank's or Federal savings 
association's portfolio will not be conducted in an unsafe or unsound 
manner. In no case may a bank's or Federal savings association's total 
dollar amount of TEF transactions exceed fifteen percent of its capital 
and surplus. As provided for public welfare investments under 12 U.S.C. 
24(Eleventh) and 12 CFR part 24, a national bank is generally subject 
to a five percent aggregate investment limit and this limit encourages 
a national bank to maintain appropriate risk diversification.\58\ The 
OCC specifically requested comment on whether the OCC should use an 
alternate measure when calculating the aggregate investment limit and 
whether the proposed five percent aggregate investment limit is 
appropriate. One commenter suggested that the final rule should not 
impose a cap on TEF transactions and instead should continue to be 
subject to the limits set forth in 12 CFR part 32 and other 
concentration risk limits, which are appropriate and adequate to any 
concentration or similar risks presented by TEF transactions. One 
commenter also suggested that only a small number of national banks and 
Federal savings associations are able to participate in TEF 
transactions and that these banks would quickly hit this arbitrary five 
percent limit. The OCC is retaining the proposed five percent aggregate 
limit,

[[Page 83698]]

which can be increased up to 15 percent with written approval from the 
OCC. The OCC interpretations that this provision is codifying include a 
three percent cap on TEF transactions.\59\ The OCC believes that a 
limit is necessary but that the limit can be safely increased to five 
percent. Although TEF transactions will be subject to the legal lending 
limits on loans to one borrower as the commenter correctly pointed out, 
the OCC believes maintaining the aggregate transaction limitation will 
allow the OCC to assess how the authority is implemented and any safety 
and soundness concerns that may arise. The OCC is finalizing Sec.  
7.1025(d)(2) as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \58\ 12 U.S.C. 24(Eleventh); 12 CFR 24.4(a).
    \59\ OCC Interpretive Letter 1139 (Nov. 13, 2013); OCC 
Interpretive Letter 1141 (Apr. 22, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Third, proposed paragraph (d)(3) provides that the national bank or 
Federal savings association must have provided written notification to 
the OCC prior to engaging in each TEF transaction that includes its 
evaluation of the risks posed by the transaction. The OCC received four 
comments on this requirement. The commenters suggested that the OCC 
should not require national banks and Federal savings associations to 
provide prior written notification and instead should be allowed to 
provide after-the-fact notification or follow the post-notification 
procedures available under the public welfare investment authority.\60\ 
One commenter also suggested that prior notice for each transaction is 
overly burdensome and of little value to examiners, and, if necessary, 
the OCC should limit it to when a bank first engages in TEF activity 
and not require it for each subsequent transaction. The OCC disagrees 
with these comments. A national bank or Federal savings association may 
use the appropriate post-investment notification procedures for 
investments made pursuant to the public welfare investment authority or 
other applicable existing authorities, but to the extent that a 
national bank or Federal savings association is using TEF authority 
under Sec.  7.1025, it must comply with the requirements and conditions 
contained in the provision, including prior written notification, 
before engaging in each transaction. Examiner-in-Charge (EIC) non-
objection was required under the OCC's existing interpretations for TEF 
transactions. The OCC is not creating a new requirement but, rather, is 
modifying the non-objection requirement to a less onerous notice 
requirement. The OCC may assess over time whether prior notices are 
necessary for subsequent transactions or whether after-the-fact notices 
would be sufficient, and may revise Sec.  7.1025 as appropriate at that 
time. A well-managed national bank or Federal savings association 
engaging in TEF transactions under Sec.  7.1025 authority must provide 
prior notice as required by Sec.  7.1025 whether engaging in the 
activity at the bank or savings association-level or through an 
operating subsidiary. The OCC is finalizing Sec.  7.1025(d)(3) as 
proposed, with one clarifying change. The final rule clarifies that the 
notice is to be provided to the appropriate OCC supervisory office, and 
adds a definition of this term at Sec.  7.1025(b)(1) to mean the OCC 
office that is responsible for the supervision of a national bank or 
Federal savings association, as described in subpart A of 12 CFR part 
4.\61\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ 12 CFR 24.5(a).
    \61\ This final rule also makes technical changes to part 4, 
subpart A. See the ``Technical Changes'' section of this 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Fourth, proposed paragraph (d)(4) provides that the national bank 
or Federal savings association must be able to identify, measure, 
monitor, and control the associated risks of its tax equity finance 
transaction activities individually and as a whole on an ongoing basis 
to ensure that it conducts such activities in a safe and sound manner. 
The OCC received one comment related to this provision regarding the 
use of the word ``control.'' The commenter suggested that the final 
rule should eliminate the word ``control'' or otherwise acknowledge 
that it is not meant to suggest that national banks and Federal savings 
associations should have more than the limited control over TEF 
transaction activities that is consistent with the passive nature of 
these investments. The OCC clarifies that use of the word ``control'' 
in relation to risk management of TEF activities is consistent with the 
passive nature of these transactions and a national bank or Federal 
savings association satisfying this condition would not be in conflict 
with the passivity requirement of Sec.  7.1025(c)(6). Similar to how a 
national bank or Federal savings association identifies, measures, 
monitors, and controls risks related to loans and other extensions of 
credit but does not exercise control over the business of the borrower, 
a national bank or Federal savings association would identify, measure, 
monitor and control risks related to the transaction but would not be 
exercising control over the operations of the project or projects 
underlying the TEF transaction. The OCC is finalizing Sec.  
7.1025(d)(4) as proposed.
    The OCC requested comment on whether national banks or Federal 
savings associations routinely obtain legal opinions regarding the 
availability of tax credits in connection with these types of finance 
transactions. One commenter suggested that a national bank or Federal 
savings association should not be required to obtain a legal opinion on 
the tax benefits of a TEF transaction, but rather the OCC should 
require a good faith, reasoned basis for making that determination. The 
commenter suggested that it is not market practice to obtain a legal 
opinion that says a TEF structure is ``necessary'' in order for the tax 
benefits to be available. Instead, the commenter suggested the OCC 
should recognize that national banks and Federal savings associations 
employ a range of approaches to evaluating the tax benefits of TEF 
transactions.
    The OCC agrees with the commenter that there should be flexibility 
related to the legal analysis underlying the tax availability 
determination. However, the OCC believes that the final rule should 
require the national bank or Federal savings association to have a 
reasonable basis for determining the availability of tax credits in 
connection with TEF transactions. Therefore, the OCC is including in 
the final rule a more flexible provision. Specifically, new Sec.  
7.1025(d)(5) requires a national bank or Federal savings association to 
obtain a legal opinion, or to have other good faith, reasoned bases for 
making the determination that tax credits or other tax benefits are 
available before engaging in a TEF transaction. A legal opinion 
includes either an outside counsel opinion or an opinion provided by a 
national bank or Federal savings association's internal or in-house 
counsel. Although a legal opinion is not the only means to fulfill this 
requirement, a good faith, reasoned basis requires more than simply 
accepting a statement from a person or entity promoting an investment. 
A national bank or Federal savings association may not rely solely on 
the assurances of a person or entity promoting a TEF transaction that 
tax credits will be available.
    Proposed paragraph (e) provides that the TEF transaction must be 
subject to the substantive legal requirements of a loan, including the 
lending limits prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 84, as implemented by 12 CFR 
part 32, and, if the active investor or project sponsor of the 
transaction is an affiliate of the national bank or Federal savings 
association, the restrictions on

[[Page 83699]]

transactions with affiliates prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 371c and 371c-1, 
as implemented by 12 CFR part 223. If a national bank or Federal 
savings association is relying on its lending authority to participate 
in a TEF transaction, the TEF transaction would be subject to 
regulatory requirements applicable to loans, including any applicable 
legal lending limits and affiliate transaction restrictions to the 
extent applicable. However, the regulatory capital treatment of a 
national bank or Federal savings association's participation in a TEF 
transaction would be determined according to the regulatory capital 
rule (12 CFR part 3). The OCC received no comments on Sec.  7.1025(e) 
and is finalizing this provision as proposed.
    The OCC specifically requested comment on whether the final rule 
should prohibit a national bank or Federal savings association from 
entering into TEF transactions for projects involving residential 
installation TEF transactions not involving utility-scale standalone 
power-generation facilities. One commenter suggested that the final 
rule should not prohibit these transactions so as not to arbitrarily 
reserve it for only one segment of the market. The OCC concurs with 
this comment and will not limit TEF transactions to only those 
involving standalone utility-scale power generation facilities in the 
final rule. A national bank or Federal savings association may 
participate in a TEF transaction if it meets the requirements and 
conditions of Sec.  7.1025 and the OCC has not raised safety and 
soundness concerns related to the particular transaction.
    The OCC also requested comment on whether the final rule should 
permit national banks or Federal savings associations to invest in TEF 
transactions involving detached single-family residences, multi-family 
residences, or non-utility commercial buildings. Five commenters 
suggested that the OCC should permit national banks and Federal savings 
associations from entering into these transactions, with one commenter 
suggesting the OCC should affirm longstanding OCC precedent that the 
legal permissibility of a TEF transaction is agnostic as to end-user 
segment and underlying asset. The OCC confirms that it will not 
prohibit a national bank or Federal savings association from entering 
into TEF projects involving detached single-family residences, multi-
family residences, or non-utility-scale commercial buildings. As is the 
case with loans and leases, the legal permissibility of a TEF 
transaction is not dependent on the end-user segment and underlying 
asset. Therefore, the OCC is finalizing Sec.  7.1025 without a 
prohibition on residential TEF transactions.
    One commenter also requested that the OCC confirm there is no 
prohibition on, and that tax credit availability would not be affected 
by, national banks funding a portion of their TEF investment during 
late stage construction if required to qualify for the tax benefits and 
adequate protections are in place. The OCC confirms that there is no 
prohibition on national banks or Federal savings associations funding a 
portion of their TEF investment during late stage construction if 
required to qualify for the tax benefits and adequate protections are 
in place. However, the OCC cannot opine on whether late stage 
investment would affect the availability of the tax credit and such 
inquiries should be directed to the IRS.
    Further, the OCC requested comment on whether national banks and 
Federal savings associations should have other contractual remedies 
available before entering into a TEF transaction. Two commenters 
suggested that the final rule should not prescribe any particular 
contractual remedies for TEF transactions, including guarantees or 
indemnities, but rather, should allow national banks and Federal 
savings associations the flexibility to choose the most appropriate 
remedies for a given transaction. Another commenter suggested that 
requiring certain contractual provisions is not necessary, noting that 
it is common for national banks and Federal savings association to 
require such remedies as a business practice when making other 
investments even though the OCC does not require them and that such 
remedies are best left up to national banks and Federal savings 
associations. The OCC agrees with these commenters that national banks 
and Federal savings associations should be afforded the flexibility to 
choose contractual remedies as appropriate. Therefore, the OCC is 
finalizing Sec.  7.1025 without requiring specific contractual 
remedies.
National Bank and Federal Savings Association Payment System 
Memberships (New Sec.  7.1026)
    Section 7.1026 Payment System Memberships. National banks may join 
payment systems.\62\ OTS precedent also permits Federal savings 
associations to join payment systems.\63\ The OCC proposed a new rule 
that would codify OCC interpretations regarding national bank 
membership in payment systems and apply this new provision to Federal 
savings associations. Specifically, proposed Sec.  7.1026 required a 
national bank or Federal savings association to provide 30-day prior 
notice to the OCC before joining a payment system if the bank or 
savings association would be exposed to open-ended liability. The 
national bank or Federal savings association would need to provide the 
OCC with a 30-day after-the-fact notice before joining any other 
payment system where the bank or savings association is not exposed to 
open-ended liability. These notices must contain representations that 
the national bank or Federal savings association has identified and 
evaluated the risks posed by membership in the payment system and will 
measure, monitor, and control those risks after membership. The 
proposal permitted a national bank or Federal savings association to 
consider its liability to a particular payment system to be limited if 
the bank or savings association obtains an independent legal opinion 
confirming this limited liability prior to joining the payment system. 
Finally, the proposal required a national bank or Federal savings 
association to notify its appropriate OCC supervisory office if its 
ongoing review identifies a safety and soundness concern as soon as 
that concern is identified and to take appropriate actions to remediate 
the risk. Several commenters expressed general support for the proposed 
approach for joining payment systems and, as explained further below, 
the OCC is adopting the proposal largely as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \62\ See, e.g., OCC Conditional Approval Letter No. 220 (Dec. 2, 
1996); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 993 (May 16, 1997); OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1140 (Jan. 13, 2014); OCC Interpretive 
Letter No. 1157 (Nov. 12, 2017).
    \63\ See, e.g., 12 CFR 145.17; OTS Op. Ch. Couns. (Sept. 15, 
1995); OTS Op. Ch. Couns. (Dec. 22, 1995).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Definitions. In proposed Sec.  7.1026(b), the OCC defined several 
terms used throughout the new section. First, the proposal defined 
``appropriate OCC supervisory office'' as the OCC office that is 
responsible for the supervision of a national bank or Federal savings 
association, as described in subpart A of 12 CFR part 4. The OCC 
received no comments on this definition and is adopting it as proposed.
    Second, because different payment systems may use different 
terminology, the OCC defined ``member'' to include a national bank or 
Federal savings association designated as a ``member,'' a 
``participant,'' or other similar role by a payment system, including 
by a payment system that requires the

[[Page 83700]]

national bank or Federal savings association to share in operational 
losses or maintain a reserve with the payment system to offset 
potential liability for operational losses. The OCC received one 
comment that indirect members of payment systems should not be included 
in the definition of ``member'' unless they are bound by the rules of 
the payment system and such rules, including any open-ended liabilities 
imposed, purport to extend to such indirect members. The OCC agrees 
with this commenter that it would be appropriate to include indirect 
members only in these specific circumstances and, thus, is amending the 
definition of ``member'' in the final rule to reflect this comment.
    Third, the OCC defined ``open-ended liability'' as liability for 
operational losses that is not capped under the rules of the payment 
system and includes indemnifications provided to third parties as a 
condition of membership in the payment system. For example, as a 
condition of membership in particular payment systems, national banks 
and Federal savings associations may provide open-ended 
indemnifications to Federal Reserve Banks that act as service providers 
for the payment systems.\64\ This definition is consistent with the 
definition of open-ended liability in OCC Interpretive Letter 1140.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \64\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1157 (Nov. 12, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received one comment on this definition expressing concern 
that it did not clearly include a situation in which the 
indemnification giving rise to an open-ended liability is imposed 
directly upon the participant by the Federal Reserve Bank, which is 
acting as a service provider to payment system participants. The OCC 
agrees with this commenter that the participant would be exposed to 
open-ended liability in that case and is modifying the definition of 
``open-ended liability'' to reflect the situation described by the 
commenter. As a result, open-ended liability in the final rule means 
liability for operational losses that is not capped under the rules of 
the payment system, and includes indemnifications of third parties 
provided as a condition of membership in the payment system.
    Fourth, although memberships in payment systems expose national 
banks and Federal savings associations to a variety of risks, OCC legal 
precedent only has addressed whether a national bank may assume open-
ended liability for operational losses at the payment system. The OCC 
defined ``operational loss'' as a charge resulting from sources other 
than defaults by other members of the payment system. The OCC pointed 
to examples listed in OCC Interpretive Letter 1140 \65\ and requested 
comment on whether these examples should be included in the definition 
of ``operational loss.'' The OCC also asked whether other examples 
should be included in that list. One commenter supported including the 
examples in the text of the regulation and recommended adding 
cybersecurity breaches. A second comment letter also supported adding 
cybersecurity breaches but did not believe the list of examples should 
be included in the definition of ``operational loss'' in the regulatory 
text. The OCC believes that adding the non-exhaustive list of examples 
to the body of the regulation will provide greater clarity. The OCC 
also agrees that it is appropriate to add cybersecurity breaches to the 
list. Thus, the final rule defines operational loss to mean a charge 
resulting from sources other than defaults by other members of the 
payment system. The final rule also adds examples of these operational 
losses. This nonexclusive list cites losses due to: employee 
misconduct, fraud, misjudgment, or human error; management failure; 
information systems failures; disruptions from internal or external 
events that result in the degradation or failure of services provided 
by the payment system; security breaches or cybersecurity events; or 
payment or settlement delays, constrained liquidity, contagious 
disruptions, and resulting litigation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1140 (Jan. 13, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Finally, the OCC defined ``payment system'' in Sec.  7.1026 to mean 
a ``financial market utility'' as defined in 12 U.S.C. 5462(6), 
wherever operating, and that includes both retail and wholesale payment 
systems. Section 5462(6) provides that ``a financial market utility'' 
means ``any person that manages or operates a multilateral system for 
the purpose of transferring, clearing, or settling payments, 
securities, or other financial transactions among financial 
institutions or between financial institutions and the person'' with 
certain exclusions.\66\ This definition excluded derivatives clearing 
organizations registered under the Commodity Exchange Act \67\ and 
clearing agencies registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934,\68\ and foreign organizations that would be considered a 
derivatives clearing organization or clearing agency were it operating 
in the United States.\69\ This definition therefore includes payment 
systems that operate either in the U.S. or in a foreign jurisdiction. 
The OCC requested comment on whether this definition appropriately 
encompasses both foreign and domestic payment systems that national 
banks and Federal savings associations may join. One commenter 
requested that the OCC provide guidance for banks and savings 
associations applying this definition to international clearing 
organizations or agencies that may not meet the technical requirements 
necessary to register under the Commodity Exchange Act or Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934. The OCC notes that the carve-out for clearing 
organizations and clearing agencies reflects that OCC precedent 
distinguishes between companies and organizations performing payments, 
clearing, and settlement functions.\70\ While the proposed rule would 
codify OCC precedent related to payment system memberships, it would 
not affect OCC precedent applicable to memberships in clearing and 
settlement organizations. For example, a national bank or Federal 
savings association wishing to join a foreign organization subject to 
OCC Interpretive Letter Nos. 929 or 1102 would continue to follow the 
process outlined in that precedent rather than the process outlined in 
Sec.  7.1026. The OCC believes this is sufficiently clear in the 
proposed rule

[[Page 83701]]

and, therefore, finalizes this definition as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ Financial market utility ``does not include: designated 
contract markets, registered futures associations, swap data 
repositories, and swap execution facilities registered under the 
Commodity Exchange Act, or national securities exchanges, national 
securities associations, alternative trading systems, security-based 
swap data repositories, and swap execution facilities registered 
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, solely by reason of their 
providing facilities for comparison of data respecting the terms of 
settlement of securities or futures transactions effected on such 
exchange or by means of any electronic system operated or controlled 
by such entities, provided that the exclusions in this clause apply 
only with respect to the activities that require the entity to be so 
registered'' nor ``any broker, dealer, transfer agent, or investment 
company, or any futures commission merchant, introducing broker, 
commodity trading advisor, or commodity pool operator, solely by 
reason of functions performed by such institution as part of 
brokerage, dealing, transfer agency, or investment company 
activities, or solely by reason of acting on behalf of a financial 
market utility or a participant therein in connection with the 
furnishing by the financial market utility of services to its 
participants or the use of services of the financial market utility 
by its participants, provided that services performed by such 
institution do not constitute critical risk management or processing 
functions of the financial market utility.'' 12 U.S.C. 5462(6)(B).
    \67\ 7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.
    \68\ 15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.
    \69\ The OCC maintains separate precedent relevant to 
memberships in these organizations. See, e.g., OCC Interpretive 
Letter No. 929 (Feb. 11, 2002); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1102 
(Oct. 14, 2008).
    \70\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice requirements. Proposed Sec.  7.1026(c) required a national 
bank or Federal savings association to provide written notice to the 
appropriate OCC supervisory office at least 30 days prior to joining a 
payment system that would expose it to open-ended liability. If the 
payment system does not expose the national bank or Federal savings 
association to open-ended liability, the proposed rule required the 
national bank or Federal savings association to provide after-the-fact 
written notice within 30 days of joining a payment system. The OCC 
believes membership in a payment system that exposes members to open-
ended liability creates additional risks for national banks and Federal 
savings associations. Thus, the OCC believes prior notice to the OCC is 
appropriate in these situations.\71\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \71\ The proposed notice requirement would not apply to existing 
payment system memberships. However, as explained below, the 
proposed rule required national banks and Federal savings 
associations to continuously inform the OCC of changes to bank or 
savings association operations that would affect the institution's 
risk profile. Thus, the OCC would be made aware of any payment 
system membership at a bank or savings association even though the 
specific timing and information required by this proposed rule would 
not apply to existing payment systems memberships.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One comment letter supported this process. A second commenter, 
however, argued that the proposal may make it more difficult for a 
national bank or Federal savings association to join a new payment 
system because it would impose an additional regulatory burden not 
required for non-OCC regulated institutions. The OCC does not agree 
with this commenter. As explained above and in the preamble to the 
proposed rule, the notice requirement for payment system memberships 
codifies existing requirements from a series of interpretive letters 
governing national bank payment system memberships. Since the 
publication of these interpretive letters, OCC-regulated institutions 
have continued to join new payment systems. The OCC believes that this 
clarity facilitates payment systems memberships by OCC-regulated 
institutions rather than hindering them and therefore the OCC adopts 
paragraph (c) as proposed.
    Content of notice. Proposed Sec.  7.1026(d) provided that all 
notices filed under Sec.  7.1026(c) must include representations that 
the national bank or Federal savings association has complied with the 
safety and soundness review required by proposed Sec.  7.1026(e)(1) 
before joining the payment system and will comply with the safety and 
soundness review and the notification requirements in proposed Sec.  
7.1026(e)(2) and (3) after joining the system. For after-the-fact 
notices pursuant to paragraph (c)(2), the proposed rule required a 
national bank or Federal savings association to include a 
representation that either the rules of the payment system do not 
impose liability for operational losses on members or that the national 
bank's or Federal savings association's liability for operational 
losses is limited by the rules of the payment system to specific and 
appropriate limits that do not exceed the lower of the legal lending 
limit specified by 12 CFR part 32 or a limit established for the 
national bank or Federal savings association by the OCC. One comment 
letter noted that the proposed notice requires that national banks and 
Federal saving associations complete their risk assessment of the 
payment system before joining. However, this commenter explained that 
some aspects of a national bank's or Federal savings association's risk 
management processes may occur after joining. Specifically, the 
commenter cited integration with a payment system's IT functions. The 
OCC recognizes that full access to the payment system's IT 
infrastructure may be necessary to analyze fully its potential risks. 
However, the OCC still expects banks and savings associations to 
identify in advance these limitations. Thus, the OCC is finalizing 
paragraph (d) as proposed, with a minor change in wording of the 
section heading in paragraph (d)(2).
    Safety and soundness procedures. The OCC relies upon a number of 
resources to communicate in detail its safety and soundness guidance 
for national bank and Federal savings association memberships in 
payment systems.\72\ At a minimum, the OCC believes a national bank or 
Federal savings association must be able to identify, evaluate, and 
control its risks from membership in a particular payment system before 
joining the system and on an ongoing basis.\73\ As a prerequisite to 
joining a payment system and on a continual basis after joining, 
proposed Sec.  7.1026(e) required the national bank or Federal savings 
association to (1) identify and evaluate the risks posed by membership 
in the payment system, taking into account whether the liability of the 
bank or savings association is limited, and (2) measure, monitor, and 
control those risks. The preamble to the proposal explained that 
national banks and Federal savings associations should review the 
standards outlined in OCC Interpretive Letter 1140 and OCC Banking 
Circular 235 to assist with the requirements in paragraph (e). The 
proposal also required a national bank or Federal savings association 
to notify the appropriate OCC supervisory office if its ongoing risk 
management identifies a safety and soundness concern, such as a 
material change to the bank's or savings association's liability or 
indemnification responsibilities, as soon as that concern is identified 
and to take appropriate actions to remediate the risk. The OCC received 
several comments related to this section.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \72\ See, e.g., FFIEC IT Examination Handbook on Retail Payment 
Systems (Apr. 2016); FFIEC IT Examination Handbook on Wholesale 
Payment Systems (July 2004); Comptroller's Handbook: Payment Systems 
and Funds Transfer Activities (March 1990); OCC Banking Circular 235 
(May 10, 1989).
    \73\ For example, OCC Banking Circular 235 states ``Management 
of each national bank is responsible for assessing risk in each 
payment, clearing, and settlement system in which the bank 
participates. Management must adopt adequate policies, procedures, 
and controls with respect to these activities.'' The OCC applied 
this Banking Circular to Federal savings associations on Oct. 1, 
2014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    First, several commenters responded favorably to the OCC's question 
about whether the characteristics from Interpretive Letter 1140 should 
be included in the final rule. In Interpretive Letter 1140, the OCC 
identified key components of a payment system that appropriately 
mitigates risk and indicated it would expect a national bank to 
consider these characteristics when analyzing the payment system. The 
OCC also explained in Interpretive Letter 1140 the characteristics of 
an effective risk management program at a national bank. These 
commenters thought doing so would provide greater certainty about the 
OCC's expectations. Although not an exhaustive list, the OCC agrees 
that listing the risk management program criteria from Interpretive 
Letter 1140 in the regulatory text would assist banks and savings 
associations as they conduct reviews of payment system memberships. The 
OCC is including in the final rule a new paragraph (f) that recites the 
criteria it previously outlined in Interpretive Letter 1140.
    One commenter also asked the OCC to provide additional guidance 
about which of these criteria are most important and the circumstances 
under which each component should be considered in the analysis of a 
bank or savings association. The OCC does not believe it would be 
appropriate to identify further individual scenarios in which specific 
factors would apply because national banks and Federal savings 
associations are best positioned to evaluate the applicability and

[[Page 83702]]

importance of each factor given the wide variety of global payment 
systems as well as the varied complexity of and risk tolerances at 
individual banks and savings associations. The OCC expects banks and 
savings associations to review the standards and identify the 
components that are applicable to the payment system and financial 
institution at issue. Thus, the OCC is not including this information 
in the final rule.
    Finally, a commenter asked that where the open-ended liability 
derives from a Federal Reserve Bank acting as a service provider to the 
payment system participant, the OCC clarify that due diligence and risk 
management activities should be related to the entity providing the 
service for which the indemnity or open-ended liability is imposed. The 
OCC agrees that national banks and Federal savings associations should 
evaluate the risks that derive from all aspects of the payment system 
membership, including the risks from service providers to whom the 
payment system member must indemnify or provide open-ended liability as 
a condition of membership. However, the OCC expects the due diligence 
and risk management analysis to apply whether the payment system 
membership introduces open-ended liability or not. The OCC believes 
that the language in paragraph (e) of the proposal is sufficiently 
clear and is adopting this section as proposed.
    The OCC noted in the preamble to the proposed rule that a national 
bank's or Federal savings association's liability will vary from 
payment system to payment system. The rules of some payment systems may 
expose members to open-ended liability for operational losses but, in 
reality, the national bank's or Federal savings association's liability 
may be capped in some other way. For example, a jurisdiction could have 
a law that prohibits open-ended liability or restricts the amount of 
liability to the assets of the entity located in that jurisdiction. If 
that law applies to the payment system, it could effectively cap a 
member's operational liability. In other situations, a member may 
negotiate a separate agreement with a payment system that allows the 
member to limit its potential liability and, as a result, the risks of 
membership in that payment system. In recognition of these situations, 
the proposed rule permitted a national bank or Federal savings 
association to consider its open-ended liability to a particular 
payment system to be limited for purposes of the review required by 
proposed Sec.  7.1026(e)(1) and (2) if the bank or savings association 
obtains an independent legal opinion prior to joining the payment 
system. That legal opinion must describe how the payment system 
allocates liability for operational losses and conclude the potential 
liability for the national bank or Federal savings association is 
limited to specific and appropriate limits that do not exceed the legal 
lending limit specified by 12 CFR part 32 or a lower limit established 
for the national bank or Federal savings association by the OCC. This 
legal opinion would enable the OCC to verify that the liability of the 
national bank or Federal savings association is limited even though the 
rules of the payment system do not provide any limits.
    Two commenters objected to the independent legal opinion 
requirement. These commenters argued that the OCC should instead 
require national banks and Federal savings associations to follow a 
lower standard and provide just a reasonable basis for concluding that 
its liability is limited. These commenters also suggested that an 
opinion from in-house counsel should suffice. The OCC does not agree 
that lowering the standard would be appropriate. However, the OCC 
believes it is important to make clear that the legal opinion is not 
required to join any payment system; it is only required for the bank 
or savings association to treat its liability as limited when the 
payment systems rules indicate open-ended liability. The OCC, however, 
is persuaded by the commenters' view that an in-house legal opinion is 
sufficient. Thus, the OCC is amending the final rule to remove the 
requirement that the legal opinion be independent of the bank or 
savings association. The final rule does, however, specifically provide 
for a written opinion. Even with this change, the OCC expects that this 
option will be exercised rarely. In fact, the OCC believes that this 
option will be available only in unusual circumstances, typically for a 
payment system that operates in a foreign jurisdiction where the laws 
of that jurisdiction effectively limit the liability of the national 
bank or Federal savings association. The OCC is offering the written 
legal opinion as an additional option for institutions wishing to join 
a payment system in which the rules do not limit the liability of 
members, but the national bank or Federal savings association believes 
another factor effectively limits its potential liability. If a payment 
system's rules impose open-ended liability, national banks and Federal 
savings associations still may join the payment system even if they do 
not elect--or are unable to obtain--a written legal opinion provided 
that they conduct the appropriate safety and soundness analysis and 
provide the appropriate OCC supervisory office with the 30-day prior 
notice required by Sec.  7.1026(c)(1). As the OCC explained in the 
preamble to the proposed rule, a national bank or Federal savings 
association that obtains a legal opinion may consider its open-ended 
liability to be limited so long as there were no material changes to 
the liability or indemnification requirements of the national bank or 
Federal savings association after the bank or savings association 
joined the payment system. If there is a material change, the national 
bank or Federal savings association may no longer rely on that written 
legal opinion to demonstrate that its liability is limited and must 
notify the appropriate OCC supervisory office and remediate its risks 
as described in Sec.  7.1026(e)(3).
    One commenter asked for clarification that, once a bank or savings 
association has joined a payment system and obtained a legal opinion, 
it does not need to undertake that process again unless there is a 
material change to the liability or indemnification provisions 
applicable to the bank or savings association. The OCC intended this 
result and, thus, is modifying the final rule to clarify that, so long 
as there are no material changes to the liability or indemnification 
requirements applicable to the bank or savings association since the 
issuance of the written legal opinion, the bank or savings association 
may consider its open-ended liability to be limited.
Establishment and Operation of a Remote Service Unit by a National Bank 
(New Sec.  7.1027/Former Sec.  7.4003)
    Section 7.4003 provides that a national bank can establish and 
operate a remote service unit (RSU) pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh). 
This section also states that an RSU does not constitute a branch under 
12 U.S.C. 36(j) and is not subject to State geographic or operational 
restrictions or licensing laws. Section 7.4003 defines an RSU as an 
automated facility, operated by a customer of a bank, that conducts 
banking functions, such as receiving deposits, paying withdrawals, or 
lending money. This section provides examples of an RSU, specifically 
listing an automated teller machine (ATM), automated loan machine, 
automated device for receiving deposits, personal computer, telephone, 
and other similar electronic devices. Finally, this section provides 
that an RSU may be equipped with a telephone or tele-video device that 
allows contact with bank personnel.

[[Page 83703]]

    The OCC proposed to amend Sec.  7.4003 to expand the definition of 
an RSU to include either an automated or unstaffed facility and to add 
drop boxes to the list of RSU examples. Although the OCC has 
historically treated drop boxes as branches, the OCC believes that 
interpreting both the terms ATM and RSU to require automation leads to 
incongruous results where a non-automated facility such as a drop box 
is considered a branch but an automated facility such as an ATM is not, 
despite a drop box functioning less like a full branch than an ATM. The 
OCC also proposed to move Sec.  7.4003 to subpart A of part 7 as new 
Sec.  7.1027 so that it would be in the same subpart as other branching 
provisions of part 7.
    The OCC received one comment on the proposed amendments to Sec.  
7.4003. The commenter opposes the changes to Sec.  7.4003 and states 
that excluding drop boxes from the definition of branch by including 
them in the definition of RSU is inconsistent with Supreme Court 
precedent. The commenter states that the change is inconsistent with 
OCC precedent and the OCC does not have the authority to include drop 
boxes and other unstaffed facilities within the RSU/ATM exclusion. The 
commenter also states that when Congress amended 12 U.S.C. 36(j) to 
exclude ATMs and RSUs from the definition of branch, it chose to only 
exclude automated facilities and purposefully chose not to exclude drop 
boxes or other unstaffed facilities that lack automation. Finally, the 
commenter states that regardless of where the RSU regulations are 
placed, to the extent that the OCC maintains that State operational and 
licensing restrictions are preempted with respect to non-branch 
offices, then, in expanding the scope of permissible non-branch office 
activities, the OCC is making a ``preemption determination'' under the 
National Bank Act that must comply with the procedural and substantive 
requirements applicable to such determinations.
    These comments misunderstand the interaction between judicial 
precedent and the insertion of the term ``remote service unit'' into 12 
U.S.C. 36(j) and ignore the plain language of 12 U.S.C. 36(j). The 
Supreme Court decision in First National Bank in Plant City, Florida v. 
Dickinson, 396 U.S. 122 (1969) (Plant City), which held that a drop box 
constituted a branch, was decided before Congress amended 12 U.S.C. 
36(j) to exclude RSUs and ATMs from the definition of branch.\74\ 
Therefore, the Plant City decision did not address whether drop boxes 
fit within the definition of an RSU and thus are exempted from the 12 
U.S.C. 36 branching restrictions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ EGRPRA, Section 2204 (1996).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Interpreting 12 U.S.C. 36(j) in a way that defines ATMs and RSUs in 
a distinct manner is a better reading of the plain language of 12 
U.S.C. 36(j) and leads to the logical conclusion that non-automated, 
unstaffed facilities such as drop boxes should be included in the 
definition of RSU. Specifically, interpreting ``automated teller 
machine'' and ``remote service unit'' to be synonymous (i.e., 
automated, unstaffed facilities) would construe two different phrases 
to have the same meaning and renders the second phrase useless. 
Congress included the term ``automated'' in the phrase ``automated 
teller machine'' but did not include the term ``automated'' in the 
phrase ``remote service unit,'' suggesting that Congress did not 
necessarily intend for the term ``remote service unit'' to only apply 
to automated facilities. Though the OCC has historically treated drop 
boxes as branches based on the fact that drop boxes are not automated, 
the agency is now adopting a new position based on a reading of the 
plain language of the statute that avoids rendering statutory language 
superfluous and producing illogical results whereby drop boxes are 
considered branches despite having less branch-like functionality than 
ATMs.
    The OCC also disagrees with the commenter's statement that the 
proposed amendments to Sec.  7.4003 constitute a ``preemption 
determination'' under the National Bank Act. Case law is clear that it 
is Federal law, not State law, that determines what is considered a 
``branch'' of a national bank for the purposes of 12 U.S.C. 36(j).\75\ 
The OCC is merely clarifying how it interprets the ambiguous language 
in 12 U.S.C. 36(j). As noted above, Congress did not define ``automated 
teller machine'' or ``remote service unit'' in 12 U.S.C. 36(j), so the 
OCC must interpret these phrases to resolve this silence.\76\ This is 
not a ``preemption determination'' pursuant to the National Bank Act. 
Accordingly, the OCC adopts these changes as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \75\ See First National Bank in Plant City, Florida v. 
Dickinson, 396 U.S. 122, 133-34 (1969) (rejecting the contention by 
amicus curiae National Association of Supervisors of State Banks 
that State law definitions of what constitutes ``branch banking'' 
must control the content of the Federal definition of ``branch.'').
    \76\ See Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 
467 U.S. 837, 843 (1984) (``[I]f the statute is silent or ambiguous 
with respect to the specific issue, the question for the court is 
whether the agency's answer is based on a permissible construction 
of the statute.''); see also Robinson v. Shell Oil Co., 519 U.S. 
337, 341 (1997) (``The plainness or ambiguity of statutory language 
is determined by reference to the language itself, the specific 
context in which that language is used, and the broader context of 
the statute as a whole.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Establishment and Operation of a Deposit Production Office by a 
National Bank (New Sec.  7.1028/Former Sec.  7.4004)
    Section 7.4004 provides that a national bank or its operating 
subsidiary may engage in deposit production activities at a site other 
than the main office or a branch of the bank, and further provides that 
a deposit production office (DPO) may solicit deposits, provide 
information about deposit products, and assist persons in completing 
application forms and related documents to open a deposit account. 
Section 7.4004 specifically states that a DPO is not a branch so long 
as the site does not receive deposits, pay withdrawals, or make loans. 
It further states that all deposit and withdrawal transactions of a 
bank customer using a DPO must be performed by the customer, either in 
person at the main office or a branch office of the bank or by mail, 
electronic transfer, or a similar method of transfer. Finally, this 
section states that a national bank may use the services of, and 
compensate, persons not employed by the bank in its deposit production 
activities. As with Sec.  7.4003, the OCC proposed to move Sec.  7.4004 
to subpart A of part 7 as new Sec.  7.1028 to place it in the same 
subpart as other interpretations regarding branching and non-branching 
functions. This change improves the organization of part 7. The OCC 
proposed no other changes to this section except for a non-substantive 
change to its wording. The OCC received no comments on new Sec.  7.1028 
and adopts it as proposed.
Combination of National Bank Loan Production Office, Deposit Production 
Office, and Remote Service Unit (New Sec.  7.1029/Former Sec.  7.4005)
    Section 7.4005 provides that a location at which a national bank 
operates a loan production office (LPO), a DPO, and an RSU is not a 
``branch'' within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 36(j) by virtue of that 
combination of operations because none of these locations individually 
constitutes a branch. The OCC proposed to add language regarding the 
extent of the permissible interaction between bank personnel and the 
RSU at a facility that combines an LPO or a deposit production office 
with an RSU. Specifically, the OCC proposed to add language that 
provides that an RSU at a combined location must be primarily operated 
by the customer with at most delimited assistance from bank

[[Page 83704]]

personnel.\77\ The OCC also proposed to move Sec.  7.4005 to subpart A 
of part 7, as new Sec.  7.1029. The OCC received no comments on these 
changes and adopts them as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \77\ This language is based on published OCC precedent. See OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1165 (June 28, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Permissible Derivatives Activities for National Banks (New Sec.  
7.1030)
    The proposal included a new Sec.  7.1030 addressing derivatives 
activities permissible for national banks.\78\ This new section 
incorporated and streamlined the framework in OCC interpretive letters 
discussing bank-permissible derivatives activities.\79\ The proposed 
rule addressed five functional categories of permissible derivatives 
activities: (1) Derivatives referencing underlyings a national bank may 
purchase directly as an investment; (2) derivatives with any underlying 
to hedge the risks arising from bank-permissible activities; (3) 
derivatives with any underlying that are customer-driven, cash-settled 
and either perfectly-matched or portfolio-hedged; (4) derivatives with 
any underlying that are customer-driven and physically-settled by 
transitory title transfer; and (5) derivatives with any underlying that 
are customer-driven, physically-settled (other than by transitory title 
transfer), and physically-hedged. The OCC is adopting Sec.  7.1030 with 
the substantive and technical changes described below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \78\ Permissible financial derivatives transactions for Federal 
savings associations are addressed separately in 12 CFR 163.172.
    \79\ OCC legal interpretations have confirmed certain 
derivatives activities are permissible for national banks under 12 
U.S.C. 24(Seventh). Congress has recognized national banks' 
authority to engage in derivatives activities in various statutes. 
See, e.g., 12 U.S.C. 84 (incorporating credit exposure from 
derivatives into the legal lending limit); Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 
Public Law 106-102, 113 Stat. 1338, section 206(a)(6) (defining 
``identified banking product'' to include any swap agreement except 
an equity swap with a retail customer); 12 U.S.C. 371c (defining 
``covered transaction'' between a bank and its affiliates to include 
a derivative transaction); Dodd-Frank Act section 716 (15 U.S.C. 
8305); Dodd-Frank Act section 731 (7 U.S.C. 6s); Dodd-Frank Act 
section 764 (15 U.S.C. 78o-10).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Authority. Under the proposal, paragraph (a) of new Sec.  7.1030 
specified that the section is issued pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh). 
Paragraph (a) further specified that a national bank may only engage in 
derivatives transactions in accordance with the requirements of this 
section. The OCC did not receive any comments on this paragraph and is 
adopting paragraph (a) as proposed.
    Definitions. In paragraph (b), the proposed rule incorporated 
several terms that are commonly used in OCC derivatives interpretive 
letters. The proposed rule also defined certain terms for the first 
time to promote transparency and consistency among institutions. For 
the reasons described below, the OCC is adopting these definitions as 
proposed.
    <bullet> Customer-driven. The proposed rule defined ``customer-
driven'' to mean a transaction entered into for a customer's valid and 
independent business purpose. As explained in the preamble to the 
proposed rule,\80\ this approach is consistent with the definition used 
in OCC interpretive letters.\81\ The preamble explained that this focus 
on the customer recognizes that a number of derivatives activities are 
permissible for a national bank because the bank is acting as a 
financial intermediary for the customer. A customer-driven transaction 
would not include a transaction entered into for the purpose of 
speculating in derivative, currency, commodity, or security prices.\82\ 
Similarly, a customer-driven transaction would not include a 
transaction the principal purpose of which is to deliver to a national 
bank assets that the national bank could not invest in directly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ 85 FR 40794, at 40804.
    \81\ E.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1160 (Aug. 22, 2018).
    \82\ OCC interpretations have specified that customer-driven 
derivatives transactions do not include transactions entered into by 
the bank for the purpose of speculating in the underlying commodity 
or security prices. See e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1033 (Jun. 
14, 2005); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 892 (Sept. 13, 2000); OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 684 (Aug. 4, 1995); OCC No-Objection Letter 
90-1 (Feb. 16, 1990).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received one comment on this proposed definition. The 
commenter said that the final rule should clarify that ``customer-
driven'' derivatives activities continue to include the types of 
permissible derivatives transactions described in Interpretive Letter 
1018. The commenter also said the final rule should make clear that, 
while speculation cannot be the purpose for which the national bank 
enters into the transaction, no such limitation is imposed as to the 
purpose for which the customer enters into the transaction and that the 
OCC should confirm that an otherwise bank-permissible derivative 
transaction entered into by a national bank as a financial intermediary 
would be viewed as ``customer-driven,'' so long as the national bank 
and its customer have bilaterally negotiated and agreed to the terms of 
the transaction, regardless of the execution mechanism selected by the 
bank and its customer. Finally, the commenter said that the limitation 
in the proposed definition specifying that a customer-driven 
transaction does not include ``a transaction the principal purpose of 
which is to deliver to a national bank assets that the national bank 
could not invest in directly'' does not prohibit physically settled 
derivatives.
    The OCC intended the proposed definition to reflect the term 
``customer-driven'' as it has been used in prior OCC interpretations, 
and the OCC does not believe any changes to the definition are 
necessary in response to the commenter. First, the definition does not 
prohibit customer-driven mirror trades through affiliates as described 
in Interpretive Letter 1018.\83\ National banks should be aware that 
these activities are subject to sections 23A and 23B of the Federal 
Reserve Act and 12 CFR part 32.\84\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \83\ Interpretive Letter 1018 specified that the bank would only 
mirror derivative transactions with subsidiaries and affiliates that 
are customer-driven and bank permissible. OCC Interpretive Letter 
No. 1018 (Feb. 10, 2005).
    \84\ See also Margin and Capital Requirements for Covered Swap 
Entities, 85 FR 39754, at 39764 (July 1, 2020) (discussing the views 
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Federal 
Reserve Board) on the application of sections 23A and 23B to swaps 
between a bank and its affiliate).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the OCC does not believe any changes to the definition of 
``customer-driven'' are necessary to confirm that a national bank, 
rather than its customer, may not have a speculative purpose. The 
proposed definition applies to a transaction entered into for a 
customer's ``valid and independent business purpose.'' The OCC 
recognizes that bank customers' valid and independent business purposes 
may include the customer obtaining directional exposure to an 
underlying, for example, as part of the customer's investment 
strategy.\85\ The requirement that a transaction be ``customer-driven'' 
applies only to the national bank; it does not apply to the bank's 
customer. Therefore, the OCC does not believe that any changes to the 
definition of ``customer-driven'' are necessary to confirm that the 
rule does not limit a national bank's customer's valid and independent 
business purpose.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \85\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1090 (Oct. 25, 
2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Third, the OCC declines to adopt the commenter's proposed 
interpretation that a derivative transaction entered into by a national 
bank as a financial intermediary would be viewed as ``customer-
driven,'' so long as the national bank and its customer have 
bilaterally negotiated and agreed to the terms of the transaction, 
regardless of the execution mechanism selected by the bank and its 
customer. A national bank may use both over-the-counter trades or 
trading platforms to execute

[[Page 83705]]

customer-driven transactions. However, the fact that a trade is 
bilaterally negotiated does not, on its own, mean that the trade is 
customer-driven (i.e., is entered into for a customer's valid and 
independent business purpose and does not have the principal purpose of 
delivering to a national bank assets that the national bank could not 
invest in directly). For example, a bilaterally negotiated transaction 
between a national bank and a third party that, under the facts and 
circumstances, has the purpose of giving the national bank speculative 
exposure to underlying commodity or security prices would not be 
considered customer-driven under this definition.
    Finally, the OCC confirms that the language in the definition of 
``customer-driven'' stating that the principal purpose of the 
transaction cannot be to deliver to a national bank assets that the 
national bank could not invest in directly does not preclude a bank 
from engaging in permissible physically-settled derivatives activities. 
Paragraphs (c)(4) and (5) of the final rule explicitly permit national 
banks to engage in customer-driven physically-settled derivatives 
financial intermediation transactions. For the foregoing reasons, the 
OCC is adopting the definition of ``customer-driven'' as proposed.
    <bullet> Perfectly-matched. The proposal included a definition of 
``perfectly-matched'' that was substantially similar to prior OCC 
interpretive letters. Specifically, the proposal defined perfectly-
matched to mean two back-to-back derivative transactions that offset 
risk with respect to all economic terms (e.g., amount, maturity, 
duration, and underlying). The preamble to the proposal specified that, 
consistent with OCC interpretive letters, this definition would allow 
transactions to be considered ``perfectly-matched'' despite a 
difference in price between two derivatives when that difference 
reflects the bank's intermediation fee (in the form of a spread).\86\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \86\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1110 (Jan. 30, 2009).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received one comment on this proposed definition. First, 
this commenter said the OCC should adopt a broader concept of 
``appropriately hedged'' rather than distinguishing between the 
definitions of ``perfectly-matched'' and ``portfolio-hedged,'' which 
the commenter viewed as unnecessary. This commenter argued that a 
bifurcated definitional approach could potentially create ambiguity as 
to whether there may be certain types of derivative transactions that, 
while appropriately hedged in some manner so as to offset the market 
risk of such transactions, may not fall within either technical 
definition, and thus would not be bank-permissible. This commenter 
further argued that, if the final rule maintains the distinction 
between ``perfectly-matched'' and ``portfolio-hedged,'' it should 
expressly confirm that any derivative transaction the risks of which 
are appropriately offset, whatever the technique, will fall under one 
of these two definitions. The commenter argued that, if a permissible 
hedging technique does not fall within the definition of ``perfectly-
matched,'' then it should be assumed to fall within the definition of 
``portfolio-hedged.''
    The OCC disagrees with the commenter's view that these definitions 
are unnecessary and that they create ambiguity. OCC interpretations 
have long used the terms ``portfolio-hedged'' and ``perfectly-matched'' 
in analyzing the permissibility of national bank derivatives 
activities, and the distinction between these two activities is well-
established and useful to the OCC's supervisory activities. The 
commenter describes certain types of transactions that they believe may 
not fall into the definition of either perfectly-matched or portfolio-
hedged, such as using two or more derivatives to hedge a single 
customer transaction.\87\ The OCC agrees these transactions generally 
would not fall into the definition of perfectly-matched, as OCC 
interpretive letters have used this definition consistently to describe 
mirror transactions with matching economic terms. Customer-driven 
intermediation transactions that are not perfectly-matched are still 
permissible if they are conducted as part of a portfolio-hedged 
derivatives program. As described further below, national banks may 
permissibly conduct such transactions as part of a portfolio-hedged 
derivatives program if the portfolio of transactions is hedged based on 
net unmatched positions or exposures in the portfolio. In response to 
the commenter's example of hedging a single derivative with multiple 
offsetting derivatives, the OCC confirms that a national bank would not 
be precluded from managing derivatives within a portfolio-hedged 
program on such a basis. The transactions may be permissible as 
portfolio-hedged derivatives transactions as long as the bank 
appropriately hedges net residual risks resulting from the offsetting 
derivatives transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \87\ The commenter also raised the example of hedging an equity 
derivative by holding physical equity positions. This example is 
discussed below in the section addressing physical hedging 
activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The commenter also proposed that the OCC adopt a unified term such 
as ``appropriately hedged'' in lieu of ``perfectly-matched'' and 
``portfolio-hedged.'' The commenter suggested that such a definition 
should permit ``appropriate and effective'' hedging but does not 
specifically propose how this term should be defined. The definitions 
``perfectly-matched'' and ``portfolio-hedged'' encompass the methods of 
hedging a national bank's market risk arising from permissible 
derivatives financial intermediation activities--whether at the 
individual transaction level through back-to-back transactions or at 
the level of net risks within a derivatives portfolio. The OCC believes 
that incorporating and defining these longstanding hedging approaches 
reflecting the OCC's interpretive letters will not cast doubt on the 
permissibility of currently-recognized national bank derivatives 
activities; furthermore, it reflects the OCC's established expectation 
that, for derivatives activities relying on portfolio hedging for their 
permissibility, the national bank should have the appropriate hedging 
skills and sophistication to manage the net risks of its derivatives 
portfolio. Accordingly, the final rule retains the definitions for 
``perfectly-matched'' and ``portfolio-hedged'' as proposed.
    The commenter further said that, if the distinction between 
perfectly-matched and portfolio hedged is retained, the definition of 
``perfectly-matched'' should be revised to treat corresponding 
transactions as perfectly-matched hedges so long as they substantially 
offset risk with respect to all material terms, so as to make clear 
that differences between the transaction with little or no effect on 
market risk (e.g., different maturity dates between the customer 
derivative and the offsetting future, or different margin arrangements) 
do not bar the transactions from being treated as perfectly-
matched.\88\ The OCC disagrees with this proposed interpretation. OCC 
precedents have long defined perfectly-matched transactions as 
transactions that offset risk with respect to all economic terms (e.g., 
amount, maturity, duration, and underlying). The OCC has described a 
perfectly-matched

[[Page 83706]]

transaction as one that does not expose the national bank to price risk 
associated with the underlying so that the main risk to the bank is 
credit risk.\89\ Two transactions with different economic terms could 
expose the national bank to other risks. For example, two transactions 
with different maturity dates could expose the national bank to price 
risk in the time period between the two maturity dates. Accordingly, 
the OCC is not expanding the definition of ``perfectly-matched'' to 
incorporate such transactions. However, as described above, such 
transactions may be permissible as part of a portfolio-hedged 
derivatives program if the national bank appropriately manages net 
unmatched exposures in the derivatives portfolio.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \88\ The commenter also discussed physically-hedged transactions 
that are hedged on a transaction-by-transaction basis. This example 
is discussed below in relation to the permitted physical hedging 
activities under Sec.  7.1030(c)(5). As discussed below, such 
transactions are not considered perfectly-matched under the final 
rule but are addressed in Sec.  7.1030(c)(5).
    \89\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1060 (Apr. 26, 
2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Portfolio-hedged. The proposal included a definition of 
portfolio-hedged that was substantially similar to prior OCC 
interpretive letters. Specifically, the OCC proposes to define 
``portfolio-hedged'' to mean that a portfolio of derivatives 
transactions is hedged based on net unmatched positions or exposures in 
the portfolio. The proposed definition refers to unmatched ``positions 
or exposures'' to clarify that hedging on a portfolio basis may involve 
hedging based on various risk exposures with different instruments in 
accordance with applicable policies and procedures and risk limits of 
the national bank. This definition is consistent with OCC 
interpretations that have typically used ``portfolio-hedged'' to 
describe the practice of hedging based on net residual risk position in 
a portfolio of positions.\90\ The OCC has explained that this method of 
hedging can reduce transactional costs and operational risks because 
fewer transactions need to be executed relative to the number of 
transactions executed under perfectly-matched hedging (in which the 
national bank must offset each transaction on an individual basis).\91\ 
As described above, a national bank would not be precluded from 
managing derivatives within a portfolio-hedged program on a more 
specific basis (for example, by managing the risk of a particular 
derivative transaction by entering into two or more offsetting 
transactions). The OCC did not receive any additional comments on the 
definition of portfolio-hedged and is adopting the definition as 
proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \90\ See e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1073 (Oct. 19, 2006); 
OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1060.
    \91\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Physical hedging or physically-hedged. The proposal 
defined ``physical hedging'' and ``physically-hedged'' to mean holding 
title to or acquiring ownership of an asset (for example, by warehouse 
receipt or book entry) to solely manage the risks arising out of 
permissible customer-driven derivatives transactions. The OCC intended 
this definition to be consistent with the description of commodities 
physical hedging activities that the OCC has identified as permissible 
in prior interpretive letters and in OCC Bulletin 2015-35 (Aug. 4, 
2015). Under the proposal, this definition also applies to physical 
hedging of customer-driven derivatives referencing securities. The OCC 
did not receive any comments on the definition of ``physically-hedged'' 
and is adopting the definition as proposed.
    <bullet> Physical settlement or physically-settled. The proposal 
defined ``physical settlement'' or ``physically settled'' to mean 
accepting title to or acquiring ownership of an asset. The preamble to 
the proposal explained that physical settlement stands in contrast to 
cash-settled transactions, in which counterparties do not exchange the 
underlying assets. The preamble to the proposal also explained that 
physical settlement includes transitory title transfer, which is 
discussed below. The OCC did not receive any comments on the definition 
of ``physical settlement'' or ``physically-settled'' and is adopting 
the definition as proposed.
    <bullet> Transitory title transfer. The proposal defined 
``transitory title transfer'' to mean a transaction that is settled by 
accepting and immediately relinquishing title to an asset. The proposal 
explained that this definition is intended to be consistent with prior 
OCC interpretive letters, which explain that transitory title transfer 
is a means of physical settlement in which a counterparty only briefly 
holds title to the underlying asset.\92\ The preamble explained that, 
consistent with prior OCC interpretations, transitory title transfer 
does not entail a national bank taking physical possession of a 
commodity.\93\ The OCC did not receive any comments on the definition 
of transitory title transfer and is adopting the definition as 
proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \92\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 962 (Apr. 21, 2003).
    \93\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1073; OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1060; OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1025 (Apr. 
25, 2005); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 962; OCC Interpretive Letter 
No. 684. See also 81 FR 96353, at 96355 (Dec. 30, 2016) (explaining 
``transitory title transfer typically does not entail physical 
possession of a commodity; the ownership occurs solely to facilitate 
the underlying transaction and lasts only for a moment in time.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Underlying. The proposal defined the term ``underlying'' 
to mean the reference asset, rate, obligation, or index on which the 
payment obligation(s) between counterparties to a derivatives 
transaction is based. The OCC included ``underlying'' as a defined term 
because the notice requirement in paragraph 7.1030(d) is triggered when 
a national bank expands its derivatives activities to include 
additional types of underlyings. The OCC received one comment on this 
definition. The commenter said the OCC should clarify that the 
definition of ``underlying'' should be construed broadly and flexibly 
over time, so as not to inadvertently introduce ambiguity with respect 
to whether a particular asset or quantitative measure may constitute an 
underlying of a permissible derivative transaction. However, the 
commenter did not provide examples of any particular asset or 
quantitative measure that would not be encompassed within the proposed 
definition. The OCC does not believe any changes to the definition of 
underlying are necessary to provide appropriate flexibility over time. 
The proposed definition encompasses any ``asset, rate, obligation, or 
index,'' which the OCC believes sufficiently encompasses the 
underlyings used by national banks as part of their permissible 
derivatives financial intermediation activities, and that these 
categories are in and of themselves sufficiently flexible. Accordingly, 
the final rule adopts the definition of underlying as proposed.
    The OCC requested comment on whether the final rule should include 
a definition of the term ``derivative'' and whether a definition of 
this term would be necessary to appropriately scope the proposed 
provision and whether any definition would be workable in practice. The 
OCC received one comment that did not support defining ``derivative'' 
in the final rule. This commenter said that there is no need for the 
rule to define ``derivative,'' as there is generally a common 
understanding of the term, as reflected in existing precedent. The OCC 
agrees that there is a common understanding of the term ``derivative'' 
and notes that prior OCC interpretations generally have not defined the 
term. Accordingly, the final rule does not include a specific 
definition of the term ``derivative.'' The OCC intends to implement the 
rule based on the common industry and supervisory understanding 
regarding the type of transactions that constitute derivatives.
    Permissible Derivatives Activities Generally. The proposal 
addressed five categories of permissible derivatives activities. For 
the reasons described below the final rule retains these five

[[Page 83707]]

categories as proposed. These categories are discussed below.
    <bullet> Derivatives Referencing Underlyings in which a National 
Bank May Invest Directly. Section 7.1030(c)(1) of the proposed rule 
specified that a national bank may engage in derivatives transactions 
with payments based on underlyings that a national bank is permitted to 
purchase directly as an investment. The OCC intended this provision to 
reflect OCC interpretive letters that have recognized that national 
banks may engage in derivatives activities where the derivative 
references assets that a national bank could purchase directly as an 
investment.\94\ The OCC did not receive any comments on paragraph 
(c)(1) and is adopting this paragraph as proposed. As specified in the 
preamble to the proposal, paragraph (c)(1) addresses only derivatives 
on underlyings that a national bank would be permitted to purchase 
directly as principal. For example, an underlying that a national bank 
could hold only as a nonconforming investment under 12 CFR part 1 or 
only in satisfaction of debts previously contracted would not be a 
permissible underlying under this paragraph.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \94\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 494 (Dec. 20, 1989); 
OCC Interpretive Letter No. 422 (Apr. 11, 1988); OCC No Objection 
Letter No. 86-13 (Aug. 8, 1986). See also, ``Report to Congress and 
the Financial Stability Oversight Council Pursuant to Section 620 of 
the Dodd-Frank Act'' at 86-90 (September 2016), available at https://www.occ.treas.gov/publications-and-resources/publications/banker-education/files/pub-report-to-congress-sec-620-dodd-frank.pdf 
(Section 620 Report).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Hedging Bank-Permissible Activities with Derivatives. 
Section 7.1030(c)(2) of the proposed rule provided that a national bank 
may engage in derivatives transactions with any underlying to hedge the 
risks arising from bank-permissible activities after providing notice 
to its EIC.\95\ The preamble to the proposal explained that the OCC has 
recognized that a national bank may hedge the risks of bank-permissible 
activities using derivatives on underlyings in which a national bank 
may not invest directly.\96\ The OCC did not receive any comments on 
this section and is adopting it as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \95\ In contrast, if a national bank engaged in hedging using 
derivatives on underlyings in which a national bank could invest 
directly, the bank would not need to provide notice because this 
activity could be conducted under Sec.  7.1030(c)(1) of the rule.
    \96\ The OCC has also long recognized that a national bank may 
hedge its risk using derivatives on underlyings that a national bank 
would be permitted to invest in directly. For example, a national 
bank may use futures contracts on exchange, coin, or bullion to 
hedge activities conducted pursuant to a national bank's statutory 
authority to buy and sell exchange, coin, or bullion. Similarly, a 
national bank may use futures to hedge against the risk of loss due 
to the interest rate fluctuations inherent in bank loan operations, 
U.S. Treasury Bills, and certificates of deposit. These activities 
may be conducted under Sec.  7.1030(c)(1) of the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    <bullet> Derivatives Financial Intermediation for Customers. 
Sections 7.1030(c)(3) through (5) of the proposal addressed derivatives 
financial intermediation activities. These sections of the proposal 
were intended to reflect the conclusions of OCC interpretive letters 
that have recognized that a national bank may act as a financial 
intermediary in customer-driven \97\ derivatives transactions on a 
variety of reference assets as part of the business of banking.\98\ 
These letters have recognized national banks' authority to enter into 
cash-settled, customer-driven derivatives transactions both on a 
perfectly-matched \99\ and portfolio-hedged basis.\100\ These letters 
have also recognized in this context the permissibility of physical 
settlement by transitory title transfer.\101\ Additionally, these 
letters have recognized that a national bank may engage in customer-
driven financial intermediation derivatives activities that are 
physically-settled (other than by transitory title transfer) and to 
physically hedge those derivatives in certain circumstances.\102\ The 
OCC proposed to incorporate and streamline the framework contained in 
its interpretive letters addressing derivatives financial 
intermediation activities in paragraphs 7.1030(c)(3) through (5). These 
paragraphs are adopted largely as proposed but with the targeted 
changes discussed below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \97\ A ``customer-driven'' transaction is one entered into for a 
customer's valid and independent business purposes. See, e.g., OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1160; OCC Interpretive Letter No. 892. This 
definition is addressed in Sec.  7.1030(b) of the rule.
    \98\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 937 (Jun. 27, 2002); 
OCC Interpretive Letter No. 892; No-Objection Letter 87-5 (Jul. 20, 
1987).
    \99\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1110 (longevity 
indexes); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1101 (Jul. 7, 2008) (certain 
risk indexes); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1089 (Oct. 15, 2007); 
(specific property indexes); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1081 (May 
15, 2007) (specific property indexes); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 
1079 (Apr. 19, 2007) (inflation indexes); OCC Interpretive Letter 
No. 1065 (Jul. 24, 2006) (petroleum products, agricultural oils, 
grains and grain derivatives, seeds, fibers, foodstuffs, livestock/
meat products, metals, wood products, plastics and fertilizer); OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1063 (Jun. 1, 2006) (hogs, lean hogs, pork 
bellies, lumber, corrugated cardboard, and polystyrene); OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1059 (Apr. 13, 2006) (old corrugated 
cardboard #11, polypropylene: injection molding (copoly), 
polypropylene: All grades, Dow Jones AIG Commodity Index); OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1056 (Mar. 29, 2006) (frozen concentrate 
orange juice, polypropylene); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1039 
(Sept. 13, 2005) (crude oil, natural gas, heating oil, natural 
gasoline, gasoline, unleaded gas, gasoil, diesel, jet fuel, jet-
kerosene, residual fuel oil, naphtha, ethane, propane, butane, 
isobutane, crack spreads, lightends, liquefied petroleum gases, 
natural gas liquids, distillates, oil products, coal, emissions 
allowances, benzene, dairy, cattle, wheat, corn, soybeans, soybean 
meal, soybean oil, cocoa, coffee, cotton, orange juice, sugar, 
paper, rubber, steel, aluminum, zinc, lead, nickel, tin, cobalt, 
iridium, rhodium, freight, high density polyethylene (plastic), 
ethanol, methanol, newsprint, paper (linerboard), pulp (kraft), and 
recovered paper (newsprint)).
    \100\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1073 (aluminum, 
nickel, lead, zinc, and tin); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1060 
(coal); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1040 (emissions allowances); OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 937 (electricity).
    \101\ See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1073 (aluminum, nickel, 
lead, zinc, and tin); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1060 (coal); OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1025 (electricity); Interpretive Letter No. 
962 (electricity). The term ``transitory title transfer'' means 
accepting and instantaneously relinquishing title to the commodity, 
as a party in a ``chain of title'' transfer. OCC Interpretive Letter 
No. 1025.
    \102\ See, e.g., OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1040; OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 892; OCC Interpretive Letter No. 684. OCC 
interpretive letters have explained that physical delivery can help 
to reduce the risk in customer-driven commodity derivatives 
transactions if the activity is conducted in accordance with safe 
and sound banking practices and would achieve a more accurate and 
precise hedge than a cash-settled transaction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received one comment addressing these sections. This 
commenter recommended revising Sec.  7.1030(c) to allow national banks 
to physically hedge cash-settled derivatives, in addition to 
physically-settled derivatives. This commenter also said, to the extent 
the final rule continues to differentiate between cash- and physically-
settled trades, the final rule should also confirm that, where a 
national bank has a physically-settled trade, the settlement of which 
it directs to an affiliate, the trade would be deemed to be cash-
settled. The final rule incorporates one change in response to this 
comment to clarify the rule's application to physical hedging involving 
transactions other than commodity derivatives. OCC interpretive letters 
and guidance addressing physical hedges of commodity derivatives are 
typically limited to hedges of physically-settled transactions.\103\ 
The OCC therefore disagrees with the commenter's suggestion that OCC 
interpretations generally permit physical hedging for

[[Page 83708]]

cash-settled derivatives. However, the OCC recognizes that interpretive 
letters addressing physical hedges of equity derivatives do not always 
include the same condition.\104\ In light of prior interpretations' 
treatment of equity derivatives transactions, the final rule removes 
the condition that a physical hedge of a derivative other than a 
commodity derivative must hedge a physically-settled transaction. The 
final rule effects this change by removing ``physically-settled (other 
than by transitory title transfer)'' from Sec.  7.1030(c)(5) and 
including physical settlement as a requirement for physical hedging 
involving commodities in new Sec.  7.1030(e)(5)(iii). These changes 
clarify that physical hedging involving securities is permissible for 
cash-settled transactions, but physical hedging involving commodities 
is permissible only to hedge physically-settled transactions. In 
response to the comment regarding physically-settled transactions where 
physical settlement is directed to an affiliate, the OCC confirms that 
the type of transactions described in Interpretive Letter 949 are 
permissible under the final rule as long as the transactions are cash-
settled with respect to the national bank.\105\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \103\ See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1040 (``The Bank may 
conduct the proposed customer-driven, physically settled emissions 
derivative business and hedge risks arising from these permissible 
banking activities as an extension of its existing energy-related 
commodities derivatives business . . . .''); OCC Interpretive Letter 
No. 684 (``the OCC concludes that it is legally permissible for a 
national bank to hedge the financial exposure arising from otherwise 
permissible banking activities in markets that involve physical 
delivery of commodities and, in connection with such hedging 
activities, to make or take physical delivery of commodities . . . 
.); OCC Bulletin 2015-35, Quantitative Limits on Physical Commodity 
Transactions (Aug. 4, 2015).
    \104\ See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 892; OCC Interpretive 
Letter No. 1090.
    \105\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 949 provides that the equity 
derivatives transactions under consideration in that letter would be 
cash settled with respect to the national bank and ``[i]f under the 
terms of certain contracts the customer is permitted to elect 
physical settlement, an affiliate of the bank will make or receive 
physical delivery.'' OCC Interpretive Letter No. 949 (Sept. 19, 
2002).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additionally, this commenter recommended that the OCC clarify the 
application of the definitions ``perfectly-matched'' and ``portfolio-
hedged'' to physically-hedged derivatives transactions. The commenter 
described that a derivative transaction that is physically hedged on an 
individual basis, such as a total return swap that is hedged via 
holding the underlying equity position would not necessarily be covered 
by the definition of ``perfectly-matched'' which is limited to two 
back-to-back derivatives transactions. As discussed above, the OCC 
believes it is preferable to retain the definition of ``perfectly-
matched'' as used in prior OCC interpretations. However, to address the 
commenter's concern that the activities described in Sec.  7.1030(c)(5) 
will not be perfectly matched under this definition, the final rule 
replaces the term ``perfectly-matched'' with ``hedged on a transaction-
by-transaction basis.'' This change is consistent with prior 
interpretations that describe physical hedging on a transaction-by-
transaction basis rather than on a ``perfectly-matched'' basis.\106\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \106\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1040 (``The Bank also proposes 
to hedge the market risk associated with the proposed emissions 
derivatives transactions on a transaction-by-transaction or 
portfolio basis, primarily with physical emissions allowances.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Relative to prior OCC interpretations, the final rule makes fewer 
distinctions based on the particular underlying or how the national 
bank hedges its derivatives financial intermediation activity. While 
prior interpretations typically analyzed both the underlying and the 
bank's method for hedging the customer-driven derivative (i.e., 
perfectly-matched versus portfolio-hedged), the final rule permits 
customer-driven, cash-settled derivatives transactions on any 
underlying, whether perfectly-matched or portfolio-hedged. The OCC 
recognizes that financial intermediation in derivatives continues to 
evolve and that the markets for derivatives on underlyings that the OCC 
has not previously addressed through interpretations may have 
sufficient liquidity and depth to allow a bank to conduct the activity 
as a financial intermediary. Similarly, the OCC recognizes that these 
same factors may allow a national bank to hedge its customer-driven 
derivatives activities in evolving ways--whether by portfolio hedging 
or physical hedging--consistent with conducting the activity as a 
financial intermediary. Accordingly, the OCC is adopting these 
provisions with the targeted changes described above.
    The proposal requested comment on whether the rule should reflect 
any additional safety and soundness standards regarding the underlyings 
that are permissible for financial intermediation in derivatives and 
how national banks may hedge these activities. The proposal 
specifically requested comment on whether the regulation should include 
additional language relating to the liquidity of the market for 
permissible customer-driven derivatives activities. The OCC did not 
receive any comments on this request and is not adopting any additional 
safety and soundness standards or language related to the underlyings 
that are permissible for derivatives financial intermediation 
activities. As with any national bank permissible activity, general 
safety and soundness standards apply to these activities.\107\ In 
addition, the final rule adopts specific requirements for physical 
hedging activities in Sec.  7.1030(e) and (c)(5) (prohibiting a 
national bank from taking physical delivery of any commodity by receipt 
of physical quantities of the commodity on bank premises).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \107\ As discussed below, the final rule includes new paragraph 
(f), which explicitly provides that a national bank must adhere to 
safe and sound banking practices in conducting the activities 
described in Sec.  7.1030.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice requirement. Section 7.1030(d) of the proposal required a 
national bank to provide written notice to its EIC prior to engaging in 
activity using derivatives referencing assets that a national bank 
could not invest in directly. The OCC intended this provision to be 
consistent with OCC interpretations that included a process in which 
the national bank provides notice to its EIC about the business and 
management practices the bank will employ in performing the derivatives 
activity as financial intermediation.\108\ The OCC received one comment 
addressing the notice process. This commenter said that the notice 
requirements should be revised to ensure consistency in supervisory 
standards and to clarify that the proper role of supervisors in 
evaluating derivatives activities relates to consistently applying 
safety and soundness standards, not evaluating legal permissibility. 
Specifically, this commenter said the final rule should clearly 
distinguish between the legal permissibility of derivatives 
transactions (to be governed by Sec.  7.1030 and the OCC's legal 
interpretations thereof) from firm-specific prudential concerns, to be 
reviewed by the EIC and supervisory team; require an EIC to consult 
with OCC leadership before raising any categorical safety and soundness 
concerns about an activity; and provide for consistent and uniform 
standards with respect to evaluating the safety and soundness of 
certain types of derivatives activities as a categorical matter, with 
the EIC and supervisory team focusing only on idiosyncratic, bank-
specific aspects of the relevant activity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \108\ For example, OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1160 contemplates 
that a bank would provide written notification to its EIC prior to 
commencing a derivatives financial intermediation business for a 
reference asset addressed in prior OCC interpretive letters. This 
process replaced the no-objection process that was typically 
included in prior OCC interpretive letters. See, e.g., OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 1065. The notice provision of the final rule 
also replaces the no-objection process contemplated in OCC 
interpretive letters addressing hedging activities using derivatives 
on underlyings in which a national bank could not invest directly. 
See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 896 (Aug. 21, 2000).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    First, the OCC believes the rule appropriately identifies safety 
and soundness and legal permissibility considerations. For example, 
paragraph (c) identifies the legally permissible categories of 
derivatives activities, while paragraphs (d) and (e) establish the 
supervisory notice requirement and

[[Page 83709]]

additional safety and soundness requirements, respectively. For further 
clarity, however, the final rule adds a new paragraph (f) confirming 
that a national bank must adhere to safe and sound banking practices in 
conducting the activities described in Sec.  7.1030. The provision 
specifically requires a bank to have a risk management system 
(policies, processes, personnel, and control system) that effectively 
manages (i.e., identifies, measures, monitors, and controls) these 
activities' interest rate, credit, liquidity, price, operational, 
compliance, and strategic risks. This provision clarifies that, in 
addition to being within a national bank's legal authority, derivatives 
activities must also be conducted in a safe and sound manner. As part 
of their regular supervisory activities, OCC supervisors consider both 
whether activities are safe and sound, as well as if they are conducted 
in compliance with applicable law.
    The final rule does not require supervisory staff to consult with 
OCC leadership before raising ``categorical safety and soundness 
concerns'' about a derivatives activity as the commenter suggested. Nor 
does the final rule prescribe uniform regulatory standards specific to 
evaluating the safety and soundness of certain types of derivatives 
activities. Making assessments with respect to the safety and soundness 
of an activity is the key function of OCC supervisors. The OCC has 
established generally applicable safety and soundness standards by 
regulation \109\ and has issued extensive guidance on the examination 
process.\110\ Requiring additional internal processes before an 
examiner may raise concerns regarding an activity could interfere with 
this important function. Accordingly, OCC supervisors will examine 
national bank derivatives activities as part of their regular and 
ongoing examination and supervision activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \109\ 12 CFR part 30.
    \110\ See, e.g., the Examination Process Series of the 
Comptroller's Handbook (June 2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC expects the notice requirement in the final rule to enhance 
prudential supervision of national bank derivatives activities by 
ensuring that banks evaluate the risks of the activities both at 
inception and on an ongoing basis. In addition, the OCC expects that 
incorporating notice as a regulatory requirement will ensure 
consistency in notice practices across OCC-supervised institutions. 
Like the proposal, the final rule requires the written notice to 
include information that is substantially similar to the information 
that is discussed in Interpretive Letter 1160. Specifically, the 
written notice must include a detailed description of the proposed 
activity, including the relevant underlying(s); the anticipated start 
date of activity; and a detailed description of the national bank's 
risk management system (policies, processes, personnel, and control 
systems) for identifying, measuring, monitoring, and controlling the 
risks of the activity.
    The notice requirement does not impose a prior approval 
requirement. Rather, the notice is designed to make OCC supervisors 
aware of a national bank's derivatives activities so that such 
activities can be appropriately scoped into OCC's ongoing supervision 
and oversight of the bank's safety and soundness. In addition, having 
awareness of a bank's derivatives activities will enable the OCC to 
raise questions as to whether the derivatives activity can be conducted 
in a safe and sound manner, or whether the derivatives activity is 
within the scope of those legally authorized for a national bank, 
before the bank activities commence or at any time, as is the case with 
any other permissible bank activities.
    Like the proposal, Sec.  7.1030(d)(1) of the final rule requires a 
national bank to provide its EIC notice prior to engaging in any of the 
derivatives hedging or financial intermediation activities described in 
Sec.  7.1030(c)(2) through (5) for the first time. This notice 
requirement applies, for example, if a bank has previously engaged in 
cash-settled derivatives with respect to a particular underlying as 
described in Sec.  7.1030(c)(3) but seeks to begin physically settling 
transactions as described in Sec.  7.1030(c)(4) or (5). Likewise, a 
national bank must provide notice prior to first engaging in 
derivatives hedging activities pursuant to Sec.  7.1030(c)(2) or 
expanding the bank's derivatives hedging activities to include a new 
category of underlying. Also like the proposal, under Sec.  
7.1030(d)(2) of the final rule, the bank must submit written notice at 
least 30 days before the national bank commences the derivatives 
activity.
    The OCC requested comment on whether it was sufficiently clear when 
a notice would be required and what would constitute a ``new category 
of underlying.'' The OCC specifically requested comments on whether the 
regulation text should list these categories and, if so, whether the 
regulation should specify that any new derivatives activities not 
falling within one of the specified categories also requires notice. 
The OCC received one comment in response to this request. This 
commenter said that the final rule should not define categories of 
``underlying'' by regulation, but rather should take a substantially 
more principles-based approach to determining when prior notice is 
required that looks primarily to the risk management implications and 
challenges of any potential new derivatives activity. Specifically, 
this commenter said the final rule should make clear that prior notice 
is required only when a national bank commences a new activity or 
modifies an existing activity that would expose the bank to, and 
require the bank to manage and control, a material and substantially 
new type of market risk. The commenter also said that no notice should 
be required under the final rule where a national bank engages in 
permissible derivatives activity that is hedged either (1) using 
mirrored transactions that involve no market risk or (2) on a nearly 
perfectly-matched basis that involve only de minimis residual market 
risk. In contrast, this commenter argued, where a national bank is 
engaged in derivatives activities that are hedged on a portfolio basis 
pursuant to which the bank is actively managing an inventory of market 
risks, imposing a notice requirement is appropriate as it would 
facilitate supervisory review of a bank's risk management and internal 
controls in implementing that hedging strategy.
    The OCC disagrees and finds that, even when a national bank 
believes it is not exposed to a materially new type of market risk, 
there is supervisory value in receiving notice of the new activities. 
The considerations identified by the commenter--facilitating 
supervisory review of a bank's risk management and internal controls in 
implementing its hedging strategy--are relevant whether the activity is 
hedged on a perfectly-matched or portfolio-hedged basis.\111\ Receiving 
a notice will allow supervisors to incorporate the activities into 
their overall supervisory strategy. The OCC disagrees that notice 
should not be required for derivatives transactions that the national 
bank determines involve de minimis market risk. Receiving notices in 
such circumstances is particularly important for banks that are 
engaging in derivatives activities for the first time or

[[Page 83710]]

expanding a limited derivatives business to incorporate additional 
derivatives products. The OCC believes that the notice process is a 
reasonable requirement in light of its value to supervisors. The notice 
process requires a limited amount of information that should be readily 
available to the bank and does not require that the bank receive 
approval prior to conducting the activity. Accordingly, the OCC 
continues to believe the notice process will provide an efficient 
notice standard for national banks engaging in derivatives activities. 
For the foregoing reasons, the OCC is adopting the notice requirement 
as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \111\ The notice requirement is expected to enhance supervision 
by providing OCC supervisors with comprehensive, up-to-date 
information on the activities in which the national bank is engaged. 
This information will assist OCC supervisors by ensuring they have 
an opportunity to assess a bank's ability to engage in derivatives 
activities in a safe and sound manner prior to the bank commencing 
the activity and provide them ongoing information as those 
activities expand to new categories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One commenter said that the final rule should make clear that 
national banks may continue to rely on guidance that they have 
previously received regarding the permissibility of derivatives 
activities and need not provide notice under proposed new Sec.  7.1030 
to continue to engage in activities that were commenced under the prior 
interpretive and supervisory framework before the final rule became 
effective. As described in the proposal, national banks that have 
provided notice to or received statements of no-objection from their 
EICs for particular derivatives activities consistent with the process 
in prior OCC interpretive letters would not be required to submit new 
notices for those activities.
    Additional requirements for physical hedging activities. Section 
7.1030(e) of the proposal incorporated the practices from prior 
interpretive letters and guidance related to physical hedging with 
securities and commodities.\112\ The proposal included certain 
modifications to these practices to promote consistency in the 
practices national banks employ with respect to physical hedging 
activities. Specifically, the proposal applied the framework in 
interpretive letters addressing physical hedging using securities to 
all physical hedging activities involving underlyings in which a 
national bank could not invest directly. Under the proposed rule, a 
national bank could engage in physical hedging only if: (1) The 
national bank holds the underlying solely to hedge risks arising from 
derivatives transactions originated by customers for the customers' 
valid and independent business purposes; (2) the physical hedging 
activities offer a cost-effective means to hedge risks arising from 
permissible banking activities; (3) the national bank does not take 
anticipatory or maintain residual positions in the underlying except as 
necessary for the orderly establishment or unwinding of a hedging 
position; and (4) the national bank does not acquire equity securities 
for hedging purposes that constitute more than five percent of a class 
of voting securities of any issuer.\113\ The OCC did not receive any 
comments on these proposed requirements for physical hedging 
activities. Because these requirements continue to accurately reflect 
OCC supervisory expectations for physical hedging activities, the OCC 
is adopting the requirements as proposed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \112\ See OCC Bulletin 2015-35; OCC Interpretive Letter No. 935 
(May 14, 2002); OCC Interpretive Letter No. 892; OCC Interpretive 
Letter No. 684.
    \113\ Certain of the practices described in prior OCC 
interpretive letters were not included in the proposed rule text 
because they are generally applicable safety and soundness standards 
that can be evaluated and addressed under other existing sources of 
law, including, as applicable, 12 U.S.C. 1818. For example, several 
interpretive letters discuss that a national bank should have 
appropriate risk management policies and procedures for its physical 
hedging activities. In addition, several interpretive letters have 
also specified that a bank may not engage in physical hedging 
activities for the purpose of speculating in security or commodity 
prices. As described above, customer-driven financial intermediation 
as defined in the proposal (and adopted in the final rule) would not 
include activities entered into for the purpose of speculation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Consistent with OCC interpretive letters and guidance concerning 
physical hedging with commodities in which a national bank could not 
invest directly,\114\ the proposed rule imposed additional requirements 
on physical hedging with commodities. Under the proposed rule, a 
national bank would be permitted to engage in physical hedging with 
commodities only if the national bank's physical position in a 
particular physical commodity (including, as applicable, delivery 
point, purity, grade, chemical composition, weight, and size) is no 
more than five percent of the gross notional value of the national 
bank's derivatives that (1) are in that same particular commodity and 
(2) allow for physical settlement within 30 days. Title to commodities 
acquired and immediately sold in a transitory title transaction would 
not count against this five percent limit.\115\ Consistent with OCC 
interpretive letters,\116\ the proposed rule permitted physical hedging 
involving commodities only if the physical position more effectively 
reduces risk than a cash-settled hedge involving the same commodity. 
The proposal also specified that a national bank may not take physical 
delivery of any commodity by receipt of physical quantities of the 
commodity on bank premises. The OCC explained in the preamble to the 
proposal that these requirements apply to physical hedging activities 
involving commodities due to the unique risks of physical commodity 
activities.\117\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \114\ See OCC Bulletin 2015-35; OCC Interpretive Letter No. 684.
    \115\ Consistent with OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1040, this 
five percent limit would not apply to physical hedging using 
emissions allowances.
    \116\ See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 684; OCC Interpretive 
Letter No. 632 (Jun. 30, 1993).
    \117\ See 85 at 40809. See also Section 620 Report (describing 
the price risks and operational risks specific to physical 
commodities activities).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received one comment addressing these requirements. First, 
this commenter said the final rule should require that any physical 
hedge be ``at least as effective as,'' not more effective than, a cash-
settled hedge. Second, this commenter said, to better align the five 
percent limit with financial risk management practices, this limit 
should be calculated based on the type of market risk (i.e., the 
denominator with respect to a given transaction should include all 
transactions that implicate substantially equivalent market risk). 
Third, the commenter said the OCC should expressly confirm that the 
five percent limit is intended to be calculated in the same manner 
described in OCC Bulletin 2015-35 and that the OCC should provide 
greater clarity and specificity regarding the derivatives that are 
included in the five percent test's denominator because they ``allow 
for physical settlement within 30 days.''
    The OCC disagrees with the first two comments. The purpose of Sec.  
7.1030(e) of the proposal was to incorporate the OCC's existing 
interpretations and supervisory guidance into regulation. Under 
existing interpretations, a physical hedge should be more effective 
than a cash-settled hedge involving the same commodity in light of the 
additional risks associated with physical hedging.\118\ In other words, 
if a national bank has a choice between hedging with a cash-settled 
derivative or a physical commodity, all else being equal, the bank 
should choose the cash-settled derivative that involves less risk to 
the bank. This general principle is consistent with OCC interpretations 
that have found cash-settled transactions raise fewer supervisory 
concerns compared to physically-settled transactions.\119\ Accordingly, 
the final rule continues to require a national bank to utilize cash-
settled transactions when such transactions are equally effective as 
physical hedges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \118\ See OCC Interpretive Letter No. 684; OCC Interpretive 
Letter No. 632.
    \119\ See generally OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1039; OCC 
Interpretive Letter No. 632; No-Objection Letter 87-5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under existing OCC guidance, the five percent limit on physical 
hedging activities applies to a particular

[[Page 83711]]

commodity, as defined by the commodity's delivery point, purity, grade, 
chemical composition, weight, and size (as applicable).\120\ This 
condition is intended to ensure a bank's physical hedging activities 
remain a nominal portion of the national bank's risk management 
activities.\121\ Further, applying the limit based on a particular 
commodity ensures that the national bank keeps physical inventory of a 
particular commodity to levels commensurate with its need to make or 
take physical delivery of that commodity.\122\ It remains important 
that a national bank's physical hedging activities amount to no more 
than a nominal portion of a bank's risk management activities and that 
the inventory of a particular commodity is limited to levels 
commensurate with the bank's need to make or take physical delivery of 
that commodity. Accordingly, the final rule continues to apply the 
limit to each particular physical commodity (including, as applicable, 
delivery point, purity, grade, chemical composition, weight, and size). 
The OCC believes that applying the limit based on a broader category, 
such as all transactions that implicate substantially equivalent market 
risk, would not be administrable and could lead to inconsistent 
calculation of the limit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \120\ OCC Bulletin 2015-35.
    \121\ Id.
    \122\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to the commenter's third comment on the five percent 
limit, the OCC confirms that the limit is meant to align with OCC 
Bulletin 2015-35. In particular, a national bank's physical position in 
a particular physical commodity (including, as applicable, delivery 
point, purity, grade, chemical composition, weight, and size) must not 
be more than five percent of the gross notional value of the bank's 
derivatives that are in that particular physical commodity and allow 
for physical settlement within 30 days. Like OCC Bulletin 2015-35, this 
limit applies to transactions that contemplate physical delivery within 
30 days, i.e., the denominator includes derivatives that can or will 
physically settle within 30 days.

Subpart B--National Bank Corporate Practices

National Bank Corporate Governance (Sec.  7.2000)
    As noted, the OCC continually seeks to update its regulations to 
stay current with industry changes and technological advances, subject 
to Federal law and consistent with the safe and sound operation of the 
banking system. As part of this process, the OCC proposed updating and 
modernizing Sec.  7.2000, which provides a regulatory framework for 
national bank corporate governance. As described by the OCC in various 
conditional approvals,\123\ ``corporate governance procedures'' 
generally refer to requirements involving the operation and mechanics 
of the internal organization of a national bank, including relations 
among owners-investors, directors, and officers, and do not include 
requirements that relate to the banking powers or activities of a 
national bank or relationships between a national bank and customers or 
third parties. Examples of corporate governance procedures include, but 
are not limited to, share exchanges, anti-takeover provisions, and the 
use of blank check procedures in issuing preferred stock. The OCC 
issued Sec.  7.2000 in 1996 to provide national banks with increased 
flexibility to structure their corporate governance procedures 
consistent with the particular needs of the bank while providing 
shareholders and others with adequate notice of the corporate standards 
on which a bank will rely.\124\ The OCC has not substantively changed 
Sec.  7.2000 since its adoption.\125\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \123\ See e.g., OCC Conditional Approval No. 859 (June 13, 
2008); OCC Conditional Approval No. 696 (June 9, 2005).
    \124\ 61 FR 4849, at 4854 (Feb. 9, 1996).
    \125\ Non-substantive amendments to Sec.  7.2000 changed the 
address and telephone number of the OCC Communications Office. See 
79 FR 15641 (March 21, 2014); 80 FR 28345 (May 18, 2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 7.2000 currently provides that a national bank proposing to 
engage in a corporate governance procedure must comply with applicable 
Federal banking statutes and regulations and safe and sound banking 
practices. In addition, Sec.  7.2000 provides that to the extent not 
inconsistent with applicable Federal banking statutes or regulations, 
or bank safety and soundness, a national bank may elect to follow the 
corporate governance procedures of the law of the State in which the 
main office of the bank is located, the law of the State in which the 
holding company of the bank is incorporated, Delaware General 
Corporation Law, or the Model Business Corporation Act. Further, Sec.  
7.2000 requires that a national bank designate in its bylaws the body 
of law selected for its corporate governance procedures. Finally, Sec.  
7.2000 describes the process for obtaining OCC staff positions on the 
ability of a national bank to engage in a particular corporate 
governance procedure.
    The OCC proposed to amend Sec.  7.2000 to reduce burden, provide 
greater clarity, and modernize the national bank charter with respect 
to corporate governance provisions. The proposed amendments also would 
address anomalous results that may arise when a national bank 
eliminates its holding company. As a general matter, the OCC proposed 
changing the term ``corporate governance procedure'' used in Sec.  
7.2000 to ``corporate governance provisions'' and to revise paragraph 
(a) of Sec.  7.2000 accordingly. As discussed in the proposal, the OCC 
believes that ``corporate governance procedure'' may be construed more 
narrowly than intended and omit corporate governance practices that are 
not procedural in nature. The OCC proposed revising paragraph (a) to 
provide the corporate governance provisions in a national bank's 
articles of association and bylaws and the bank's conduct of its 
corporate governance affairs must comply with applicable Federal 
banking statutes and regulations and safe and sound banking practices. 
The OCC received no comments on proposed paragraph (a) and adopts it as 
proposed. As discussed in the proposal, the OCC does not intend this 
change to affect the application of prior OCC interpretations of 
corporate governance procedures to Sec.  7.2000.
    The OCC also proposed increasing a national bank's flexibility in 
choice of corporate governance provisions in three ways. First, the OCC 
proposed revising paragraph (b) of Sec.  7.2000 to authorize a national 
bank to elect the corporate governance provisions of the law of any 
State in which any branch of the bank is located in addition to the law 
of the State in which the bank's main office is located, to the extent 
not inconsistent with applicable Federal banking statutes or 
regulations or safety and soundness. The OCC received no comments on 
this change and adopts it as proposed. Accordingly, a national bank is 
no longer limited to using the corporate governance provisions of the 
State where its main office is located. For example, a national bank 
with its main office in State A and branches in State B and State C may 
elect to use the corporate governance provisions of the law of one of 
State A, State B, or State C.
    Second, the OCC proposed revising paragraph (b) to authorize the 
national bank to use the law of the State where one holding company of 
the bank is incorporated. The current rule indicates that a national 
bank may use the law of the State where the holding company of the bank 
is incorporated. This amendment expressly recognizes the

[[Page 83712]]

possibility that a national bank may be controlled by more than one 
holding company and that those holding companies may be incorporated by 
different States. Under this amendment, the bank is able to pick the 
law of the State of any one of its holding companies. The OCC received 
no comments on this change and adopts it as proposed, with a technical 
change for consistency within paragraph (b).
    Third, the OCC proposed adding a new paragraph (c) that would allow 
a national bank to continue to use the corporate governance provisions 
of the law of the State where its holding company is incorporated even 
if the holding company is later eliminated or no longer controls the 
bank, and the national bank is not located in that State. This 
amendment removes an impediment to a national bank that may choose to 
eliminate its holding company or is no longer controlled by that 
holding company but wishes to retain longstanding and familiar 
corporate governance provisions. The OCC received one comment 
supporting proposed paragraph (c) and adopts it as proposed.
    The OCC also proposed revising current paragraph (c) of Sec.  
7.2000 (proposed to be redesignated as Sec.  7.2000(d)). Current 
paragraph (c) provides that the OCC considers requests for the OCC 
staff's position on the ability of a national bank to engage in a 
particular State corporate governance procedure in accordance with the 
no-objection procedures set forth in OCC Banking Circular 205 or any 
subsequently published agency procedures, and that requests should 
demonstrate how the proposed practice is not inconsistent with 
applicable Federal statutes or regulations and is consistent with bank 
safety and soundness. The OCC issued Banking Circular 205 on July 26, 
1985 and has not modified it since. However, a national bank also may 
request the views of the OCC on an interpretation of national banking 
statutes and regulations independent of the process in Banking Circular 
205, which has been the more common approach since 1985.
    In order to update paragraph (c), the OCC proposed removing the 
requirement that banks requesting the OCC's views on State corporate 
governance law use the no-objection procedure. The proposal also listed 
the information that a request must contain. Similar to what is set 
forth in OCC Banking Circular 205, this information, includes: (1) The 
name of the bank; (2) citations to the State statutes or regulations 
involved; (3) a discussion as to whether a similarly situated State 
bank is subject to or may adopt the corporate governance provision; (4) 
identification of all Federal banking statutes or regulations that are 
on the same subject as, or otherwise have a bearing on, the subject of 
the proposed State corporate governance provision; and (5) an analysis 
of how the proposed corporate governance provision is not inconsistent 
with applicable Federal statutes or regulations nor with bank safety 
and soundness. The OCC received no comments on proposed paragraph (d) 
and adopts it as proposed. The OCC notes that this provision does not 
preclude a national bank from seeking informal consultation with OCC 
staff. However, if the bank wants to receive a written response from 
OCC staff, it must follow the procedure in this proposed paragraph (d).
    The final rule revises the heading of Sec.  7.2000 to reflect the 
change in terminology from corporate governance procedures to corporate 
governance provisions. The final rule also makes a technical change to 
the heading not previously proposed to clarify that this provision 
applies to national banks. As a result, the heading now reads 
``National bank corporate governance.''
    The OCC requested comment on whether a national bank also should be 
able to adopt a combination of corporate governance provisions from the 
laws of several different States where the national bank and any 
holding companies are located, thus potentially resulting in a national 
bank following corporate governance provisions that derive from a 
combination of States' laws, or whether a national bank should be 
limited to electing and using the corporate governance provisions of a 
single State. The OCC received one comment on this request. The 
commenter raised potential litigation issues with adopting a 
combination of corporate governance provisions, questioning whether 
courts will respect combined elections of law where there are minimal 
contacts with a State whose law has been elected, and citing a trend in 
court decisions on the validity of choice of law as part of contractual 
agreements. Given this concern and the lack of positive comments 
regarding this change, as well as the possible confusion for the bank, 
shareholders, the OCC, and others that may arise with the use of 
multiple States' corporate governance laws, the OCC is not amending the 
final rule at this time to permit the adoption of corporate governance 
provisions from the laws of several different States.
    Further, the OCC requested comment on whether it should make, to 
the extent appropriate, similar revisions to the regulations pertaining 
to corporate governance provisions for Federal savings associations in 
12 CFR 5.21 and 5.22. Under current law, all Federal savings 
associations may elect to use the corporate governance provisions of 
the laws of the State where the home office of the association is 
located. Federal stock savings associations also may elect the laws of 
the State where any holding company of the association is incorporated 
or chartered; Delaware General Corporation law; or the Model Business 
Corporation Act, provided that such procedures may be elected to the 
extent not inconsistent with applicable Federal statutes and 
regulations and safety and soundness, and such procedures are not 
prohibited by part 5. One commenter stated that Federal mutual savings 
associations should have the same leeway in making a choice of law as 
national banks. Accordingly, the OCC is revising Sec. Sec.  5.21 and 
5.22 to permit additional flexibility for Federal savings associations 
to allow parity with national banks, as applicable and pursuant to 
permissible law. As a result of this final rule, Federal savings 
associations also may elect to use the corporate governance provisions 
of any State in which a branch of the association is located and, in 
the case of Federal stock savings associations, the law of any State in 
which any current or former holding company of the association is 
incorporated or chartered. The final rule also changes ``institution'' 
to ``association'' in Sec.  5.21 for consistency.
    In addition, the OCC requested comment on whether the final rule 
should change the term ``corporate governance procedures'' to 
``corporate governance provisions'' in Sec. Sec.  5.21 and 5.22 to be 
consistent with the change in terminology proposed for Sec.  7.2000. 
The OCC did not receive any comments on this request. For clarity and 
conformity, the OCC is making this technical change to Sec. Sec.  5.21 
and 5.22.
    The OCC received two additional comments regarding Sec.  7.2000. 
One commenter requested that the OCC review the form articles of 
association and bylaws to confirm that they are consistent with 
applicable Federal banking statutes and regulations. The commenter 
asserted that these forms contain requirements that are not mandated by 
Federal banking statutes and regulations. As the commenter's request 
does not specifically request any specific revisions to Sec.  7.2000, 
the OCC is adopting the amendments as proposed. However, the OCC notes 
that it periodically reviews its model articles of association and 
bylaws in the ordinary course of business.

[[Page 83713]]

    Another commenter recommended that the OCC add a provision to part 
7 recognizing the authority of a national bank to adopt exculpatory 
clauses in their articles and/or bylaws under applicable State law or 
the Model Code. The commenter's request for a provision on national 
bank authority to adopt exculpatory clauses raises an issue that the 
OCC did not specifically address in the proposal. The proposed 
revisions were not intended to address or sanction specific substantive 
provisions of State corporate law. As the OCC did not contemplate the 
commenter's requested provision in the proposed rule, the OCC declines 
to further revise Sec.  7.200 at this time. However, the agency may 
consider this and similar issues in future rulemakings.
National Bank Adoption of Anti-Takeover Provisions (Sec.  7.2001)
    The OCC proposed to add a new Sec.  7.2001 to address the extent to 
which a national bank may include anti-takeover provisions in its 
articles of association or bylaws.\126\ Anti-takeover provisions are 
examples of corporate governance provisions \127\ covered by 12 CFR 
7.2000. As discussed above, under Sec.  7.2000(b) a national bank may 
elect to follow the corporate governance provisions of specified State 
law to the extent it is (1) not inconsistent with applicable Federal 
banking statutes or regulations and (2) not inconsistent with bank 
safety and soundness.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \126\ OCC regulations currently include provisions addressing 
adoption of anti-takeover provisions by stock Federal savings 
associations. See 12 CFR 5.22(g)(7), (h) and (j)(2)(i)(A). The OCC 
did not propose to amend those provisions.
    \127\ The final rule changes this terminology in Sec.  7.2000 to 
``corporate governance provisions.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received one comment related to proposed Sec.  7.2001. The 
commenter raised several concerns about how the provision would apply 
to mutual institutions. The OCC notes that proposed Sec.  7.2001 
applies only to national banks, not Federal mutual savings 
associations. Further, national banks may only be organized as 
corporations and not as banks in the mutual form of organization. The 
proposal noted it did not apply to Federal savings associations and 
that existing provisions on this subject applicable to stock Federal 
savings associations were not affected by the proposal.\128\ Therefore, 
the OCC adopts Sec.  7.2001 as proposed, with one clarifying change to 
paragraph (d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \128\ See 85 FR 40794, at 40810, note 108.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted in the proposed rule, the purpose of Sec.  7.2001 is to 
provide the OCC's views about the permissibility of several types of 
anti-takeover provisions. Specifically, paragraph (a) of Sec.  7.2001 
provides that a national bank may, pursuant to 12 CFR 7.2000(b), adopt 
anti-takeover provisions included in State corporate governance law if 
the provisions are not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes or 
regulations and not inconsistent with bank safety and soundness.
    Paragraph (b) of Sec.  7.2001 sets forth the type of anti-takeover 
provisions in State corporate governance provisions that the OCC 
specifically has determined are not inconsistent with Federal banking 
statutes or regulations.\129\ This list is not exclusive and the OCC 
may find that other State anti-takeover laws are not inconsistent with 
Federal banking statutes or regulations. A national bank may elect to 
follow these provisions, subject to the bank safety and soundness 
limitation discussed below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \129\ Permitting the use of staggered boards is another anti-
takeover provision. New Sec.  7.2001 does not include staggered 
boards because they are now expressly permitted under the National 
Bank Act. 12 U.S.C. 71; 12 CFR 7.2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Restrictions on business combinations with interested shareholders. 
These State provisions prohibit, or permit the corporation to prohibit 
in its certificate of incorporation or other governing document, the 
corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested 
shareholder or any related entity for a specified period of time (e.g., 
three years) from the date on which the shareholder first becomes an 
interested shareholder (subject to certain exceptions, such as board 
approval). An interested shareholder is one that owns an amount of 
stock specified in the State statute, e.g., at least fifteen percent. 
Federal banking statutes and regulations do not address, directly or 
indirectly, this type of restriction for national banks. Although 
Federal banking statutes authorize national banks to engage in 
specified consolidations and mergers,\130\ this authorization does not 
preclude a bank's shareholders from adopting a provision that limits 
the consolidations and mergers into which the bank would enter. 
Therefore, State restrictions on business combinations with interested 
shareholders are not inconsistent with Federal law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \130\ See 12 U.S.C 215, 215a, 215a-1, 215a-3, and 215c.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Poison pill. A ``poison pill'' is a State statutory provision that 
provides, or that permits the corporation to provide in its certificate 
of incorporation or other governing document, that all shareholders, 
other than the hostile acquiror, have the right to purchase additional 
stock at a substantial discount upon the occurrence of a triggering 
event. Because no Federal banking statutes or regulations directly or 
indirectly address these shareholder purchase rights, State poison pill 
laws are not inconsistent with Federal law.\131\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \131\ However, shareholders, including the hostile acquiror, 
should consider the implications under the Change in Bank Control 
Act or Bank Holding Company Act if a shareholder, or shareholders 
acting in concert, acquire sufficient shares to constitute 
``control.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Requiring all shareholder actions to be taken at a meeting. These 
State provisions provide, or permit the corporation to provide in its 
certificate of incorporation or other governing document, that all 
actions to be taken by shareholders must occur at a meeting and 
prohibit shareholders from taking action by written consent. Certain 
Federal banking statutes require shareholder approval to be taken at a 
meeting \132\ while other sections require shareholder approval but do 
not specify a meeting.\133\ There is no provision in Federal law 
authorizing national bank shareholders to take action by written 
consent in lieu of a meeting. Furthermore, nothing in Federal law 
precludes a national bank's articles of association from requiring a 
meeting for any action. Therefore, this type of State provision is not 
inconsistent with Federal law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \132\ See 12 U.S.C. 71, 214a, 215, 215a, and 215a-2.
    \133\ See 12 U.S.C. 30, 51a, 57, and 59. However, 12 U.S.C. 21a 
provides that any action requiring approval of the stockholders be 
obtained by approval by a majority vote of the voting shares at a 
meeting, unless the statutory provision addressing the action 
requires greater level of approval.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Limits on shareholders' authority to call special meetings. These 
State provisions provide, or permit the corporation to provide in its 
certificate of incorporation or other governing document, that only the 
board of directors, and not shareholders, have the right to call 
special meetings of the shareholders or, if shareholders have the 
right, require a high percentage of shareholders to call the meeting. 
Because Federal banking statutes or regulations do not address, 
directly or indirectly, the right of shareholders of a national bank to 
call special meetings, these type of State laws are not inconsistent 
with Federal law.
    Shareholder removal of a director only for cause. These State 
provisions provide, or permit the corporation to provide in its 
certificate of incorporation or other governing document, that 
shareholders may remove a director only for cause, rather than both for 
cause and without cause. The National Bank Act and OCC regulations do 
not have a specific provision addressing director removal

[[Page 83714]]

by shareholders. Removal only for cause is consistent with the OCC's 
model national bank Articles of Association, which provide for removal 
for cause and for failure to meet statutory director 
qualifications.\134\ Therefore, State provisions requiring shareholder 
removal of a director only for cause are not inconsistent with Federal 
law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \134\ See Articles of Association, Charters, and Bylaw 
Amendments (Forms), Comptroller's Licensing Manual (June 19, 2017) 
(Model Articles of Association, Article Fourth, last paragraph).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Paragraph (c) of Sec.  7.2001 sets forth the type of anti-takeover 
provisions in State corporate governance provisions that the OCC has 
determined are inconsistent with Federal banking statutes or 
regulations. A national bank may not elect to follow these provisions. 
These provisions are set forth below.
    Supermajority voting requirements. These State statutory provisions 
require, or permit the corporation to require in its certificate of 
incorporation or other governing document, that a supermajority of the 
shareholders approve specified matters. A requirement that a 
supermajority vote of shareholders must approve some transactions is 
inconsistent with Federal law when applied to transactions for which a 
Federal statute or regulation includes an express specific shareholder 
approval level. Certain provisions of the National Bank Act specify 
shareholder approval by a two-thirds vote \135\ and other provisions 
require majority shareholder approval.\136\ When a provision in the 
National Bank Act specifies the level of shareholder vote required for 
approval, it is inconsistent with Federal law to follow a State 
corporate governance provision that permits or requires a different 
level or an additional shareholder approval requirement for a subset of 
shareholders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \135\ See 12 U.S.C. 30, 57, 59, 181, 214a, 215, 215a, and 215a-
2.
    \136\ See 12 U.S.C. 21a and 51a.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Restrictions on a shareholder's right to vote all the shares it 
owns. These State statutory provisions prohibit, or permit the 
corporation in its certificate of incorporation or other governing 
document to prohibit, a person from voting shares acquired that 
increase their percentage of ownership of the company's stock above a 
certain level. This type of provision is inconsistent with the National 
Bank Act, which expressly provides that each shareholder is entitled to 
one vote on each share of stock held by the shareholder on all matters 
other than elections for directors, where cumulative voting may be 
allowed if so provided in the articles of association.\137\ A State 
corporate governance provision that interferes with this express right 
to vote is inconsistent with Federal law.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \137\ 12 U.S.C. 61.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As indicated above, Sec.  7.2000(b) permits a national bank to 
elect to follow a State corporate governance provision only if it is 
not inconsistent with Federal law and bank safety and soundness. 
Paragraph (d) of Sec.  7.2001 addresses the impact of bank safety and 
soundness on adoption of anti-takeover provisions.
    Anti-takeover provisions may make it harder for a bank to be 
acquired by another bank or by investors or to raise capital by 
discouraging share purchases by a potential acquiror. Thus, when a bank 
is in a weak condition, anti-takeover provisions the OCC has determined 
are not inconsistent with Federal law nevertheless would be 
inconsistent with bank safety and soundness if they would impair the 
possibility of restoring the bank to sound condition. These provisions 
would then be impermissible.
    Accordingly, paragraph (d) provides that any State corporate 
governance provision, including anti-takeover provisions, that would 
render more difficult or discourage an injection of capital by purchase 
of bank stock, a merger, the acquisition of the bank, a tender offer, a 
proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block 
of the bank's stock, or the removal of the incumbent board of directors 
or management is inconsistent with bank safety and soundness if: (1) 
The bank is less than adequately capitalized (as defined in 12 CFR part 
6); (2) the bank is in troubled condition (as defined in 12 CFR 
5.51(c)(7)); (3) grounds for the appointment of a receiver under 12 
U.S.C. 191 are present, as determined by the OCC; or (4) the bank is 
otherwise in less than satisfactory condition, as determined by the 
OCC. The OCC notes that the final rule adds ``as determined by the 
OCC'' to paragraph (d)(3) to clarify for a bank when this condition 
would be present.
    However, paragraph (d) also provides that an anti-takeover 
provision is not inconsistent with bank safety and soundness if, at the 
time it adopts the provision, the national bank: (1) Is not subject to 
any of the foregoing conditions and (2) includes along with the 
provision a limitation that the provision is not effective if one or 
more of the foregoing conditions occur or if the OCC otherwise directs 
the bank not to follow the provision for supervisory reasons.
    Paragraph (e) provides for OCC case-by-case review of anti-takeover 
provisions. The OCC reviewed each type of State anti-takeover provision 
described in paragraph (b) for consistency with Federal banking 
statutes and regulations only at a general level, without reviewing the 
specific terms of a proposed provision to be adopted by a particular 
bank. While the OCC has concluded that the types of provisions set out 
in paragraph (b) are not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and 
regulations in general, the specific provision a particular bank adopts 
may contain features that could change the result of the OCC's review. 
Similarly, some anti-takeover provisions may be inconsistent with bank 
safety and soundness for a particular national bank because of its 
individual circumstances, even if it is not subject to the conditions 
listed in paragraph (d).
    In order to address the need for individual determinations when 
appropriate, paragraph (e) provides that the OCC may determine that a 
State anti-takeover provision, as proposed or adopted by an individual 
national bank, is (1) inconsistent with Federal banking statutes or 
regulations, even if it is of a type included in paragraph (b) or (2) 
inconsistent with bank safety and soundness other than as provided in 
paragraph (d). The OCC may begin a case-by-case review on its own 
initiative. In addition, a bank that wishes the OCC to review the 
permissibility of the specific State anti-takeover provisions it has 
adopted or proposes to adopt may request the OCC's review, under the 
procedures set forth at 12 CFR 7.2000(d).
    Finally, paragraph (f) addresses the method a national bank, its 
shareholders, and its directors must use to adopt each anti-takeover 
provision. In general, the bank must follow the requirements for board 
of director and shareholder approval set out in the State corporate 
governance statute it is electing to follow. However, if the provision 
is included in the bank's articles of association, the bank's 
shareholders must approve the amendment of the articles pursuant to 12 
U.S.C. 21a, even if the State law does not require approval by the 
shareholders. Further, if the State corporate governance law requires 
the provision to be in the company's articles of incorporation, 
certificate of incorporation, or similar document, the national bank 
must include the provision in its articles of association. If the State 
corporate governance law does not require the provision to be in the 
company's articles of incorporation,

[[Page 83715]]

certificate of incorporation, or similar document but allows it to be 
in the bylaws, then the national bank must include the provision in 
either its articles of association or in its bylaws. However, if the 
State corporate governance law requires shareholder approval for 
changes to the corporation's bylaws, then the national bank must 
include the provision in its articles of association.
National Bank Director or Attorney as Proxy (Sec.  7.2002)
    Twelve U.S.C. 61 prohibits an officer, clerk, teller, or bookkeeper 
of the national bank from acting as proxy for shareholder voting. 
Section 7.2002 codifies this prohibition in OCC regulations and 
provides that any person or group of persons, except the bank's 
officers, clerks, tellers, or bookkeepers, may be designated to act as 
proxy. The OCC proposed to amend this section to clarify that the proxy 
referenced in the section is for shareholder voting, as provided in the 
statute. The OCC received no comments on this clarification and adopts 
it as proposed with technical changes. The final rule revises the 
section heading and rule text to clarify that this provision applies to 
national banks. The OCC intends no substantive changes to Sec.  7.2002.
National Bank Shareholder Meetings; Board of Directors Meetings (Sec.  
7.2003)
    The OCC is finalizing changes it made to part 7 in an interim final 
rule entitled Director, Shareholder, and Member Meetings, published in 
the Federal Register on May 28, 2020.\138\ Among other things, this 
interim final rule amended Sec.  7.2003 to permit national banks to 
provide for telephonic or electronic participation at shareholder and 
board of directors meetings.\139\ To accomplish this, the OCC combined 
former 12 CFR 7.2001, which provided for procedures for notifying 
shareholders of shareholder meetings, into former Sec.  7.2003, which 
provided the rule for annual shareholder meetings that fall on a 
holiday; added new telephonic and electronic participation language to 
12 CFR 7.2003 as new paragraphs (c) and (d); and retitled Sec.  7.2003 
as ``Shareholder meetings; Board of directors meetings.'' Former Sec.  
7.2001 became Sec.  7.2003(a). Former Sec.  7.2003 become Sec.  
7.2003(b). Combining Sec. Sec.  7.2001 and 7.2003 put all amendments 
related to shareholder meetings in one section.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \138\ 85 FR 31943 (May 28, 2020). This rule was effective May 
28, 2020.
    \139\ The OCC finalized amendments made by this interim final 
rule to part 5 in its recent Licensing Amendments final rule. See 85 
FR 80404 (Dec. 11, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC received one substantive comment letter that supported 
these amendments. In response to a request for comment included in the 
preamble to this interim final rule, this commenter opposed any new 
risk management standards to mitigate any security risks arising from 
telephonic or electronic meetings, noting that new standards would be 
unnecessary given current safeguards and regulatory requirements. The 
OCC is finalizing the amendments made by the interim final rule to 
Sec. Sec.  7.2001 and 7.2003 with conforming and technical changes. The 
final rule replaces references in Sec.  7.2003 to ``corporate 
governance procedures'' to ``corporate governance provisions,'' to 
conform to the change in this terminology made by Sec.  7.2000 of this 
final rule. The final rule also makes a technical change to the heading 
to add national banks. The OCC notes that it is not imposing any new 
risk management standards for telephonic or electronic meetings though 
this final rule.
    Specifically, Sec.  7.2003(c) permits a national bank to provide 
for telephonic or electronic participation at shareholder meetings. 
Further, paragraph (c) requires a national bank to have procedures for 
telephonic or electronic participation in shareholder meetings. A 
national bank may choose these procedures from several sources: (1) The 
corporate governance provisions it has elected to follow pursuant to 
Sec.  7.2000(b), if those elected procedures include telephonic or 
electronic participation procedures; (2) the Delaware General 
Corporation Law; or (3) the Model Business Corporation Act. However, 
these procedures must not be inconsistent with applicable Federal 
statutes and regulations and safety and soundness. This provision 
ensures that a national bank has procedures in place for remote 
participation at shareholder meetings even if the corporate governance 
law it has elected to follow does not contain procedures for remote 
participation at shareholder meetings or if it has not elected to 
follow any particular corporate governance law pursuant to Sec.  
7.2000(b). To inform shareholders of its choice of procedures, this 
paragraph requires the national bank to indicate the use of these 
procedures in its bylaws.
    Paragraph (d) of Sec.  7.2003 provides that a national bank may 
provide for telephonic or electronic participation at a meeting of its 
board of directors. This provision codifies OCC Interpretive Letter No. 
860 \140\ and makes the national bank rule consistent with rules for 
Federal savings associations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \140\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 860 (Apr. 5, 1999).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oath of National Bank Directors (Sec.  7.2008)
    The OCC is making technical changes to Sec.  7.2008 in this final 
rule not included in the proposed rule. Currently, Sec.  7.2008 
provides that a notary public, including one who is a director but not 
an officer of the national bank, may administer the oath of directors, 
and that any person, other than an officer of the bank, having an 
official seal and authorized by the State to administer oaths, also may 
administer the oath. However, the statute governing the oath of bank 
directors, 12 U.S.C. 73, requires that the oath be taken before a 
notary public or any other State authorized officer other than an 
officer of the director's bank. Further, OCC instructions conform to 
the statute by requiring the director to take the oath before a notary 
public or other authorized State official.\141\ The final rule corrects 
the regulation to require that this oath be administered by a notary 
public or any person having an official seal and authorized by the 
State to administer oaths, other than an officer of the national bank, 
thereby conforming this rule to the statute. Further, the final rule 
clarifies that the State-authorized officer not a notary may be a 
director of the bank, as may the notary public under the current rule, 
as long as that person is not also an officer of the bank.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \141\ See ``General Instructions--Oath of Bank Directors'' at 
www.occ.gov/static/licensing/Instructions-Oaths-NB.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quorum of a National Bank Board of Directors; Proxies Not Permissible 
(Sec.  7.2009)
    Section 7.2009 requires a national bank to provide in its articles 
of association or bylaws that a quorum of the board of directors is at 
least a majority of the entire board then in office. Section 7.2009 
also prohibits bank officers from voting by proxy. The OCC did not 
propose any substantive changes to this section. However, the OCC 
received one comment on Sec.  7.2009 requesting that the OCC revise it 
to allow national banks to adopt the quorum requirements of the law of 
the relevant State, the Delaware General Corporate Law, or the Model 
Business Corporation Act. Both the Model Business Corporation Act and 
Delaware General Corporate Law permit corporate boards to deem one 
third of all members sufficient to establish a quorum.
    The OCC disagrees with this comment. The current requirement in

[[Page 83716]]

Sec.  7.2009 that at least a majority of the Board meet to constitute a 
quorum is designed to ensure the safety and soundness of bank 
operations. Any lesser quorum requirement could result in greater 
absenteeism in managing the affairs of the bank and enable a smaller 
minority of directors to dictate the direction of corporate affairs, 
which would heighten risks to safety and soundness. The OCC did not 
propose an amendment to the quorum requirements of Sec.  7.2009 and 
declines to do so in this final rule.
National Bank Directors' Responsibilities (Sec.  7.2010)
    Twelve CFR 7.2010 provides that the business and affairs of a bank 
shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors 
and that boards of directors should refer to published OCC guidance for 
additional information regarding responsibilities of directors. The OCC 
did not propose substantive changes to Sec.  7.2010.
    Two commenters discussed the second sentence of Sec.  7.2010, which 
states that the board of directors should refer to OCC published 
guidance for additional information regarding responsibilities of 
directors. One commenter stated that the sentence might be read as 
codifying guidance and suggested that the referenced guidance may be 
incorrect, inconsistent, or omit information that is germane to the 
duties and responsibilities of bank directors. Another commenter stated 
that the reference to guidance in Sec.  7.2010 should be revised to 
avoid suggesting that guidance has the force of law. This commenter 
recommended that the OCC revise Sec.  7.2010 to delete the second 
sentence and establish any specific legal standards regarding director 
responsibilities through the rulemaking process. The OCC notes that 
Sec.  7.2010 only refers boards of directors to OCC guidance for 
additional information and does not suggest that guidance has the force 
of law nor that the guidance contains all pertinent information. This 
guidance may be helpful to boards of directors by discussing existing 
legal requirements applicable to directors and, consistent with the 
Interagency Statement Clarifying the Role of Supervisory Guidance,\142\ 
outlining the OCC's supervisory expectations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \142\ Interagency Statement Clarifying the Role of Supervisory 
Guidance, https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2018/nr-ia-2018-97a.pdf (Sept. 11, 2018). The OCC, Federal Deposit 
Corporation (FDIC), and Federal Reserve Board issued a proposed rule 
codifying this statement on November 5, 2020. 85 FR 70512.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One commenter also suggested that the OCC repeal Sec.  7.2010 in 
its entirety or revise it to replace the current text with a statement 
that the standards of conduct applicable to directors are governed by 
the law of the State elected by the bank or the Model Business 
Corporation Act. The OCC is not including this suggested revision in 
the final rule. The OCC has not previously interpreted directors to be 
subject only to the standards of conduct established by the law of the 
State elected by the bank or the Model Business Corporation Act and 
doing so may conflict with other statutory or regulatory standards 
applicable to bank directors.
President as Director of a National Bank (Sec.  7.2012)
    Twelve U.S.C. 76 provides that the president of the bank must be a 
member of the board and be chairman thereof, but that the board may 
designate a director in lieu of the president to be chairman, who must 
perform duties as assigned by the board. Section 7.2012 codifies this 
statutory requirement in the OCC's rules by providing that pursuant to 
12 U.S.C. 76, the president of a national bank must be a member of the 
board of directors, but a director other than the president may be 
elected chairman of the board. This section further provides that a 
person other than the president may serve as the chief executive 
officer, and that this person is not required to be a director of the 
bank. When first proposing this rule, the OCC acknowledged that it was 
adding this second sentence to provide that a person other than the 
president or a director may serve as chief executive officer of a 
bank.\143\
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    \143\ 60 FR 11924 (March 3, 1995). This rule was finalized in 
1996. 61 FR 4849 (Feb. 9, 1996).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC proposed two changes to this section and did not receive 
any comments. As a result, the OCC is adopting these changes to Sec.  
7.2012 as proposed. First, the final rule provides that the person 
serving as, or in the function of, president of a national bank, 
regardless of title, must be a member of the board of directors. This 
change aligns the regulation with the OCC's view that the bank officer 
positions in 12 U.S.C. 76 and other provisions of the National Bank Act 
refer to functions rather than required titles. If a national bank does 
not have an individual serving in the position of president but does 
have another officer serving the function of president, the individual 
serving in the function of president must be a member of the board of 
directors. The person serving the function of president is generally 
the individual appointed to oversee the national bank's day-to-day 
activities.\144\ This change provides national banks with flexibility 
in employee titles and management organization. The OCC notes that 12 
U.S.C. 24(Fifth) provides national banks with the authority to set the 
duties of their officers. National banks should ensure that their 
employee titles do not create unnecessary confusion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \144\ See OCC, ``The Director's Book: Role of Directors for 
National Banks and Federal Savings Associations'' (November 2020) 
available at www.OCC.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the final rule removes the provision in Sec.  7.2012 that 
states that a person other than the president may serve as chief 
executive officer, and this person is not required to be a director of 
the bank. This provision is unnecessary. The position of chief 
executive officer is not referenced in statute and, as indicated above, 
national banks have discretion to set the duties of their officers. 
Further, this provision would conflict with the first revision to this 
section. Because function rather than title govern under this 
amendment, the final rule requires a chief executive officer that 
serves the function of president to be a member of the board.
    The OCC also is making a technical change to the section heading 
not included in the proposed rule to reflect that fact that Sec.  
7.2012 applies only to national banks.
Indemnification of National Bank and Federal Savings Association-
Affiliated Parties (Sec. Sec.  7.2014, 145.121)
    The OCC proposed amending and reorganizing Sec.  7.2014, 
Indemnification of institution-affiliate parties (by national banks), 
applying revised Sec.  7.2014 to Federal savings associations, and 
removing Sec.  145.121, Indemnification of directors, officers and 
employees (by Federal savings associations). As discussed below, the 
OCC is adopting Sec.  7.2014 as proposed, with a technical change to 
the section heading.
    Section 7.2014 addresses indemnification of institution-affiliated 
parties (IAPs) by national banks in cases involving an administrative 
proceeding or civil action initiated by a Federal banking agency, as 
well as cases that do not involve a Federal banking agency. Under Sec.  
7.2014(a), a national bank only may make or agree to make 
indemnification payments to an IAP with respect to an administrative 
proceeding or civil action initiated by a Federal banking agency if 
those payments are reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 
12 U.S.C.

[[Page 83717]]

1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder. Pursuant to 
section 1828(k), the FDIC may prohibit, by regulation or order, any 
indemnification payment made with regard to an administrative 
proceeding or civil action instituted by the appropriate Federal 
banking agency that results in a final order under which the IAP: (1) 
Is assessed a civil money penalty; (2) is removed or prohibited from 
participating in conduct of the affairs of the insured depository 
institution; or (3) is required to take certain affirmative actions in 
regards to an insured depository institution.\145\ Section 1828(k) 
defines ``indemnification payment'' to mean any payment (or any 
agreement to make any payment) by any insured depository institution to 
pay or reimburse an IAP for any liability or legal expense with regard 
to any administrative proceeding or civil action instituted by the 
appropriate Federal banking agency that results in a final order under 
which the IAP: (1) Is assessed a civil money penalty; (2) is removed or 
prohibited from participating in conduct of the affairs of the insured 
depository institution; or (3) is required to take certain affirmative 
actions in regards to an insured depository institution.\146\ Section 
7.2014(a) defines ``institution-affiliated party'' by reference to 12 
U.S.C. 1813(u).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \145\ In prohibiting such payments, the FDIC may take into 
account several factors listed in the statute, such as whether there 
is a reasonable basis to believe the IAP has committed fraud, 
breached a fiduciary duty, or committed insider abuse; is 
substantially responsible for the insolvency of the depository 
institution; has violated any Federal or State banking law or 
regulation that has had a material effect on the financial condition 
of the institution; or was in a position of managerial or fiduciary 
responsibility. See 12 U.S.C. 1828(k)(2). The FDIC has forbidden 
certain indemnification payments by regulation. See 12 CFR 
359.1(l)(1) (definition of ``prohibited indemnification payment''); 
12 CFR 359.3 (forbidding prohibited indemnification payments, except 
as provided in part 359).
    \146\ See 12 U.S.C. 1828(k)(5)(A); see also 12 U.S.C. 1818(b)(6) 
(defining affirmative actions that an IAP may be required to take in 
regard to insured depository institutions for purposes of section 
1828(k)(5)(A)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 7.2014(b)(1) permits a national bank to indemnify IAPs for 
damages and expenses, including the advancement of legal fees and 
expenses, in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil 
action that is not initiated by a Federal banking agency in accordance 
with the law of the State in which the main office of the bank is 
located, the law of the State in which the bank's holding company is 
incorporated, or the relevant provisions of the Model Business 
Corporation Act or Delaware General Corporation Law, provided such 
payments are consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
    Additionally, pursuant to Sec.  7.2014(b)(2), a national bank may 
provide for the payment of reasonable premiums for insurance covering 
the expenses, legal fees, and liability of IAPs to the extent that 
these costs could be indemnified under administrative proceedings or 
civil actions not initiated by a Federal banking agency, as provided in 
Sec.  7.2014(b)(1).
    Twelve CFR 145.121 addresses indemnification of directors, officers 
and employees by Federal savings associations. Section 145.121(b) 
requires a Federal savings association to indemnify any person against 
whom an action is brought or threatened because that person is or was a 
director, officer, or employee of the association. This indemnification 
is subject to the requirements of Sec.  145.121(c) and (g). Section 
145.121(c) provides that indemnification only may be made available to 
the IAP if (1) there is a final judgment on the merits in the IAP's 
favor; or (2) in the case of settlement, final judgment against the 
IAP, or final judgment in the IAP's favor other than on the merits, if 
a majority of the disinterested directors of the Federal savings 
association determine that the IAP was acting in good faith. It also 
provides that the association give the OCC at least 60 days' notice of 
its intention to indemnify an IAP and provides that the association may 
not indemnify the IAP if the OCC advises the savings association in 
writing that the OCC objects. Section 145.121(g) makes the 
indemnification subject to 12 U.S.C. 1821(k).
    Pursuant to Sec.  145.121(d), a Federal savings association may 
obtain insurance to protect it and its directors, officers, and 
employees from potential losses arising from claims for acts committed 
in their capacity as directors, officers, or employees. However, a 
Federal savings association may not obtain insurance that provides for 
payment of losses incurred as a consequence of willful or criminal 
misconduct.
    Pursuant to Sec.  145.121(e), if a majority of the directors of a 
Federal savings association conclude that, in connection with an 
action, a person may become entitled to indemnification, the directors 
may authorize payment of reasonable costs and expenses arising from the 
defense or settlement of the action. Before making advance payment of 
expenses, the savings association is required to obtain an agreement 
that the savings association will be repaid if the person on whose 
behalf payment is made is later determined not to be entitled to the 
indemnification.
    Pursuant to Sec.  145.121(f), an association that has a bylaw in 
effect relating to indemnification of its personnel must be governed 
solely by that bylaw, except that its authority to obtain insurance 
must be governed by Sec.  145.121(d), which, as described above, 
authorizes the purchase of indemnification insurance unless the 
insurance pays for losses created by willful or criminal misconduct. 
Section 145.121(g) states that the indemnification provided for in 
Sec.  145.121 for Federal savings associations is subject to and 
qualified by 12 U.S.C. 1821(k), which addresses personal liability for 
directors and officers in certain civil actions.
    The OCC proposed adding Federal savings associations to Sec.  
7.2014 so that both charters would be required to comply with Sec.  
7.2014 and removing Sec.  145.121. Because Sec.  7.2014 applies to IAPs 
as well as officers, directors, and employees, and Sec.  145.121 
applies only to officers, directors and employees, this amendment 
enlarges the scope of indemnification rules for Federal savings 
associations. As a result, the OCC's indemnification rules also would 
apply to certain Federal savings association controlling shareholders, 
independent contractors, consultants, and other persons identified in 
12 U.S.C. 1813(u). The OCC received no comments on this integration of 
Federal savings associations into Sec.  7.2014 and therefore adopts 
this integration as proposed.
    The OCC also proposed other amendments to Sec.  7.2014. First, the 
OCC proposed amending current Sec.  7.2014(b)(1), redesignated as Sec.  
7.2014(a) and retitled, to provide that State law on indemnification 
may apply to all administrative proceedings or civil actions for which 
an IAP can be indemnified, not just actions that are initiated by a 
person or entity not a Federal banking agency as under the current 
rule. This revision clarifies the application of State law on 
indemnification to actions initiated by Federal banking agencies. 
However, current Sec.  7.2014(a), redesignated as Sec.  7.2014(b), 
would still apply. Specifically, under redesignated Sec.  7.2014(b), 
with respect to proceedings or civil actions initiated by a Federal 
banking agency, a national bank or Federal savings association only may 
make or agree to make indemnification payments to an IAP that are 
reasonable and consistent with the requirements of

[[Page 83718]]

section 1828(k) and implementing regulations thereunder.\147\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \147\ The OCC also proposed to move the cross-reference to the 
definition of IAP in redesignated Sec.  7.2014(b) to redesignated 
paragraph (a) and to make stylistic changes to the wording of 
redesignated Sec.  7.2014(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC also proposed a technical change to redesignated Sec.  
7.2014(a). As indicated above, the current rule states that in cases 
involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by 
a Federal banking agency, a national bank may indemnify an IAP in 
accordance with the law of the State in which the main office of the 
bank is located, the law of the State in which the bank's holding 
company is incorporated, or the relevant provisions of the Model 
Business Corporation Act or Delaware General Corporation Law, provided 
such payments are consistent with safe and sound banking practices. 
Because these sources of law are identical to the law a national bank 
may elect to follow pursuant to current Sec.  7.2000(b) or the law a 
Federal savings association may elect to follow pursuant to current 
Sec.  5.21 or Sec.  5.22, the OCC proposed to replace the language on 
sources of State law in this provision with a statement that the bank 
or savings association may indemnify an IAP for damages and expenses in 
accordance with the law of the State the bank or savings association 
has designated for its corporate governance under the provisions of 
Sec.  7.2000, Sec.  5.21, or Sec.  5.22, as applicable. Because the OCC 
is enlarging the choice of law for both national banks and Federal 
savings associations in this final rule, this cross-reference 
incorporates these new State law options.\148\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \148\ As explained supra, the OCC is amending Sec.  7.2000 to 
also allow national banks to follow the corporate governance 
provisions of the law of any State in which any branch of the bank 
is located or where a holding company of the bank is incorporated 
even if the holding company is later eliminated or no longer 
controls the bank and the national bank is not located in that 
State. The final rule makes this same change to Sec. Sec.  5.21 and 
5.22 for Federal savings associations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One commenter suggested that the OCC clarify in the final rule 
under redesignated Sec.  7.2014(a) how the OCC would evaluate whether 
indemnification payments to IAPs are ``consistent with safety and 
soundness.'' For example, the commenter suggested that the OCC confirm 
that the types of indemnification permissible under Delaware General 
Corporation Law generally would be permissible for national banks and 
Federal savings associations, except where such payment would introduce 
safety and soundness risk by measurably reducing bank capital and/or 
liquidity levels. The OCC disagrees with this comment. OCC 
determinations of whether indemnification payments to IAPs are 
``consistent with safety and soundness'' are made on a case-by-case 
basis based on the specific facts and circumstances of a particular 
case, and do not depend on State law. In the absence of specific facts 
and circumstances, the OCC declines to expound in the final rule upon 
how the OCC would evaluate the safety and soundness of indemnification 
payments to IAPs.
    The commenter also suggested that the OCC include in the final rule 
under redesignated Sec.  7.2014(a) a process for appealing the OCC's 
invalidation of indemnification payments or an indemnification 
agreement on safety and soundness grounds. The OCC did not propose an 
appeals process, and therefore is not including one in the final rule. 
If a national bank or Federal savings association disputes an OCC 
invalidation of an indemnification payment or agreement, it may file an 
appeal with the OCC pursuant to the OCC's Bank Appeals Process.\149\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \149\ Information about the OCC's Bank Appeals Process is 
available at occ.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the reasons discussed above, the OCC adopts redesignated Sec.  
7.2014(a) as proposed.
    Second, the OCC proposed amending Sec.  7.2014(b)(2), redesignated 
as Sec.  7.2014(d), to allow a national bank or Federal savings 
association to provide for the payment of reasonable insurance premiums 
in connection with all actions involving an IAP that could be 
indemnified under Sec.  7.2014, whether or not initiated by a Federal 
banking agency. The OCC received no comments on this change and adopts 
it as proposed. The OCC believes this change will resolve confusion 
regarding how current Sec.  7.2014(b)(2) is applied. This change also 
will better align OCC regulations on the payment of insurance premiums 
with the FDIC's regulations and 12 U.S.C. 1828(k).\150\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \150\ The FDIC's implementing regulations under section 1828(k), 
12 CFR part 359, explicitly allow the payment of insurance premiums 
in anticipation of actions brought by a Federal banking agency, 
provided the insurance is not used to reimburse the cost of a 
judgment or civil monetary penalty. See 12 CFR 359.1(l)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Third, the OCC proposed adding a new paragraph (c) to require a 
national bank or Federal savings association, before advancing funds to 
an IAP under Sec.  7.2014, to obtain a written agreement that the IAP 
will reimburse the bank or savings association for any portion of 
indemnification that the IAP is ultimately found not to be entitled to 
under 12 U.S.C. 1828(k) and implementing regulations, except to the 
extent the bank's or savings association's expenses have been 
reimbursed by an insurance policy or fidelity bond.\151\ This 
requirement is similar to the requirement in Sec.  145.121(e) currently 
applicable to Federal savings associations and therefore will not 
impose any additional burdens on Federal savings associations. Further, 
FDIC regulations,\152\ State law,\153\ and the Model Business 
Corporation Act \154\ contain similar requirements for IAPs to 
reimburse institutions for funds to which they are later found not to 
be entitled. As most national banks are subject to the FDIC's 
indemnification regulations \155\ or have elected under 12 CFR 
7.2000(b) to follow State corporate law imposing reimbursement 
requirements for advancement of funds, the OCC believes that this 
change will not impose any additional burden on national banks and will 
merely codify existing practices. This change also will ensure that 
national banks, and Federal savings associations, do not provide 
indemnification to IAPs that is ultimately in contravention of the 
statutory limits of section 1828(k).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \151\ National banks are required to purchase fidelity coverage 
by 12 CFR 7.2013.
    \152\ See 12 CFR 359.5(a)(4).
    \153\ See, e.g., 8 Del. C. section 145(e); Utah Code section 16-
10a-904; 805 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/8.75(e); see also N.Y. Bus. Corp. 
Law section 725(a) (requiring repayment, but not explicitly 
requiring a written agreement).
    \154\ See Model Bus. Corp. Act section 8.53(a).
    \155\ Federal savings associations are also subject to the 
FDIC's indemnification regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One commenter suggested that the OCC confirm in the final rule that 
the written agreement required under Sec.  7.2014(c) may provide for 
the reimbursement of expenses, in addition to damages and other costs. 
The commenter noted that proposed Sec.  7.2014(c) implies that expenses 
may be covered by a written agreement, because it notes that the 
written agreement may cover any portion of the indemnification payment 
``except to the extent that the bank's or savings association's 
expenses have been reimbursed by an insurance policy or fidelity 
bond.'' The OCC does not believe that the final rule creates any 
uncertainty regarding whether the written agreement may provide for the 
reimbursement of expenses, in addition to damages and other costs. As 
the commenter notes, and the OCC agrees, the written agreement may 
cover any portion of the indemnification payment ``except to the extent 
that the bank's or savings association's expenses have been reimbursed 
by an insurance policy

[[Page 83719]]

or fidelity bond.'' The OCC therefore adopts Sec.  7.2014(c) as 
proposed.
    One commenter suggested that rather than amending Sec.  7.2014, the 
OCC should repeal the entire regulation and the comparable regulation 
for Federal savings associations, Sec.  145.121. The commenter noted 
that 12 CFR part 359 and 12 U.S.C. 1828(k) already govern 
indemnification to IAPs in administrative and court proceedings brought 
by a Federal banking agency; and the proposed language in 12 CFR 7.2000 
makes the separate indemnification provisions relating to non-part 359 
proceedings unnecessary. The OCC disagrees with the commenter's 
suggestion. The OCC believes that having OCC-specific regulations 
provides clarity for OCC-supervised banks and savings associations. The 
OCC therefore has not made any changes to the final rule in response to 
this comment.
    The commenter also suggested that, if the OCC does not repeal Sec.  
7.2014, the OCC should delete language in Sec.  7.2014 that reserves 
the power of the OCC to overturn any bank board decision on 
indemnification and advancement of expenses. The OCC disagrees with 
this comment. The OCC must retain supervisory authority to object to 
indemnification payments if they threaten the safety and soundness of 
the institution. The OCC notes that it would only exercise this 
authority under those circumstances. The OCC therefore has not made any 
changes to the final rule in response to this comment.
    This commenter also suggested that, if the OCC does not repeal 
Sec.  7.2014, the OCC should include the right to advance expenses in 
both matters subject to 12 CFR part 359 and those that are not. The 
commenter further suggested that the OCC should expand coverage for 
indemnification unrelated to part 359-type matters to those who may not 
fall under the definition of IAPs, noting that State statutes typically 
cover potentially other individuals. The OCC also disagrees with these 
comments. Section 7.2014 already includes the right to advance expenses 
in both matters subject to 12 CFR part 359, which implements 12 U.S.C. 
1828(k), and those that are not. As noted above, Sec.  7.2014 addresses 
indemnification of IAPs by national banks in cases involving an 
administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a Federal 
banking agency, as well as cases that do not involve a Federal banking 
agency. Further, the OCC believes the scope of the coverage for 
indemnification to IAPs is appropriate and sufficiently broad. ``IAP'' 
has the same meaning as set forth at 12 U.S.C. 1813(u), and thus Sec.  
7.2014 applies not only to officers, directors, and employees of the 
bank, but also to controlling shareholders, independent contractors, 
consultants, and other persons identified in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u). The OCC 
therefore has not made any changes to the final rule in response to 
these comments.
    The OCC believes that revised Sec.  7.2014 incorporates the 
provisions of current Sec.  145.121 that should be applicable to both 
national banks and Federal savings associations, while maintaining 
appropriate flexibility for both types of institutions. As noted above, 
revised Sec.  7.2014 will apply to actions brought by a Federal banking 
agency and actions not brought by a Federal banking agency, as in Sec.  
145.121, while retaining the statutory limits of section 1828(k).\156\ 
Revised Sec.  7.2014 also includes the reimbursement agreement 
requirement, as in Sec.  145.121(e). However, the OCC did not propose 
to include in Sec.  7.2014 the provision in Sec.  145.121 that requires 
Federal savings associations to indemnify persons against whom an 
action is brought under certain circumstances, such as if they are 
successful on the merits of the action,\157\ nor the provision 
requiring a board vote to authorize indemnification under certain 
circumstances.\158\ In place of these requirements, revised Sec.  
7.2014 permits Federal savings associations to incorporate State law on 
indemnification. Because State law governing indemnification generally 
incorporates these aspects of current Sec.  145.121, the OCC expects 
that Federal savings associations will continue to be subject to 
similar provisions governing indemnification as before. For example, 
State law generally requires mandatory indemnification if an employee 
is successful on the merits,\159\ as well as a board vote authorizing 
indemnification in almost all circumstances.\160\ Because national 
banks also may incorporate State indemnification law, they will be 
subject to these State indemnification provisions as well. The OCC 
specifically requested comment on whether, instead of relying on State 
law, the final rule should include the requirement from Sec.  145.121 
that, in the case of settlement, final judgment against the IAP, or 
final judgment in the IAP's favor other than on the merits, a majority 
of the disinterested directors determine that the IAP was acting in 
good faith before the institution may indemnify the IAP. One commenter 
replied to the OCC's request for comment, and did not support including 
this requirement in the final rule. The commenter argued that this 
requirement is generally more restrictive than typical State law and 
may discourage qualified candidates from serving on the board of a 
national bank or Federal savings association, and that there is no 
compelling public interest served by subjecting national bank or 
Federal savings association directors to greater risk of personal 
liability than directors of other corporations. The OCC agrees with the 
commenter, and therefore, the OCC is not including the requirement in 
the final rule.
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    \156\ Section 145.121(g) subjects and qualifies the 
indemnification provided for by current Sec.  145.121 to 12 U.S.C. 
1821(k). In contrast, current Sec.  7.2014 explicitly subjects 
national bank indemnification to the restrictions of 12 U.S.C. 
1828(k). Section 1828(k) directly addresses indemnification and is 
applicable to any insured depository institution. See 12 U.S.C. 
1828(k)(5)(A). Section 1821(k) addresses personal liability for 
directors and officers and is also applicable to any insured 
depository institution. Both of these statutes apply, and will 
continue to apply to national banks and Federal savings associations 
but proposed Sec.  7.2014 retains the citation to section 1828(k) as 
the more relevant citation for indemnification purposes.
    \157\ See Sec.  145.121(b).
    \158\ See Sec.  145.121(c)(1)(ii)(C).
    \159\ See, e.g., 8 Del. C. 145(c); New York BCL section 723(a); 
805 ILCS 5/8.75(c); Model Bus. Corp. Act, section 8.52 (2016).
    \160\ See, e.g., 8 Del. C. 145(d); New York BCL section 723(b); 
805 ILCS 5/8.75(d); Model Bus. Corp. Act, sections 8.53(c), 8.55 
(2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC also did not propose to include in Sec.  7.2014 the 
provision in Sec.  145.121 that requires a 60-day prior notice to the 
OCC before making an indemnification because it believes this provision 
is burdensome and unnecessary.\161\ However, the OCC requested comment 
on whether the final rule should include this prior notice requirement 
and, if so, what benefits prior approval would provide that would 
outweigh any additional regulatory burden. One commenter replied to the 
OCC's request for comment and did not support including this prior-
notice requirement. The commenter argued, and the OCC agrees, that the 
regulatory burden of such a notice would outweigh any benefit. 
Therefore, the OCC is not including this requirement in the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \161\ See Sec.  145.121(c)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Restricting Transfer of National Bank Stock and Record Dates; Stock 
Certificates (Sec.  7.2016)
Facsimile Signatures on Bank Stock Certificates (Sec.  7.2017)
Lost Stock Certificates (Sec.  7.2018)
    Sections 12 CFR 7.2016, 7.2017, and 7.2018 contain specific 
requirements related to national bank stock transfers and stock 
certificates. Many of these requirements are mandated by 12 U.S.C. 52. 
However, some of these

[[Page 83720]]

requirements are outdated because national banks today rarely issue 
physical stock certificates.
    Section 7.2016(a) states that, pursuant section 52, a national bank 
may impose conditions on the transfer of its stock reasonably 
calculated to simplify the work of the bank with respect to stock 
transfers, voting at shareholders' meetings, and related matters and to 
protect the bank against fraudulent transfers. Consistent with the 
statute, Sec.  7.2016(b) allows a national bank to close its stock 
records for a reasonable period to ascertain shareholders for voting 
purposes. The board also may fix record dates, which should be 
reasonable in proximity to the date notice is given to shareholders of 
the meeting. Section 7.2017 states that the president and cashier of 
the bank, or other officers authorized by the bank's bylaws, shall sign 
each stock certificate. These signatures may be manual or facsimile and 
may be electronic. Each certificate also must be sealed with the seal 
of the bank.
    To streamline OCC rules, the OCC proposed combining Sec. Sec.  
7.2016 and 7.2017 into one section, Sec.  7.2016, that would apply to 
both stock transfers and stock certificate requirements. The OCC also 
proposed making OCC rules on stock certificates more flexible. As noted 
above, section 12 U.S.C. 52 requires certain officers of the 
association to sign every bank stock certificate and for it to be 
sealed with the seal of the association. However, banks now generally 
hold stock in ``book-entry'' form, which is not a format that supports 
signatures or stamps. Although section 52 places requirements on 
physical stock certificates, the OCC does not believe that the language 
of that section requires banks to actually issue stock in certificated 
form. Notably, section 52 also states that ``[t]he capital stock of 
each association shall be . . . transferable on the books of the 
association in such manner as may be prescribed in the by-laws or 
articles of association.'' \162\ This language allows banks to provide 
for book-entry transfer in their by-laws or articles of association, 
even if this type of transfer is incompatible with the use of 
signatures and seals. Therefore, the OCC proposed stating that a 
national bank may prescribe the manner in which its stock must be 
transferred in its by-laws or articles of association. The OCC also 
proposed specifying that a national bank that does issue stock in 
certificate form must comply with the requirements of section 52, 
including: (1) The name and location of the bank; (2) name and holder 
of record of the stock; (3) the number and class of shares which the 
certificate represents; (4) if the bank issues more than one class of 
stock, the respective rights, preferences, privileges, voting rights, 
powers, restrictions, limitations, and qualifications of each class of 
stock issued (unless incorporated by reference to the articles of 
association); (5) signatures of the president and cashier of the bank, 
or such other officers as the bylaws of the bank provide; and (6) the 
seal of the bank. The OCC proposed to continue allowing banks to meet 
the signature requirements of section 52 through the use of electronic 
means or by facsimiles, as is permitted by current Sec.  7.2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \162\ See 12 U.S.C. 52, first paragraph.
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    Finally, the OCC proposed to remove Sec.  7.2018 as unnecessary. 
Section 7.2018 states that if the bank's articles of association or 
bylaws do not provide for replacing lost, stolen, or destroyed stock 
certificates, the bank may adopt procedures under 12 CFR 7.2000. 
Section 7.2000 generally permits national banks to adopt corporate 
governance procedures \163\ in accordance with State law, to the extent 
not inconsistent with applicable Federal laws and regulations or with 
bank safety and soundness. Therefore, this provision is unnecessary.
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    \163\ The proposed rule changed this terminology in Sec.  7.2000 
to ``corporate governance provisions.''
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    The OCC received no comments on these changes to Sec. Sec.  7.2016 
and the removal of Sec. Sec.  7.2017 and 7.2018. Therefore, the OCC 
adopts these changes to Sec.  7.2016 and removes Sec. Sec.  7.2017 and 
7.2018 as proposed. The OCC also is making a technical change to the 
section heading not included in the proposed rule to reflect that fact 
that Sec.  7.2016 applies only to national banks.
Acquisition and Holding of Shares as Treasury Stock (Sec.  7.2020)
    The OCC proposed to remove 12 CFR 7.2020. Section 7.2020 provides 
that a national bank may repurchase its outstanding shares and hold 
them as treasury stock as a capital reduction under 12 U.S.C. 59 if the 
repurchase and retention is for a ``legitimate corporate purpose'' and 
not for speculative purposes. The OCC issued Sec.  7.2020 in 1996 as an 
exception to the provision in 12 U.S.C. 83 that prohibited a national 
bank from being the ``purchaser or holder'' of its own shares. However, 
in 2000, Congress amended section 83 to remove this prohibition.\164\ 
Therefore, Sec.  7.2020 is unnecessary. The OCC received no comments on 
this change and the final rule removes Sec.  7.2020 as proposed. The 
OCC notes that removing Sec.  7.2020 would not limit the OCC's 
authority over share repurchases. Share repurchases are considered 
reductions in capital and would continue to be subject to OCC and 
shareholder approval under 12 U.S.C. 59 and 12 CFR 5.46.
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    \164\ Public Law 106-569, Title XII, section 1207(a), 114 Stat. 
3034 (American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000).
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Capital Stock-Related Activities of a National Bank (new Sec.  7.2025)
    The OCC proposed new Sec.  7.2025 to codify various OCC 
interpretations of the National Bank Act involving capital stock 
issuances and repurchases. The OCC received no comment on this new 
section and adopts it as proposed.
    Section 7.2025 explains the shareholder approval requirements for 
the issuance of authorized common stock; the issuance, repurchase, and 
redemption of preferred stock pursuant to blank check procedures; and 
share repurchase programs. Generally, an increase or decrease in the 
amount of a national bank's common or preferred stock is a change in 
permanent capital subject to the notice and approval requirements of 12 
CFR 5.46 and applicable law.\165\ Section 7.2025(a) sets forth the 
general requirements for changes in permanent capital. Paragraphs (b) 
through (d) of Sec.  7.2025 provide more specific requirements for 
shareholder approval of various types of issuances and repurchases. 
Section 7.2025(e) identifies certain permissible features for preferred 
stock.
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    \165\ See generally 12 U.S.C. 51a, (preferred stock issuance), 
57 (increase in capital), and 59 (reduction of capital).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Issuance of previously approved and authorized common stock. The 
issuance of common stock is governed by 12 U.S.C. 57, which provides 
that a national bank may, with the approval of the OCC, and by a vote 
of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the bank, increase 
its capital stock to any sum. The OCC has interpreted 12 U.S.C. 57 to 
require a two-thirds shareholder vote to amend the articles of 
association to increase the number of authorized shares.\166\ The OCC 
also has long interpreted section 57 to permit a national bank's board 
of directors to issue common stock without obtaining additional 
shareholder approval at the time of the issuance so long as the 
issuance does not exceed the amount of common stock previously approved 
and

[[Page 83721]]

authorized by shareholders.\167\ Section 7.2025(b) codifies this 
interpretation. Specifically, paragraph (b) provides that, in 
compliance with 12 U.S.C. 57, a national bank may issue common stock up 
to an amount previously approved and authorized in the national bank's 
articles of association by holders of two-thirds of the national bank's 
shares without obtaining additional shareholder approval for each 
subsequent issuance within the authorized amount.
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    \166\ See, e.g., Articles of Association, Charter, and Bylaw 
Amendments, Comptroller's Licensing Manual (June 2017), p. 3 
(indicating that two-thirds of a national bank's shareholders must 
vote to increase or decrease the authorized number of common shares 
in the articles of association).
    \167\ A previous version of Sec.  5.46 (1981) provided that 
shareholder approval would not be required to increase common stock 
through the issuance of a class of common up to an amount previously 
approved by shareholders. Subsequent amendments to Sec.  5.46, which 
the OCC intended to simplify 12 CFR part 5, omitted this language 
but did not change this interpretation.
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    Issuance, repurchase, and redemption of preferred stock pursuant to 
certain procedures. Twelve U.S.C. 51a requires a majority of 
shareholders vote to approve a national bank's issuance of preferred 
stock. However, the statute does not specify when in the process the 
bank must obtain shareholder approval. In OCC Interpretive Letter 921, 
the OCC determined that a national bank could adopt, subject to 
required shareholder approval, a provision in its articles of 
association or an amendment to its articles authorizing the bank's 
board of directors to issue preferred stock using blank check 
procedures (``blank check preferred stock'').\168\ Blank check 
preferred stock refers to preferred stock for which the board is 
empowered to issue and determine the terms of authorized and unissued 
preferred stock. To be permissible, blank check preferred stock must be 
permitted by the corporate governance procedures adopted by the bank 
under Sec.  7.2000.\169\
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    \168\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 921 (Dec. 13, 2001).
    \169\ The final rule changes this terminology in Sec.  7.2000 to 
``corporate governance provisions.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC also determined that shareholders' adoption or approval of 
a blank check preferred stock article constitutes the shareholder 
action required by 12 U.S.C. 51a and 51b to issue and establish the 
terms of preferred stock. The subsequent issuance of the preferred 
stock within the authorized limits would not require additional 
shareholder approval. Interpretive Letter 921 did not specifically 
address blank check preferred procedures that include the authority, 
and the shareholder action required, to repurchase and redeem blank 
check preferred stock.
    The redemption or repurchase of preferred stock is a reduction in 
capital. Twelve U.S.C. 59 requires the approval of two-thirds of 
shareholders for a national bank to reduce capital, but it does not 
specify when in the process the bank must obtain shareholder approval. 
In Interpretive Letter 1162, the OCC determined that the holders of 
two-thirds of a national bank's shares may approve in advance 
redemptions of blank check preferred stock by voting to amend the 
articles of association to authorize the issuance and redemption of 
blank check preferred shares.\170\
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    \170\ OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1162 (July 6, 2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 7.2025(c) codifies these interpretations and permits blank 
check procedures, if approved in advance by the bank's shareholders, 
that authorize the issuance, repurchase, and redemption of preferred 
stock without additional shareholder approval at the time of issuance, 
repurchase, or redemption, if certain conditions are met. Paragraph (c) 
provides that, subject to the requirements of 12 U.S.C. 51a, 51b, and 
59, a national bank may adopt procedures to authorize the board of 
directors to issue, determine the terms of, repurchase, or redeem one 
or more series of preferred stock, if permitted by the corporate 
governance provisions adopted by the bank under 12 CFR 7.2000. This 
provision further provides that, to satisfy the shareholder approval 
requirements of 12 U.S.C. 51a and 59, shareholders must approve the 
adoption of these procedures in advance through an amendment to the 
national bank's articles of association, and that any amendment that 
authorizes both the issuance and the repurchase and redemption of 
shares must be approved by holders of two-thirds of the national bank's 
shares.
    Share repurchase programs. In Interpretive Letter 1162, the OCC 
determined that the shareholder approval requirement in 12 U.S.C. 59 
may be satisfied by a two-thirds shareholder vote approving an 
amendment to the bank's articles of association authorizing the board 
of directors to implement share repurchase programs. A share repurchase 
program authorizes the board of directors to repurchase the national 
bank's common or preferred stock from time to time under board-
determined parameters that can limit the frequency, type, aggregate 
limit, or purchase price of repurchases, without obtaining additional 
shareholder approval at the time the shares are repurchased. Section 
7.2025(d) codified this interpretation by providing that, subject to 
the requirements of 12 U.S.C. 59, a national bank may establish a 
program for the repurchase, from time to time, of the national bank's 
common or preferred stock, if permitted by the corporate governance 
provisions adopted by the bank under 12 CFR 7.2000. Paragraph (d) also 
provides that, to satisfy the shareholder approval requirement of 12 
U.S.C. 59, the repurchase program must be approved in advance by the 
holders of two-thirds of the national bank's shares, including through 
an amendment to the national bank's articles of association that 
authorizes the board of directors to implement share repurchase 
programs from time to time under board-determined parameters that can 
limit the frequency, type, aggregate limit, or purchase price of 
repurchases.
    Preferred stock features. Section 7.2025(e) clarifies that a 
national bank may issue and maintain noncumulative preferred stock. 
This provision codifies a longstanding OCC interpretation that 12 
U.S.C. 51b, by its terms, describes limitations on the portion of the 
preferred stock dividend which may be cumulative. It does not require 
that preferred stock dividends must always be cumulative.\171\ 
Specifically, Sec.  7.2025(e) provides that a national bank's preferred 
stock may be cumulative or non-cumulative and may or may not have 
voting rights on one or more series.
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    \171\ In part, section 51b provides that preferred shareholders 
``shall be entitled to receive such cumulative dividends . . . as 
may be provided in the articles of association . . . and no 
dividends shall be declared or paid on common stock until cumulative 
dividends on preferred stock have been paid in full . . . .'' The 
OCC has previously interpreted section 51a as providing national 
banks with broad authority to issue preferred stock, including 
preferred stock bearing noncumulative dividends, notwithstanding the 
language of section 51b. See OCC Letter from Martin Goodman, OCC 
Assoc. Ch. Couns. (Oct. 3, 1977).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subpart C--National Bank and Federal Savings Association Operations

National Bank and Federal Savings Association Operating Hours and 
Closings (Sec.  7.3000)
    The OCC proposed to amend Sec.  7.3000, National bank hours and 
closings, to include Federal savings associations, to update it, and to 
make technical and clarifying changes. The OCC received one comment on 
Sec.  7.3000, in support of the proposed updates to the types of 
emergency conditions that may result in the declaration of a legal 
holiday. Therefore, the OCC adopts the amendments to Sec.  7.3000 as 
proposed, with technical changes to the section and paragraph (a) 
headings.
    Twelve U.S.C. 95(b)(1) specifically authorizes the Comptroller to 
designate a legal holiday because of emergency conditions occurring in 
any State or part of a State for national banks located in

[[Page 83722]]

that State or affected area. Section 95(b)(1) also provides that when a 
State or State official authorized by law designates any day as a legal 
holiday for ceremonial or emergency reasons, that day is a legal 
holiday and a national bank located in that State or affected part of 
the State may close or remain open unless the Comptroller directs 
otherwise by written order. Section 7.3000 implements this statutory 
provision. Specifically, current Sec.  7.3000(b) provides that when the 
Comptroller, a State, or a legally authorized State official declares a 
day a legal holiday due to emergency conditions, a national bank may 
temporarily limit or suspend its operations at its affected offices. 
Alternatively, the bank may continue its operations, unless the 
Comptroller directs otherwise by written order. This rule provides that 
emergency conditions include natural disasters and civil and municipal 
emergencies, such as severe flooding or a power emergency declared by a 
local power company or government requesting that businesses in the 
affected area close. Section 7.3000(c) states that a State or a legally 
authorized State official may declare a day a legal holiday for 
ceremonial reasons and provides that when a State legal holiday is 
declared for ceremonial reasons, a national bank may choose to remain 
open or to close. Section 7.3000(d) provides that a national bank 
should assure that all liabilities or other obligations under the 
applicable law due to the bank's closing are satisfied, e.g., notice to 
depositors about funds availability pursuant to 12 CFR 229.13(g)(4).
    There is no equivalent statute or corresponding regulation for 
Federal savings associations. However, a former OTS regulation at 12 
CFR 510.2(b) permitted the OTS to waive or relax any limitations 
pertaining to the operations of a Federal savings associations in any 
area affected by a determination by the President of the United States 
that a major disaster or emergency had occurred. Amending Sec.  7.300 
to include Federal savings associations clarifies for these 
institutions how a legal holiday is declared and the implications of a 
legal holiday declaration, as well as provide consistency between 
national bank and Federal savings association operations on legal 
holidays.\172\
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    \172\ We note that the Comptroller is directed under section 4 
of the HOLA (12 U.S.C. 1463(a)(1)(A)) to provide for the ``safe and 
sound operation'' of Federal savings associations. The OTS relied on 
this HOLA authority when it issued Sec.  510.2(b) (see 54 FR 49411, 
at 49456 (Nov. 30, 1989) and this final rule furthers that 
objective. See also 12 U.S.C. 1(a) (charging the OCC with assuring 
the safety and soundness of institutions subject to its 
jurisdiction).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As proposed, in addition to adding Federal savings associations, 
the final rule clarifies and updates the emergency closing provisions 
of Sec.  7.3000. First, the final rule clarifies that Sec.  7.3000 also 
applies to Federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. Although 
current Sec.  7.3000 applies to Federal branches and agencies pursuant 
to section 4(b) of the International Banking Act, 12 U.S.C. 3102(b), 
the OCC believes it is appropriate to specify this application in the 
rule.\173\
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    \173\ As indicated previously in this preamble, section 4(b) of 
the International Banking Act, 12 U.S.C. 3102(b), provides that the 
operations of a foreign bank at a Federal branch or agency shall be 
conducted with the same rights and privileges as a national bank at 
the same location and shall be subject to all the same duties, 
restrictions, penalties, liabilities, conditions, and limitations 
that would apply under the National Bank Act to a national bank 
doing business at the same location. See also 12 CFR 28.13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Second, the final rule clarifies that the Comptroller may declare 
``any day'' a legal holiday, instead of ``a day,'' to more accurately 
reflect the statutory language and to clarify that the Comptroller may 
declare more than one day due to the emergency condition as a legal 
holiday.
    Third, the final rule amends Sec.  7.3000(b) to state that 
emergency conditions may be ``caused by acts of nature or of man.'' 
This amendment mirrors the language in 12 U.S.C. 95(b)(1) and clarifies 
the broad scope of possible emergency conditions that could justify a 
legal holiday.
    Fourth, the final rule updates the types of emergency conditions 
listed in the rule to include disasters other than natural disasters, 
public health or safety emergencies, and cyber threats or other 
unauthorized intrusions, and updates the list of examples to include 
pandemics, terrorist attacks, and cyber-attacks on bank systems.
    Fifth, the final rule provides that the Comptroller may issue a 
declaration of a legal holiday in anticipation of the emergency 
condition, in addition to at the time of the emergency or soon 
thereafter. This codifies the current practice of the Comptroller in 
most cases, which permits national banks, Federal savings associations, 
and Federal branches and agencies to better plan for the possible 
closing.
    Sixth, the final rule provides that in the absence of a Comptroller 
declaration of a bank holiday, a national bank, Federal savings 
associations, or Federal branch or agency may choose to temporarily 
close offices in response to an emergency condition. If a bank, savings 
association, or branch or agency temporarily closes pursuant to this 
provision, it should notify the OCC of such temporary closure as soon 
as feasible. This provision provides additional flexibility to OCC-
regulated institutions during emergency conditions and codifies similar 
language currently included in the OCC's Licensing Manual.\174\
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    \174\ See Comptroller's Licensing Manual, Branch Closings (June 
2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Seventh, the final rule clarifies in Sec.  7.3000(c) that a State 
legal holiday may be for the entire State or part of the State, as 
indicated in 12 U.S.C. 95(b)(1).
    Eighth, as provided in the statute, the final rule provides in 
Sec.  7.3000(c) that the Comptroller may by written order direct the 
affected institution to close or remain open during a State legal 
holiday declared for ceremonial reasons, as with a State legal holiday 
declared due to an emergency.
    Finally, the final rule adds a new paragraph, Sec.  7.3000(e), to 
provide a definition of ``State'' that is consistent with the 
definition in 12 U.S.C. 95(b)(2).
    Also as proposed, the final rule also makes a number of technical 
changes to Sec.  7.3000. The final rule replaces the word ``country'' 
with ``United States'' in the phrase describing affected geographic 
area to make this phrase more precise; deletes the superfluous citation 
to 12 U.S.C. 95 in Sec.  7.3000(b); and deletes the superfluous first 
sentence of current Sec.  7.3000(c), which states that a State or a 
legally authorized State official may declare a day a legal holiday for 
ceremonial reasons.
    In making these changes, the OCC is reorganizing Sec.  7.3000(b) 
and (c) so that all provisions relating to Comptroller declared legal 
holidays for emergency conditions are in Sec.  7.3000(b) and all 
provisions related to State declared legal holidays for emergency and 
ceremonial reasons are in Sec.  7.3000(c). This reorganization more 
clearly sets forth the standards for Comptroller and State declared 
legal holidays and corresponds better with the statutory text.
    Section 7.3000 also provides, in paragraph (a), that a national 
bank's board of directors should review its banking hours and, 
independently of any other bank, take appropriate actions to 
establishing a schedule of its banking hours. As proposed, the final 
rule updates this provision by replacing ``banking hours'' with ``hours 
of operations for customers.'' The final rule also makes technical 
corrections to the section and paragraph heading to reflect this change 
in terminology. Furthermore, the final rule includes Federal savings 
associations and Federal branches and agencies in this provision.

[[Page 83723]]

Because Federal branches and agencies typically do not have a board of 
directors, Sec.  7.3000(a) provides that an equivalent person or 
committee for a Federal branch or agency should review that entity's 
operating hours and take appropriate action to establish a schedule of 
operating hours for customers.
Sharing National Bank or Federal Savings Association Space and 
Employees (Sec.  7.3001)
    Section 7.3001 permits national banks and Federal savings 
associations to lease excess space on bank or savings association 
premises to other businesses, share space jointly held with other 
businesses, offer its services in space owned by or leased to other 
businesses, and share employees when sharing space. The OCC proposed to 
add a cross-reference to redesignated Sec.  7.1024, National bank or 
Federal savings association ownership of property, in Sec.  
7.3001(a)(1) to clarify that the requirements of Sec.  7.1024 apply to 
the sharing of office space and employees pursuant to Sec.  7.3001. The 
OCC did not receive any comments on this change and adopts it as 
proposed.
Additional Issues and General Comments
    Application to Federal savings associations generally. The OCC 
received several comments on the applicability of the proposed 
revisions in the proposed rule to Federal savings associations and, in 
particular, mutual savings associations. One commenter stated that 
national banks and Federal savings associations have different enabling 
acts, and it is not clear that applying national bank rules to Federal 
savings associations is a good fit. The OCC is cognizant of the fact 
that national banks and Federal savings associations have different 
enabling statutes and takes those differences into account when 
determining whether, and when, to integrate the rules applicable to 
national banks and Federal savings associations. In other areas, the 
OCC has retained different regulations for national banks and Federal 
savings associations, as dictated by provisions of the National Bank 
Act and the HOLA, respectively.
    The same commenter noted that mutual associations are a distinct 
and very different entity from a governance perspective and requested 
that mutual savings associations have the same leeway in making a 
choice of law as national banks. This commenter also stated that mutual 
savings associations should not be denied the benefit of State law 
simply because national banks are denied those provisions by their 
enabling act. The OCC notes that the proposal as well as the final rule 
do not deny Federal mutual savings associations the benefit of State 
law. In fact, as noted above in the preamble discussion of Sec.  
7.2000, the final rule permits additional flexibility for Federal 
savings associations with respect to a choice of corporate governance 
law to allow parity with national banks. In suggesting and adopting 
these changes, the OCC recognized the distinction between Federal 
savings associations and national banks by considering choice of law 
issues for these different charters separately.
    Another commenter suggested the OCC should explore further ways to 
harmonize national bank and Federal savings association regulations, 
including potential Federal savings association use of 12 U.S.C. 24 and 
12 CFR part 24, to invest directly in public welfare investments. The 
OCC regularly reviews its regulations to determine opportunities to 
harmonize Federal savings associations and national bank regulations, 
where appropriate. The OCC staff notes that 12 CFR 160.36 already 
permits Federal savings associations to make de minimis investments in 
community development investments of the type permitted by 12 CFR part 
24 for a national bank, and 12 U.S.C. 1464(c)(3)(A) and 12 CFR 160.30 
authorize community development investments by Federal savings 
associations.
    A commenter suggested that any attempt to revise the corporate 
governance documents of a subsidiary Federal stock savings association 
of a mutual holding company (MHC) should be harmonized with the Federal 
Reserve Board's regulation on mutual holding companies, Regulation 
MM.\175\ The same commenter suggested that one of the principal 
problems with governance for mutual savings associations is a faulty 
assumption that depositor members have an active interest in 
participating in the association's corporate affairs.\176\ While the 
OCC considered and is amending for Federal savings associations only 
the choice of State law for the corporate governance provisions, the 
OCC is not considering a general overhaul of all the Federal mutual 
savings association governance regulations in this rulemaking. The OCC 
may consider revising other governance provisions relating to Federal 
mutual savings associations in a separate rulemaking and, if practical, 
in conjunction with a Federal Reserve Board review of Regulation MM.
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    \175\ 12 CFR part 239.
    \176\ Federal savings association mutual members have certain 
statutory and regulatory voting rights. See 12 U.S.C. 1464; 12 CFR 
5.21.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The same commenter indicated that, while the right to vote shares 
above a certain percentage limit and supermajority voting provisions 
may be prohibited for national banks, these provisions normally are 
permitted for Federal savings associations. The commenter suggested 
that the OCC explicitly state these provisions are permissible for 
Federal savings associations. In response, the OCC notes that it has 
permitted certain anti-takeover and supermajority vote provisions for 
Federal savings associations, either specifically provided by 
regulation or authorized by the applicable State law, provided that any 
supermajority vote provisions are adopted by a percentage of the 
shareholder vote at least equal to the highest percentage that would be 
required to take any action under such provision.\177\ Also, the OCC 
generally does not approve supermajority provisions that require 
approval of more than 80 percent of the voting shares.\178\
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    \177\ 12 CFR 5.22(h).
    \178\ See Articles of Association, Charters, and Bylaw 
Amendments (Forms), Comptroller's Licensing Manual (June 19, 2017), 
Anti-Takeover Provisions, p. 11.
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    Electronic filings and procedures. One commenter encouraged the OCC 
to permit digital and remote filing procedures, such as electronic 
fingerprinting, digital signatures, and virtual notarization. 
Specifically, the commenter suggested that the requirements for filing 
oaths of directors should be modernized by permitting submissions in 
electronic form instead of the original hard copy; allowing the notary 
to be a bank officer; and as an alternative to notarization, allowing 
certification of oaths by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of 
the financial institution. The OCC notes that has already updated its 
licensing regulation to encourage the use of electronic filings, 
including permitting digital signatures in the OCC's Central 
Application Tracking System (CATS). Further, the OCC is unable to 
update to virtual notarization because notarization is governed by 
State law.
Technical Changes
    In addition to the technical changes discussed above, the OCC 
proposed numerous technical changes throughout 12 CFR part 7. The OCC 
received no comments on these changes and adopts them as proposed. 
Specifically, the final rule:
    <bullet> Replaces the word ``shall'' with ``must,'' ``will,'' or 
other appropriate

[[Page 83724]]

language, which is the more current rule writing convention for 
imposing an obligation and is the recommended drafting style of the 
Federal Register;
    <bullet> Uniformly capitalizes the words ``State'' and ``Federal'' 
in conformance with Federal Register drafting style;
    <bullet> Replaces the term ``bank'' and ``savings association'' 
with ``national bank'' or ``Federal savings association,'' 
respectively, where appropriate;
    <bullet> Clarifies punctuation and update or conform spelling of 
various terms; and
    <bullet> Conforms paragraph heading style.
    The OCC also is making technical changes to 12 CFR 5.30 to reflect 
changes made by the final rule. Specifically, the final rule removes 
drop boxes from the definition of branch in Sec.  5.30(d)(1)(i), 
pursuant to the change made by Sec.  7.1027, and replaces the cross-
reference to Sec.  7.4003 in Sec.  5.30(d)(i)(iii) with Sec.  7.1027, 
as redesignated by this final rule.
    In addition, the OCC is making a conforming change to the heading 
of subpart B and technical changes to various section headings in 
subpart B to better identify their application only to national banks.
    Finally, the OCC is making technical changes to 12 CFR 4.5 to 
replace outdated information on office locations and responsibilities. 
The OCC cross-references 12 CFR part 4, subpart A, when using the term 
``appropriate OCC supervisory office'' in 12 CFR 7.1025 and 7.1026. 
Twelve CFR part 4, subpart A, sets forth the physical addresses of OCC 
offices, including supervisory offices. The OCC is updating one address 
in 12 CFR 4.5, Other OCC Supervisory Offices, to provide the correct 
location of Midsize Bank Supervision (MBS) headquarters in 12 CFR 
4.5(a). The OCC also is amending the description of MBS duties in 12 
CFR 4.5(a) to better reflect its current responsibilities.

IV. Regulatory Analyses

A. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Certain provisions of the final 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 OCC may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
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 OCC reviewed the final rule and determined that it revises 
certain information collection requirements previously cleared by OMB 
under OMB Control No. 1557-0204. The OCC has submitted the revised 
information collection to OMB for review under section 3507(d) of the 
PRA (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) and section 1320.11 of the OMB's implementing 
regulations (5 CFR part 1320).
Current Actions
    The information collection requirements are as follows:
    <bullet> Tax Equity Finance Transactions--Written requests are 
required to increase the aggregate limit on tax equity finance 
transactions. Prior written notification to OCC is required for each 
tax equity finance transaction. Sec.  7.1025.
    <bullet> Payment Systems--Thirty (30) days advance written notice 
is required before joining a payment system that would expose the 
institution to open-end liability. An after-the-fact written notice 
must be filed within 30 days of becoming a member of a payment system 
that does not expose the institution to open-end liabilities with 
certain representations. Both notices must include safety and soundness 
representations. Sec.  7.1026.
    <bullet> Derivatives Activities--Thirty (30) days prior written 
notice is required before engaging in certain derivatives hedging 
activities, expanding derivatives hedging activities to include a new 
category of underlying, engaging in certain customer-driven financial 
intermediation derivatives activities, and expanding customer-driven 
financial intermediation derivatives activities to include a new 
category of underlying. Sec.  7.1030.
    <bullet> State Corporate Governance--Requests for OCC's staff 
position on the ability of national bank to engage in particular State 
corporate governance provision must include name, citations, discussion 
of similarly suited State banks, identification of Federal banking 
statutes and regulations, and analysis of consistency with statutes, 
regulations, and safety and soundness. Sec.  7.2000.
    <bullet> Indemnification of institution-affiliated parties--
Administrative proceeding or civil actions not initiated by a Federal 
banking agency--A written agreement that an IAP will reimburse the 
institution for any portion of non-reimbursed indemnification that the 
IAP is found not entitled to is required before advancing funds to an 
IAP. Federal savings associations no longer required to provide OCC 
prior notice of indemnification. Sec.  7.2014.
    <bullet> Issuing Stock in Certificate Form--National banks must 
include certain information, signatures and seal when issuing stock in 
certificate form. Sec.  7.2016.
    Title of Information Collection: Bank Activities and Operations.
    Frequency: Event generated.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Estimated number of respondents: 213.
    Total estimated annual burden: 586 hours.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    In general, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.) requires an agency, in connection with a final rule, to prepare a 
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis describing the impact of the rule 
on small entities (defined by the Small Business Administration for 
purposes of the RFA to include commercial banks and savings 
institutions with total assets of $600 million or less and trust 
companies with total assets of $41.5 million or less). However, under 
section 605(b) of the RFA, this analysis is not required if an agency 
certifies that the rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities and publishes its certification 
and a short explanatory statement in the Federal Register along with 
its rule.
    The OCC currently supervises approximately 1,156 institutions 
(commercial banks, trust companies, Federal savings associations, and 
branches or agencies of foreign banks, collectively banks), of which 
745 are small entities.\179\ Because the rule applies to all OCC-
supervised depository institutions, the rule will affect all small OCC-
supervised entities and thus, a substantial number of them. However, 
almost all of the provisions in the final rule clarify or codify 
existing requirements, provide relief from existing requirements, 
increase flexibility, or reduce burden. One provision in the final 
rule, Sec.  7.2012, which will require a person serving as, or in the 
function of, bank president, regardless of title, to be a member of the 
bank's board of directors, could impose a new requirement on banks 
subject to the prior notice requirement for any change in directors 
pursuant to 12 CFR 5.51. However, the number of banks that are subject 
to this prior notice requirement that do not currently have

[[Page 83725]]

a president serving on the board of directors is limited. As a result, 
the final rule will not impose new mandates on more than a limited 
number of banks. Therefore, the OCC believes the costs associated with 
the final rule, if any, would be minimal and thus the final rule would 
not have a significant economic impact on any small OCC-supervised 
entities. For these reasons, the OCC certifies that the final rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities supervised by the OCC. Accordingly, a Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis is not required.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \179\ Consistent with the General Principles of Affiliation 13 
CFR 121.103(a), the OCC counts the assets of affiliated financial 
institutions when determining if it should classify an institution 
as a small entity. The OCC used December 31, 2019, to determine size 
because a ``financial institution's assets are determined by 
averaging the assets reported on its four quarterly financial 
statements for the preceding year.'' See footnote 8 of the U.S. 
Small Business Administration's Table of Size Standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The OCC has analyzed the final rule under the factors in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), 2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq. 
Under this analysis the OCC considered whether the final rule includes 
a Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local, 
and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
$100 million or more in any one year ($157 million as adjusted annually 
for inflation). The UMRA does not apply to regulations that incorporate 
requirements specifically set forth in law.
    As discussed above, the final rule would not impose new mandates on 
more than a limited number of banks. Therefore, the OCC concludes that 
the final rule would not result in an expenditure of $157 million or 
more annually by State, local, and tribal governments, or by the 
private sector. As a result, the OCC finds that the final rule does not 
trigger the UMRA cost threshold. Accordingly, the OCC has not prepared 
the written statement described in section 202 of the UMRA.

D. Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994

    Pursuant to section 302(a) of the Riegle Community Development and 
Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (RCDRIA), 12 U.S.C. 4802(a), in 
determining the effective date and administrative compliance 
requirements for new regulations that impose additional reporting, 
disclosure, or other requirements on insured depository institutions, 
the OCC must consider, consistent with principles of safety and 
soundness and the public interest (1) any administrative burdens that 
the final rule would place on depository institutions, including small 
depository institutions and customers of depository institutions and 
(2) the benefits of the final rule. The has considered the changes made 
by this final rule and believes that the overall effective date of 
April 1, 2021 will provide OCC-regulated institutions with adequate 
time to comply with the rule. With respect to administrative compliance 
requirements, the OCC has considered the administrative burdens and the 
benefits of this final rule and believes that any burdens are necessary 
for safety and soundness and proper OCC supervision. As examples, the 
final rule, requires a person serving as, or in the function of, a bank 
president, regardless of title to be a member of the bank's board of 
directors (Sec.  7.2012) and contains notice requirements with respect 
to payment system membership and derivatives activities. The final 
rule's benefits include clarifying existing requirements, codifying 
existing OCC interpretations and guidance, removing unnecessary 
provisions, and updating and modernizing certain provisions. Further 
discussion of the consideration by the OCC of these administrative 
compliance requirements is found in other sections of the final rule's 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

E. The Congressional Review Act

    For purposes of Congressional Review Act, the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) makes a determination as to whether a final rule 
constitutes a ``major'' rule.\180\ If a rule is deemed a ``major rule'' 
by OMB, the Congressional Review Act generally provides that the rule 
may not take effect until at least 60 days following its 
publication.\181\ The Congressional Review Act defines a ``major rule'' 
as any rule that the Administrator of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs of the OMB finds has resulted in or is likely to 
result in (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; 
(2) a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual 
industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies or geographic 
regions, or (3) a significant adverse effects on competition, 
employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of 
United States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based 
enterprises in domestic and export markets.\182\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \180\ 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.
    \181\ 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(3).
    \182\ 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    OMB has determined that this final rule is not a major rule. As 
required by the Congressional Review Act, the OCC will submit the final 
rule and other appropriate reports to Congress and the Government 
Accountability Office for review.

F. Effective Date

    The APA \183\ requires that a substantive rule must be published 
not less than 30 days before its effective date, except for: (1) 
Substantive rules which grant or recognize an exemption or relieve a 
restriction; (2) interpretative rules and statements of policy; or (3) 
as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause.\184\ Section 302(b) 
of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
1994 (RCDRIA) requires that regulations issued by a Federal banking 
agency \185\ imposing additional reporting, disclosure, or other 
requirements on insured depository institutions take effect on the 
first day of a calendar quarter that begins on or after the date of 
publication of the final rule, unless, among other things, the agency 
determines for good cause that the regulations should become effective 
before such time.\186\ The April 1, 2021, effective date of this final 
rule meets both the APA and RCDRIA effective date requirements as it 
will take effect at least 30 days after its publication date of 
December 22, 2020 and on the first day of a calendar quarter following 
publication, April 1, 2021. However, the OCC notes that RCDRIA provides 
that insured depository institutions may comply with regulations that 
impose additional reporting, disclosure, or other requirements before 
the regulation's effective date.\187\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \183\ Codified at 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.
    \184\ 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
    \185\ For purposes of RCDRIA, ``Federal banking agency'' means 
the OCC, FDIC, and Board. See 12 U.S.C. 4801.
    \186\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(b).
    \187\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to section 553(b)(B) of the APA, general notice and the 
opportunity for public comment are not required with respect to a 
rulemaking when an ``agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the 
finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) 
that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' \188\ As described 
in the final rule's SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, the final rule 
includes a number of technical, clarifying, or conforming amendments 
that the OCC did not include in its proposed rule. Because these 
amendments are not substantive and merely correct or clarify the rule, 
update the rule to reflect current law, or fix citation and regulatory 
text format, the OCC believes that public notice of these changes is 
unnecessary and therefore that it has good cause to adopt

[[Page 83726]]

these changes without notice and comment. Furthermore, the final rule's 
amendment to 12 CFR part 4, subpart A, relates to the organization of 
the OCC. Rules related to agency organization are not subject to APA 
notice and comment.\189\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \188\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
    \189\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 4

    Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of Information, 
Individuals with disabilities, Minority businesses, Organization and 
functions (Government agencies), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Women.

12 CFR Part 5

    Administrative practice and procedure, Federal savings 
associations, National banks, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Securities.

12 CFR Part 7

    Computer technology, Credit, Derivatives, Federal savings 
associations, Insurance, Investments, Metals, National banks, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Securities, Security bonds.

12 CFR Part 145

    Electronic funds transfers, Public deposits, Federal savings 
associations.

12 CFR Part 160

    Consumer protection, Investments, Manufactured homes, Mortgages, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Savings associations, 
Securities.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the OCC amends 12 CFR 
chapter I as follows:

PART 4--ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS, AVAILABILITY AND RELEASE OF 
INFORMATION, CONTRACTING OUTREACH PROGRAM, POST-EMPLOYMENT 
RESTRICTIONS FOR SENIOR EXAMINERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 4 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 552; 12 U.S.C. 1, 93a, 161, 481, 482, 
484(a), 1442, 1462a, 1463, 1464 1817(a), 1818, 1820, 1821, 1831m, 
1831p-1, 1831o, 1833e, 1867, 1951 et seq., 2601 et seq., 2801 et 
seq., 2901 et seq., 3101 et seq., 3401 et seq., 5321, 5412, 5414; 15 
U.S.C. 77uu(b), 78q(c)(3); 18 U.S.C. 641, 1905, 1906; 29 U.S.C. 
1204; 31 U.S.C. 5318(g)(2), 9701; 42 U.S.C. 3601; 44 U.S.C. 3506, 
3510; E.O. 12600 (3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 235).


Sec.  4.5  [Amended]

0
2. Amend Sec.  4.5(a) by:
0
a. Removing the second sentence; and
0
b. Removing the phrase ``1 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 
60606'' and adding in its place the phrase ``425 South Financial Place, 
Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60605''.

PART 5--RULES, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES FOR CORPORATE ACTIVITIES

0
3. The authority citation for part 5 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1 et seq., 24a, 35, 93a, 214a, 215, 215a, 
215a-1, 215a-2, 215a-3, 215c, 371d, 481, 1462a, 1463, 1464, 1817(j), 
1831i, 1831u, 2901 et seq., 3101 et seq., 3907, and 5412(b)(2)(B).


Sec.  5.21  [Amended]

0
4. Amend Sec.  5.21 by:
0
a. In paragraphs (j)(2)(i)(C) and (j)(3)(ii), removing the phrase 
``corporate governance procedures'' wherever it appears and adding in 
its place the phrase ``corporate governance provisions'';
0
b. In paragraph (j)(3)(ii):
0
i. Removing the phrase ``the State where the home office of the 
institution'' and adding in its place ``any State in which the home 
office or any branch of the association''; and
0
ii. Removing the phrase ``such procedures'' wherever it appears and 
adding in its place the phrase ``such provisions''.

0
5. Amend Sec.  5.22 by:
0
a. Revising paragraph (j)(2)(ii); and
0
b. In paragraph (k)(1)(ii)(B), removing the phrase ``corporate 
governance procedures'' and adding in its place the phrase ``corporate 
governance provisions''.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  5.22   Federal stock savings association charter and bylaws.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Corporate governance election and notice requirement. A 
Federal stock association may elect to follow the corporate governance 
provisions of: The laws of any State in which the home office or any 
branch of the association is located; the laws of any State in which a 
holding company of the association is incorporated or chartered; 
Delaware General Corporation law; or the Model Business Corporation 
Act, provided that such provisions may be elected to the extent not 
inconsistent with applicable Federal statutes and regulations and 
safety and soundness, and such provisions are not of the type described 
in paragraph (j)(2)(i)(B) of this section. If this election is 
selected, a Federal stock association must designate in its bylaws the 
provision or provisions from the body or bodies of law selected for its 
corporate governance provisions, and must file a notice containing a 
copy of such bylaws, within 30 days after adoption. The notice must 
indicate, where not obvious, why the bylaw provisions meet the 
requirements stated in paragraph (j)(2)(i)(B) of this section. A 
Federal stock savings association that has elected to follow the 
corporate governance provisions of the law of the State in which its 
holding company is incorporated may continue to use those provisions 
even if the association is no longer controlled by that holding 
company.
* * * * *


Sec.  5.30  [Amended]

0
6. Amend Sec.  5.30 by:
0
a. In paragraph (d)(1)(i), adding the word ``or'' after the phrase 
``temporary facility,'' and removing the phrase ``, or a drop box''; 
and
0
b. In paragraph (d)(1)(iii), removing the citation ``12 CFR 7.4003'' 
and adding in its place the citation ``12 CFR 7.1027''.

PART 7--ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS

0
7. The authority citation for part 7 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1 et seq., 25b, 29, 71, 71a, 92, 92a, 93, 
93a, 95(b)(1), 371, 371d, 481, 484, 1462a, 1463, 1464, 1465, 1818, 
1828, 3102(b), and 5412(b)(2)(B).


Sec.  7.1000  [Redesignated]

0
8. Redesignate Sec.  7.1000 as Sec.  7.1024.

0
9. Add a new Sec.  7.1000 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1000  Activities that are part of, or incidental to, the 
business of banking.

    (a) Purpose. This section identifies the criteria that the Office 
of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) uses to determine whether an 
activity is authorized as part of, or incidental to, the business of 
banking under 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) or other statutory authority.
    (b) Restrictions and conditions on activities. The OCC may 
determine that activities are permissible under 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) 
or other statutory authority only if they are subject to standards or 
conditions designed to provide that the activities function as intended 
and are conducted safely and soundly, in accordance with other 
applicable statutes, regulations, or supervisory policies.

[[Page 83727]]

    (c) Activities that are part of the business of banking. (1) An 
activity is permissible for national banks as part of the business of 
banking if the activity is authorized under 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) or 
other statutory authority. In determining whether an activity that is 
not specifically included in 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) or other statutory 
authority is part of the business of banking, the OCC considers the 
following factors:
    (i) Whether the activity is the functional equivalent to, or a 
logical outgrowth of, a recognized banking activity;
    (ii) Whether the activity strengthens the bank by benefiting its 
customers or its business;
    (iii) Whether the activity involves risks similar in nature to 
those already assumed by banks; and
    (iv) Whether the activity is authorized for State-chartered banks.
    (2) The weight accorded each factor set out in paragraph (c)(1) of 
this section depends on the facts and circumstances of each case.
    (d) Activities that are incidental to the business of banking. (1) 
An activity is authorized for a national bank as incidental to the 
business of banking if it is convenient or useful to an activity that 
is specifically authorized for national banks or to an activity that is 
otherwise part of the business of banking. In determining whether an 
activity is convenient or useful to such activities, the OCC considers 
the following factors:
    (i) Whether the activity facilitates the production or delivery of 
a bank's products or services, enhances the bank's ability to sell or 
market its products or services, or improves the effectiveness or 
efficiency of the bank's operations, in light of risks presented, 
innovations, strategies, techniques and new technologies for producing 
and delivering financial products and services; and
    (ii) Whether the activity enables the bank to use capacity acquired 
for its banking operations or otherwise avoid economic loss or waste.
    (2) The weight accorded each factor set out in paragraph (d)(1) of 
this section depends on the facts and circumstances of each case.

0
10. Revise Sec.  7.1002 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1002   National bank and Federal savings association acting as 
finder.

    (a) In general. A finder may identify potential parties, make 
inquiries as to interest, introduce or arrange contacts or meetings of 
interested parties, act as an intermediary between interested parties, 
and otherwise bring parties together for a transaction that the parties 
themselves negotiate and consummate. It is part of the business of 
banking under 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) for a national bank to act as a 
finder. A Federal savings association may act as a finder to the extent 
those activities are incidental to the powers expressly authorized by 
the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA) (12 U.S.C. 1461 et seq).
    (b) Permissible finder activities--(1) National banks. The 
following list provides examples of permissible finder activities for 
national banks. This list is illustrative and not exclusive; the OCC 
may determine that other activities are permissible pursuant to a 
national bank's authority to act as a finder:
    (i) Communicating information about providers of products and 
services, and proposed offering prices and terms to potential markets 
for these products and services;
    (ii) Communicating to the seller an offer to purchase or a request 
for information, including forwarding completed applications, 
application fees, and requests for information to third-party 
providers;
    (iii) Arranging for third-party providers to offer reduced rates to 
those customers referred by the national bank;
    (iv) Providing administrative, clerical, and record keeping 
functions related to the national bank's finder activity, including 
retaining copies of documents, instructing and assisting individuals in 
the completion of documents, scheduling sales calls on behalf of 
sellers, and conducting market research to identify potential new 
customers for retailers;
    (v) Conveying between interested parties expressions of interest, 
bids, offers, orders, and confirmations relating to a transaction;
    (vi) Conveying other types of information between potential buyers, 
sellers, and other interested parties;
    (vii) Establishing rules of general applicability governing the use 
and operation of the finder service, including rules that:
    (A) Govern the submission of bids and offers by buyers, sellers, 
and other interested parties that use the finder service and the 
circumstances under which the finder service will pair bids and offers 
submitted by buyers, sellers, and other interested parties; and
    (B) Govern the manner in which buyers, sellers, and other 
interested parties may bind themselves to the terms of a specific 
transaction; and
    (viii) Acting as an electronic finder pursuant to Sec.  
7.5002(a)(1).
    (2) Federal savings associations. The following list provides 
examples of finder activities that are permissible for Federal savings 
associations. This list is illustrative and not exclusive; the OCC may 
determine that other activities are permissible pursuant to a Federal 
savings association's incidental powers:
    (i) Referring customers to a third party; and
    (ii) Providing services and products to customers indirectly 
through a third-party discount program.
    (c) Limitation. The authority to act as a finder does not enable a 
national bank or a Federal savings association to engage in brokerage 
activities that have not been found to be permissible for national 
banks or Federal savings associations, respectively.
    (d) Advertisement and fee. Unless otherwise prohibited by Federal 
law, a national bank or Federal savings association may advertise the 
availability of, and accept a fee for, the services provided pursuant 
to this section.

0
11. Amend Sec.  7.1003 by:
0
a. In paragraph (a):
0
i. Revising the paragraph heading;
0
ii. Adding the word ``national'' before the word ``bank'' wherever it 
appears;
0
b. In paragraph (b):
0
i. Adding the word ``national'' before the word ``bank'' in the 
paragraph heading;
0
ii. Adding the word ``national'' before the word ``bank'' wherever it 
appears; and
0
iii. Adding the word ``national'' before the word ``bank's''; and
0
c. Adding paragraph (c).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  7.1003  Money lent by a national bank at banking offices or at 
facilities other than banking offices.

    (a) In general. * * *
    (c) Services on equivalent terms to those offered customers of 
unrelated banks. An operating subsidiary owned by a national bank may 
distribute loan proceeds from its own funds or bank funds directly to 
the borrower in person at offices the operating subsidiary has 
established without violating 12 U.S.C. 36, 12 U.S.C. 81 and 12 CFR 
5.30 provided that the operating subsidiary provides similar services 
on substantially similar terms and conditions to customers of 
unaffiliated entities including unaffiliated banks.

0
12. Revise Sec.  7.1004 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1004  Establishment of a loan production office by a national 
bank.

    (a) In general. A national bank or its operating subsidiary may 
engage in loan production activities at a site other than the main 
office or a branch of the bank. A national bank or its operating 
subsidiary may solicit loan customers,

[[Page 83728]]

market loan products, assist persons in completing application forms 
and related documents to obtain a loan, originate and approve loans, 
make credit decisions regarding a loan application, and offer other 
lending-related services such as loan information and applications at a 
loan production office without violating 12 U.S.C. 36 and 12 U.S.C. 81, 
provided that ``money'' is not deemed to be ``lent'' at that site 
within the meaning of Sec.  7.1003 and the site does not accept 
deposits or pay withdrawals.
    (b) Services of other persons. A national bank may use the services 
of, and compensate, persons not employed by the bank in its loan 
production activities.


Sec.  7.1005  [Removed and Reserved]

0
13. Remove and reserve Sec.  7.1005.


Sec.  7.1006  [Amended]

0
14. Amend Sec.  7.1006 by:
0
a. In the section heading, adding the phrase ``or Federal savings 
association'' after the phrase ``national bank'';
0
b. Adding the phrase ``or Federal savings association'' after the 
phrase ``national bank'' wherever it appears in the first and second 
sentences; and
0
c. Adding the phrase ``or savings association'' after the phrase 
``provided that the bank'' in the second sentence.


Sec.  7.1009  [Removed and Reserved]

0
15. Remove and reserve Sec.  7.1009.

0
16. Revise Sec.  7.1010 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1010  Postal services by national banks and Federal savings 
associations.

    (a) In general. A national bank or Federal savings association may 
provide postal services and receive income from those services. The 
services performed are those permitted under applicable rules of the 
United States Postal Service and may include meter stamping of letters 
and packages and the sale of related insurance. The national bank or 
Federal savings association may advertise, develop, and extend the 
services to attract customers to the institution.
    (b) Postal regulations. A national bank or Federal savings 
association providing postal services must do so in accordance with the 
rules and regulations of the United States Postal Service. The national 
bank or Federal savings association must keep the books and records of 
the postal services separate from those of other banking operations. 
Under 39 U.S.C. 404 and regulations issued under that statute (see 39 
CFR chapter I), the United States Postal Service may inspect the books 
and records pertaining to the postal services.


Sec.  7.1012  [Amended]

0
17. Amend Sec.  7.1012 by:
0
a. In paragraph (c)(1), removing the phrase ``pick up from, and 
deliver'' and adding in its place the phrase ``pick up from and 
deliver''; and
0
b. In paragraph (c)(2)(vi), removing the words ``back office'' and 
adding in its place the word ``back-office''.

0
18. Revise Sec.  7.1015 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1015  National bank and Federal savings association investments 
in small business investment companies.

    (a) National banks. A national bank may invest in a small business 
investment company (SBIC) or in any entity established solely to invest 
in SBICs, including purchasing the stock of a SBIC, subject to 
appropriate capital limitations (see e.g., 15 U.S.C. 682(b)), and may 
receive the benefits of such stock ownership (e.g., stock dividends). 
The receipt and retention of a dividend by a national bank from a SBIC 
in the form of stock of a corporate borrower of the SBIC is not a 
purchase of stock within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh).
    (b) Federal savings associations. Federal savings associations may 
invest in a SBIC or in any entity established solely to invest in SBICs 
as provided in 12 CFR 160.30.
    (c) Qualifying SBIC. A national bank or Federal savings association 
may invest in a SBIC that is either:
    (1) Already organized and has obtained a license from the Small 
Business Administration; or
    (2) In the process of being organized.
    (d) SBIC wind-down. A national bank or Federal savings association 
may retain an interest in a SBIC that has voluntarily surrendered its 
license to operate as a SBIC in accordance with 13 CFR 107.1900 and 
does not make any new investments (other than investments in cash 
equivalents, which, for the purposes of this paragraph (d), means high 
quality, highly liquid investments whose maturity corresponds to the 
issuer's expected or potential need for funds and whose currency 
corresponds to the issuer's assets) after such voluntary surrender.

0
19. Amend Sec.  7.1016 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading and paragraphs (a) and (b)(1) 
introductory text;
0
b. In paragraphs (b)(1)(iii)(B) and (C), (b)(2)(iii), and (b)(3) and 
(4), removing the word ``bank'' and adding in its place the phrase 
``national bank or Federal savings association'';
0
c. In paragraphs (b)(1)(iii)(B), (b)(2)(iii), and (b)(4), adding the 
phrase ``or savings association's'' after the word ``bank's'';
0
d. Revising paragraphs (b)(1)(iv) and (b)(2)(i); and
0
e. In paragraph (b)(2)(ii), removing the word ``bank's'' and adding in 
its place the phrase ``national bank's or Federal savings 
association's''.
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  7.1016   Independent undertakings issued by a national bank or 
Federal savings association to pay against documents.

    (a) In general. A national bank or Federal savings association may 
issue and commit to issue letters of credit and other independent 
undertakings within the scope of applicable laws or rules of practice 
recognized by law.\1\ Under such independent undertakings, the national 
bank's or Federal savings association's obligation to honor depends 
upon the presentation of specified documents and not upon 
nondocumentary conditions or resolution of questions of fact or law at 
issue between the applicant and the beneficiary. A national bank or 
Federal savings association also may confirm or otherwise undertake to 
honor or purchase specified documents upon their presentation under 
another person's independent undertaking within the scope of such laws 
or rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Examples of such laws or rules of practice include: The 
applicable version of Article 5 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) 
(1962, as amended 1990) or revised Article 5 of the UCC (as amended 
1995); the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits 
(International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Publication No. 600 or any 
applicable prior version); the Supplements to UCP 500 & 600 for 
Electronic Presentation (eUCP v. 1.0, 1.1, & 2.0) (Supplements to 
the Uniform Customs and Practices for Documentary Credits for 
Electronic Presentation); International Standby Practices (ISP98) 
(ICC Publication No. 590); the United Nations Convention on 
Independent Guarantees and Stand-by Letters of Credit (adopted by 
the U.N. General Assembly in 1995 and signed by the U.S. in 1997); 
and the Uniform Rules for Bank-to-Bank Reimbursements Under 
Documentary Credits (ICC Publication No. 725).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (b) * * * (1) Terms. As a matter of safe and sound banking 
practice, national banks and Federal savings associations that issue 
independent undertakings should not be exposed to undue risk. At a 
minimum, national banks and Federal savings associations should 
consider the following:
* * * * *
    (iv) The national bank or Federal savings association either should 
be fully collateralized or have a post-honor right of reimbursement 
from the applicant or from another issuer of an independent 
undertaking. Alternatively, if the national bank's or Federal savings 
association's undertaking is to purchase documents of title, 
securities, or other valuable documents, the bank or savings 
association should obtain a first priority right to realize on the 
documents if the

[[Page 83729]]

bank or savings association is not otherwise to be reimbursed.
    (2) * * *
    (i) In the event that the undertaking is to honor by delivery of an 
item of value other than money, the national bank or Federal savings 
association should ensure that market fluctuations that affect the 
value of the item will not cause the bank or savings association to 
assume undue market risk;
* * * * *

0
20. Revise Sec.  7.1021 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1021  Financial literacy programs not branches of national 
banks.

    A financial literacy program is a program the principal purpose of 
which is to be educational for members of the community. The premises 
of, or a facility used by, a school or other organization at which a 
national bank participates in a financial literacy program is not a 
branch for purposes of 12 U.S.C. 36 provided the bank does not 
establish and operate the premises or facility. The OCC considers 
establishment and operation in this context on a case by case basis, 
considering the facts and circumstances. However, the premises or 
facility is not a branch of the national bank if the safe harbor test 
in Sec.  7.1012(c)(2) applicable to messenger services established by 
third parties is satisfied. The factor discussed in Sec.  
7.1012(c)(2)(i) can be met if bank employee participation in the 
financial literacy program consists of managing the program or 
conducting or engaging in financial education activities provided the 
school or other organization retains control over the program and over 
the premises or facilities at which the program is held.


Sec.  7.1022  [Amended]

0
21. Amend Sec.  7.1022 by:
0
a. In paragraph (d), removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its 
place the word ``may'' wherever it appears; and
0
b. In paragraph (e), in the first sentence, removing the word ``shall'' 
and adding in its place the word ``must'' and removing the phrase ``the 
effective date of this regulation'' and adding in its place the phrase 
``April 1, 2018''.


Sec.  7.1023  [Amended]

0
22. Amend Sec.  7.1023 by:
0
a. In paragraph (c), removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its 
place the word ``may'' and removing the words ``federal savings 
association'' and adding in its place the words ``Federal savings 
association''; and
0
b. In paragraph (d):
0
i. In the first sentence:
0
A. Removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its place the word 
``must'';
0
B. Removing the phrase ``the effective date of this regulation'' and 
adding in its place the phrase ``April 1, 2018''; and
0
ii. Removing, in the second sentence, the phrase ``federal savings 
association'' and adding in its place the phrase ``Federal savings 
association''.


Sec.  7.1024  [Amended]

0
23. Amend newly redesignated Sec.  7.1024 by:
0
a. In paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) and (d), removing the word 
``shall'' and adding in its place the word ``must''; and
0
b. In paragraph (e), removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its 
place the word ``may''.

0
24. Add Sec.  7.1025 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1025  Tax equity finance transactions by national banks and 
Federal savings associations.

    (a) Tax equity finance transactions. A national bank or Federal 
savings association may engage in a tax equity finance transaction 
pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh) and 1464 only if the transaction is 
the functional equivalent of a loan, as provided in paragraph (c) of 
this section, and the transaction satisfies applicable conditions in 
paragraph (d) of this section. The authority to engage in tax equity 
finance transactions under this section is pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 
24(Seventh) and 1464 lending authority and is separate from, and does 
not limit, other investment authorities available to national banks and 
Federal savings associations.
    (b) Definitions. For purposes of this section:
    (1) Appropriate OCC supervisory office means the OCC office that is 
responsible for the supervision of a national bank or Federal savings 
association, as described in subpart A of 12 CFR part 4;
    (2) Capital and surplus has the same meaning that this term has in 
12 CFR 32.2.
    (3) Tax equity finance transaction means a transaction in which a 
national bank or Federal savings association provides equity financing 
to fund a project or projects that generate tax credits or other tax 
benefits and the use of an equity-based structure allows the transfer 
of those credits and other tax benefits to the national bank or Federal 
savings association.
    (c) Functional equivalent of a loan. A tax equity finance 
transaction is the functional equivalent of a loan if:
    (1) The structure of the transaction is necessary for making the 
tax credits or other tax benefits available to the national bank or 
Federal savings association;
    (2) The transaction is of limited tenure and is not indefinite, 
including retaining a limited investment interest that is required by 
law to obtain continuing tax benefits or needed to obtain the expected 
rate of return;
    (3) The tax benefits and other payments received by the national 
bank or Federal savings association from the transaction repay the 
investment and provide the expected rate of return at the time of 
underwriting;
    (4) Consistent with paragraph (c)(3) of this section, the national 
bank or Federal savings association does not rely on appreciation of 
value in the project or property rights underlying the project for 
repayment;
    (5) The national bank or Federal savings association uses 
underwriting and credit approval criteria and standards that are 
substantially equivalent to the underwriting and credit approval 
criteria and standards used for a traditional commercial loan;
    (6) The national bank or Federal savings association is a passive 
investor in the transaction and is unable to direct the affairs of the 
project company; and
    (7) The national bank or Federal savings association appropriately 
accounts for the transaction initially and on an ongoing basis and has 
documented contemporaneously its accounting assessment and conclusion.
    (d) Conditions on tax equity finance transactions. A national bank 
or Federal savings association may engage in tax equity finance 
transactions only if:
    (1) The national bank or Federal savings association cannot control 
the sale of energy, if any, from the project;
    (2) The national bank or Federal savings association limits the 
total dollar amount of tax equity finance transactions undertaken 
pursuant to this section to no more than five percent of its capital 
and surplus, unless the OCC determines, by written approval of a 
written request by the national bank or Federal savings association to 
exceed the five percent limit, that a higher aggregate limit will not 
pose an unreasonable risk to the national bank or Federal savings 
association and that the tax equity finance transactions in the 
national bank's or Federal savings association's portfolio will not be 
conducted in an unsafe or unsound manner; provided, however, that in no 
case may a national bank or Federal savings association's total dollar 
amount of tax equity finance transactions undertaken pursuant to this 
section exceed 15 percent of its capital and surplus;

[[Page 83730]]

    (3) The national bank or Federal savings association has provided 
written notification to the appropriate OCC supervisory office, prior 
to engaging in each tax equity finance transaction that includes its 
evaluation of the risks posed by the transaction;
    (4) The national bank or Federal savings association can identify, 
measure, monitor, and control the associated risks of its tax equity 
finance transaction activities individually and as a whole on an 
ongoing basis to ensure that such activities are conducted in a safe 
and sound manner; and
    (5) The national bank or Federal savings association obtains a 
legal opinion or has other good faith, reasoned bases for making a 
determination that tax credits or other tax benefits are available 
before engaging in a tax equity finance transaction.
    (e) Applicable legal requirements. The transaction is subject to 
the substantive legal requirements of a loan, including the lending 
limits prescribed by 12 U.S.C. 84 and 12 U.S.C. 1464(u), as 
appropriate, as implemented by 12 CFR part 32, and if the active 
investor or project sponsor of the transaction is an affiliate of the 
bank, to the restrictions on transactions with affiliates prescribed by 
12 U.S.C. 371c and 371c-1, as implemented by 12 CFR part 223.

0
25. Add Sec.  7.1026 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1026  National bank and Federal savings association payment 
system memberships.

    (a) In general. National banks and Federal savings associations may 
become members of payment systems, subject to the requirements of this 
section.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section:
    (1) Appropriate OCC supervisory office means the OCC office that is 
responsible for the supervision of a national bank or Federal savings 
association, as described in subpart A of 12 CFR part 4;
    (2) Member includes a national bank or Federal savings association 
designated as a ``member,'' or ``participant,'' or other similar role 
by a payment system, including by a payment system that requires the 
national bank or Federal savings association to share in operational 
losses or maintain a reserve with the payment system to offset 
potential liability for operational losses. This definition includes 
indirect members only if they agree to be bound by the rules of the 
payment system and the rules of the payment system indicate indirect 
members are covered;
    (3) Open-ended liability refers to liability for operational losses 
that is not capped under the rules of the payment system and includes 
indemnifications of third parties provided as a condition of membership 
in the payment system;
    (4) Operational loss means a charge resulting from sources other 
than defaults by other members of the payment system. Examples of 
operational losses include losses that are due to: Employee misconduct, 
fraud, misjudgment, or human error; management failure; information 
systems failures; disruptions from internal or external events that 
result in the degradation or failure of services provided by the 
payment system; security breaches or cybersecurity events; or payment 
or settlement delays, constrained liquidity, contagious disruptions, 
and resulting litigation; and
    (5) Payment system means ``financial market utility'' as defined in 
12 U.S.C. 5462(6), wherever operating, and includes both retail and 
wholesale payment systems. Payment system does not include a 
derivatives clearing organization registered under the Commodity 
Exchange Act, a clearing agency registered under the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934, or foreign organization that would be considered 
a derivatives clearing organization or clearing agency were it 
operating in the United States.
    (c) Notice requirements--(1) Prior notice required. A national bank 
or Federal savings association must provide written notice to its 
appropriate OCC supervisory office at least 30 days prior to joining a 
payment system that exposes it to open-ended liability.
    (2) After-the-fact notice. A national bank or Federal savings 
association must provide written notice to its appropriate OCC 
supervisory office within 30 days of joining a payment system that does 
not expose it to open-ended liability.
    (d) Content of notice--(1) In general. A notice required by 
paragraph (c) of this section must include representations that the 
national bank or Federal savings association:
    (i) Has complied with the safety and soundness review requirements 
in paragraph (e)(1) of this section; and
    (ii) Will comply with the safety and soundness review and 
notification requirements in paragraphs (e)(2) and (3) of this section.
    (2) Payment system with limits on liability or no liability. A 
notice filed under paragraph (c)(2) of this section also must include a 
representation that either:
    (i) The rules of the payment system do not impose liability for 
operational losses on members; or
    (ii) The national bank's or Federal savings association's liability 
for operational losses is limited by the rules of the payment system to 
specific and appropriate limits that do not exceed the lower of:
    (A) The legal lending limit under 12 CFR part 32; or
    (B) The limit set for the bank or savings association by the OCC.
    (e) Safety and soundness procedures. (1) Prior to joining a payment 
system, a national bank or Federal savings association must:
    (i) Identify and evaluate the risks posed by membership in the 
payment system, taking into account whether the liability of the bank 
or savings association is limited; and
    (ii) Ensure that it can measure, monitor, and control the risks 
identified pursuant to paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section.
    (2) After joining a payment system, a national bank or Federal 
savings association must manage the risks of the payment system on an 
ongoing basis. This ongoing risk management must:
    (i) Identify and evaluate the risks posed by membership in the 
payment system, taking into account whether the liability of the bank 
or savings association is limited; and
    (ii) Measure, monitor, and control the risks identified pursuant to 
paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section.
    (3) If the national bank or Federal savings association identifies 
risks during the ongoing risk management required by paragraph (e)(2) 
of this section that raise safety and soundness concerns, such as a 
material change to the bank's or savings association's liability or 
indemnification responsibilities, the national bank or Federal savings 
association must:
    (i) Notify the appropriate OCC supervisory office as soon as the 
safety and soundness concern is identified; and
    (ii) Take appropriate actions to remediate the risk.
    (4) A national bank or Federal savings association that believes 
its open-ended liability is otherwise limited (e.g., by negotiated 
agreements or laws of an appropriate jurisdiction) may consider its 
liability to be limited for purposes of the reviews required by 
paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this section so long as:
    (i) Prior to joining the payment system, the bank or savings 
association obtains a written legal opinion that:
    (A) Describes how the payment system allocates liability for 
operational losses; and

[[Page 83731]]

    (B) Concludes the potential liability for operational losses for 
the national bank or Federal savings association is in fact limited to 
specific and appropriate limits that do not exceed the lower of:
    (1) The legal lending limit under 12 CFR part 32; or
    (2) The limit set for the bank or savings association by the OCC; 
and
    (ii) There are no material changes to the liability or 
indemnification requirements applicable to the bank or savings 
association since the issuance of the written legal opinion.
    (f) Safety and soundness considerations. (1) A national bank or 
Federal savings association should evaluate, at a minimum, the 
following payment system characteristics when conducting an analysis 
required by paragraph (e) of this section:
    (i) Does the processing occur on a real-time gross settlement basis 
or provide reasonable assurance (e.g., prefunding, etc.) that members 
will meet settlement obligations?
    (ii) How does the payment system's rules limit its liability to 
members?
    (iii) Does the payment system have insurance coverage and/or self-
insurance arrangements to cover operational losses?
    (iv) Do the payment system's rules provide an unambiguous pro-rata 
loss allocation methodology under its indemnity provisions and does the 
methodology provide members the opportunity to reduce or eliminate 
liability exposure by decreasing or ceasing use of the payment system?
    (v) Do the payment system's rules provide for unambiguous 
membership withdrawal procedures that do not require the prior approval 
of the system?
    (vi) Does the payment system have appropriate admission and 
continuing participation requirements for system participants? Such 
requirements should address, among other things:
    (A) The participants' access to sufficient financial resources to 
meet obligations arising from participation;
    (B) The adequacy of participants' operational capacities to meet 
obligations arising from participation; and
    (C) The adequacy of the participants' own risk management 
processes.
    (vii) Does the payment system have processes and controls in place 
to verify and monitor on an ongoing basis the compliance of each 
participant with admission and participation requirements?
    (viii) Does the payment system have written policies and procedures 
for addressing participant failures to meet ongoing participation 
requirements?
    (ix) Are the payment system's rules relating to the system's 
emergency authorities unambiguous and may they be amended or otherwise 
altered without prior notification to all members and an opportunity to 
withdraw?
    (x) Is the payment system governed by uniform, comprehensive and 
clear legal standards in its operating jurisdiction that address 
payment and/or settlement activities?
    (xi) Is the payment system subject to and in compliance (or 
observance) with the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems and 
the Technical Committee of the International Organization of Securities 
Commissions (CPSS--IOSCO) Principles for Financial Market 
Infrastructures?
    (xii) Is the payment system designated as a systemically important 
financial market utility (SIFMU) by the Financial Stability Oversight 
Counsel (FSOC) or is it the international or foreign equivalent?
    (xiii) Does the payment system provide members with information 
relevant to governance, risk management practices, and operations in a 
timely manner and with sufficient transparency and particularity for 
the bank to ascertain with reasonable certainty the bank's level of 
risk exposure to the system?
    (xiv) Is the payment system operated by or subject to oversight of 
a central bank or regulatory authority?
    (xv) Is the payment system legally organized as a not-for-profit 
enterprise or is it owned and operated by a government entity?
    (xvi) Does the payment system have appropriate systems and controls 
for communicating to members in a timely manner about material events 
that relate to or could result in potential operational losses, e.g. 
fraud, system failures, natural disasters, etc.?
    (xvii) Has the payment system ever exercised its authority under 
indemnification provisions?
    (2) A national bank or Federal savings association should consider, 
at a minimum, the following characteristics of its risk management 
program when conducting an analysis required by paragraph (e) of this 
section:
    (i) Does the bank or savings association have appropriate board 
supervision and managerial and staff expertise?
    (ii) Does the bank or savings association have comprehensive 
policies and operating procedures with respect to its risk 
identification, measurement and management information systems that are 
routinely reviewed?
    (iii) Does the bank or savings association have effective risk 
controls and processes to oversee and ensure the continuing 
effectiveness of the risk management process? The program should 
include a formal process for approval of payment system memberships as 
well as ongoing monitoring and measurement of activity against 
predetermined risk limits.
    (iv) Does the bank or savings association's membership evaluation 
process include assessments and analyses of:
    (A) The credit quality of the entity;
    (B) The entity's risk management practices;
    (C) Settlement and default procedures of the entity;
    (D) Any default or loss-sharing precedents and any other applicable 
limits or restrictions of the entity;
    (E) Key risks associated with joining the entity; and
    (F) The incremental effect of additional memberships in aggregate 
exposure to payment system risk?
    (v) Does the bank or savings association's risk management program 
include policies and procedures that identify and estimate the level of 
potential operational risks, at both inception of membership and on an 
on-going basis?
    (vi) Does the bank or savings association have auditing procedures 
to ensure the integrity of risk measurement, control and reporting 
systems?
    (vii) Does the program include mechanisms to monitor, estimate, and 
maintain control over the bank or savings association's potential 
liabilities for operational losses on an ongoing basis. This should 
include:
    (A) Limits and other controls with respect to each identified risk 
factor;
    (B) Reports generated throughout the processes that accurately 
present the nature and level(s) of risk taken and demonstrate 
compliance with approved polices and limits; and
    (C) Identification of the business unit and/or individuals 
responsible for measuring and monitoring risk exposures, as well as 
those individuals responsible for monitoring compliance with policies 
and risk exposure limits.
    (viii) Does a bank or savings association with memberships in 
multiple payment systems have the ability to monitor and report 
aggregate risk exposures and measurement against risk limits both at 
the sponsoring business line level and the total exposure 
organizationally?

0
26. Add Sec.  7.1027 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1027  Establishment and operation of a remote service unit by a 
national bank.

    A remote service unit (RSU) is an automated or unstaffed facility, 
operated

[[Page 83732]]

by a customer of a bank with at most delimited assistance from bank 
personnel, that conducts banking functions such as receiving deposits, 
paying withdrawals, or lending money. A national bank may establish and 
operate an RSU pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 24(Seventh). An RSU includes an 
automated teller machine, automated loan machine, automated device for 
receiving deposits, personal computer, telephone, other similar 
electronic devices, and drop boxes. An RSU may be equipped with a 
telephone or tele-video device that allows contact with bank personnel. 
An RSU is not a ``branch'' within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 36(j), and 
is not subject to State geographic or operational restrictions or 
licensing laws.

0
27. Add Sec.  7.1028 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1028  Establishment and operation of a deposit production 
office by a national bank.

    (a) In general. A national bank or its operating subsidiary may 
engage in deposit production activities at a site other than the main 
office or a branch of the bank. A national bank or its operating 
subsidiary may solicit deposits, provide information about deposit 
products, and assist persons in completing application forms and 
related documents to open a deposit account at a deposit production 
office (DPO). A DPO is not a branch within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 
36(j) and 12 CFR 5.30(d)(1) so long as it does not receive deposits, 
pay withdrawals, or make loans. All deposit and withdrawal transactions 
of a bank customer using a DPO must be performed by the customer, 
either in person at the main office or a branch office of the bank, or 
by mail, electronic transfer, or a similar method of transfer.
    (b) Services of other persons. A national bank may use the services 
of, and compensate, persons not employed by the bank in its deposit 
production activities.

0
28. Add Sec.  7.1029 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1029  Combination of national bank loan production office, 
deposit production office, and remote service unit.

    A location at which a national bank operates a loan production 
office (LPO), a deposit production office (DPO), and a remote service 
unit (RSU) is not a ``branch'' within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 36(j) by 
virtue of that combination. Since an LPO, DPO, or RSU is not, 
individually, a branch under 12 U.S.C. 36(j), any combination of these 
facilities at one location does not create a branch. The RSU at such a 
combined location must be primarily operated by the customer with at 
most delimited assistance from bank personnel.

0
29. Add Sec.  7.1030 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.1030  Permissible derivatives activities for national banks.

    (a) Authority. This section is issued pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 
24(Seventh). A national bank may only engage in derivatives 
transactions in accordance with the requirements of this section.
    (b) Definitions. For purposes of this section:
    (1) Customer-driven means a transaction is entered into for a 
customer's valid and independent business purpose (and a customer-
driven transaction does not include a transaction the principal purpose 
of which is to deliver to a national bank assets that the national bank 
could not invest in directly);
    (2) Perfectly-matched means two back-to-back derivatives 
transactions that offset risk with respect to all economic terms (e.g., 
amount, maturity, duration, and underlying);
    (3) Portfolio-hedged means a portfolio of derivatives transactions 
that are hedged based on net unmatched positions or exposures in the 
portfolio;
    (4) Physical hedging or physically-hedged means holding title to or 
acquiring ownership of an asset (for example, by warehouse receipt or 
book-entry) solely to manage the risks arising out of permissible 
customer-driven derivatives transactions;
    (5) Physical settlement or physically-settled means accepting title 
to or acquiring ownership of an asset;
    (6) Transitory title transfer means accepting and immediately 
relinquishing title to an asset; and
    (7) Underlying means the reference asset, rate, obligation, or 
index on which the payment obligation(s) between counterparties to a 
derivative transaction is based.
    (c) In general. A national bank may engage in the following 
derivatives transactions after notice in accordance with paragraph (d) 
of this section, as applicable:
    (1) Derivatives transactions with payments based on underlyings a 
national bank is permitted to purchase directly as an investment;
    (2) Derivatives transactions with any underlying to hedge the risks 
arising from bank-permissible activities;
    (3) Derivatives transactions as a financial intermediary with any 
underlying that are customer-driven, cash-settled, and either 
perfectly-matched or portfolio-hedged;
    (4) Derivatives transactions as a financial intermediary with any 
underlying that are customer-driven, physically-settled by transitory 
title transfer, and either perfectly-matched or portfolio-hedged; and
    (5) Derivatives transactions as a financial intermediary with any 
underlying that are customer-driven, physically-hedged, and either 
portfolio-hedged or hedged on a transaction-by-transaction basis, and 
provided that:
    (i) The national bank does not take physical delivery of any 
commodity by receipt of physical quantities of the commodity on bank 
premises; and
    (ii) Physical hedging activities meet the requirements of paragraph 
(e) of this section.
    (d) Notice procedure. (1) A national bank must provide notice to 
its Examiner-in-Charge prior to engaging in any of the following with 
respect to derivatives transactions with payments based on underlyings 
that a national bank is not permitted to purchase directly as an 
investment:
    (i) Engaging in derivatives hedging activities pursuant to 
paragraph (c)(2) of this section;
    (ii) Expanding the bank's derivatives hedging activities pursuant 
to paragraph (c)(2) of this section to include a new category of 
underlying for derivatives transactions;
    (iii) Engaging in customer-driven financial intermediation 
derivatives activities pursuant to paragraph (c)(3), (4), or (5) of 
this section; and
    (iv) Expanding the bank's customer-driven financial intermediation 
derivatives activities pursuant to paragraph (c)(3), (4), or (5) of 
this section to include any new category of underlyings.
    (2) The notice pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this section must be 
submitted in writing at least 30 days before the national bank 
commences the activity and include the following information:
    (i) A detailed description of the proposed activity, including the 
relevant underlyings;
    (ii) The anticipated start date of the activity; and
    (iii) A detailed description of the bank's risk management system 
(policies, processes, personnel, and control systems) for identifying, 
measuring, monitoring, and controlling the risks of the activity.
    (e) Additional requirements for physical hedging activities. (1) A 
national bank engaging in physical hedging activities pursuant to 
paragraph (c)(5) of this section must hold the underlying solely to 
hedge risks arising from derivatives transactions originated by 
customers for the customers' valid and independent business purposes.

[[Page 83733]]

    (2) The physical hedging activities must offer a cost-effective 
means to hedge risks arising from permissible banking activities.
    (3) The national bank must not take anticipatory or maintain 
residual positions in the underlying except as necessary for the 
orderly establishment or unwinding of a hedging position.
    (4) The national bank must not acquire equity securities for 
hedging purposes that constitute more than 5 percent of a class of 
voting securities of any issuer.
    (5) With respect to physical hedging involving commodities:
    (i) A national bank's physical position in a particular physical 
commodity (including, as applicable, delivery point, purity, grade, 
chemical composition, weight, and size) must not be more than 5 percent 
of the gross notional value of the bank's derivatives that are in that 
particular physical commodity and allow for physical settlement within 
30 days. Title to commodities acquired and immediately sold by a 
transitory title transfer does not count against the 5 percent limit;
    (ii) The physical position must more effectively reduce risk than a 
cash-settled hedge referencing the same commodity; and
    (iii) The physical position hedges a physically-settled customer-
driven commodity derivative transaction(s).
    (f) Safe and sound banking practices. A national bank must adhere 
to safe and sound banking practices in conducting the activities 
described in this section. The bank must have a risk management system 
(policies, processes, personnel, and control system) that effectively 
manages (identifies, measures, monitors, and controls) these 
activities' interest rate, credit, liquidity, price, operational, 
compliance, and strategic risks.

0
30. Revise the heading for subpart B to read as follows:

Subpart B--Corporate Practices

0
31. Amend Sec.  7.2000 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading and paragraph (a);
0
b. In paragraph (b):
0
i. Removing the word ``procedures'' wherever it appears and adding in 
its place the word ``provisions'';
0
ii. Removing the phrase ``the state in which the main office of the 
bank'' and adding in its place the phrase ``any State in which the main 
office or any branch of the bank'';
0
iii. Removing the phrase ``the state in which the holding company of 
the bank'' and adding in its place the phrase ``any State in which a 
holding company of the bank''; and
0
iv. Removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its place the word 
``must'';
0
d. Redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph (d) and revising it; and
0
e. Adding a new paragraph (c).
    The addition and revisions are as follows:


Sec.  7.2000  National bank corporate governance.

    (a) In general. The corporate governance provisions in a national 
bank's articles of association and bylaws and the bank's conduct of its 
corporate governance affairs must comply with applicable Federal 
banking statutes and regulations and safe and sound banking practices.
* * * * *
    (c) Continued use of former holding company State. A national bank 
that has elected to follow the corporate governance provisions of the 
law of the State in which its holding company is incorporated may 
continue to use those provisions even if the bank is no longer 
controlled by that holding company.
    (d) Request for OCC staff position. A national bank may request the 
views of OCC staff on the permissibility of a national bank's adoption 
of a particular State corporate governance provision. Requests must 
include the following information:
    (1) The name of the national bank;
    (2) Citation to the State statutes or regulations involved;
    (3) A discussion as to whether a similarly situated State bank is 
subject to or may adopt the corporate governance provision;
    (4) Identification of all Federal banking statutes or regulations 
that are on the same subject as, or otherwise have a bearing on, the 
subject of the proposed State corporate governance provision; and
    (5) An analysis of how the proposed practice is not inconsistent 
with applicable Federal statutes or regulations and is not inconsistent 
with bank safety and soundness.

0
32. Add Sec.  7.2001 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2001   National bank adoption of anti-takeover provisions.

    (a) In general. Pursuant to Sec.  7.2000(b), a national bank may 
adopt anti-takeover provisions included in State corporate governance 
law if the provisions are not inconsistent with Federal banking 
statutes or regulations and not inconsistent with bank safety and 
soundness.
    (b) State anti-takeover provisions that are not inconsistent with 
Federal banking statutes or regulations. State anti-takeover provisions 
that are not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes or regulations 
include the following:
    (1) Restrictions on business combinations with interested 
shareholders. State provisions that prohibit, or that permit the 
corporation to prohibit in its certificate of incorporation or other 
governing document, the corporation from engaging in a business 
combination with an interested shareholder or any related entity for a 
specified period of time from the date on which the shareholder first 
becomes an interested shareholder, subject to certain exceptions such 
as board approval. An interested shareholder is one that owns an amount 
of stock specified in the State provision.
    (2) Poison pill. State provisions that provide, or that permit the 
corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation or other 
governing document, that all the shareholders, other than the hostile 
acquiror, have the right to purchase additional stock at a substantial 
discount upon the occurrence of a triggering event.
    (3) Requiring all shareholder actions to be taken at a meeting. 
State provisions that provide, or that permit the corporation to 
provide in its certificate of incorporation or other governing 
document, that all actions to be taken by shareholders must occur at a 
meeting and that shareholders may not take action by written consent.
    (4) Limits on shareholders' authority to call special meetings. 
State provisions that provide, or that permit the corporation to 
provide in its certificate of incorporation or other governing 
document, that:
    (i) Only the board of directors, and not the shareholders, have the 
right to call special meetings of the shareholders; or
    (ii) If shareholders have the right to call special meetings, a 
high percentage of shareholders is needed to call the meeting.
    (5) Shareholder removal of a director only for cause. State 
provisions that provide, or that permit the corporation to provide in 
its certificate of incorporation or other governing document, that 
shareholders may remove a director only for cause, and not both for 
cause and without cause.
    (c) State anti-takeover provisions that are inconsistent with 
Federal banking statutes or regulations. The following State anti-
takeover provisions are inconsistent with Federal banking statutes or 
regulations:
    (1) Supermajority voting requirements. State provisions that 
require, or that permit the corporation to require in its certificate 
of incorporation

[[Page 83734]]

or other governing document, a supermajority of the shareholders to 
approve specified matters are inconsistent when applied to matters for 
which Federal banking statutes or regulations specify the required 
level of shareholder approval.
    (2) Restrictions on a shareholder's right to vote all the shares it 
owns. State provisions that prohibit, or that permit the corporation in 
its certificate of incorporation or other governing document to 
prohibit, a person from voting shares acquired that increase their 
percentage of ownership of the company's stock above a certain level 
are inconsistent when applied to shareholder votes governed by 12 
U.S.C. 61.
    (d) Bank safety and soundness--(1) In general. Except as provided 
in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, any State corporate governance 
provision, including anti-takeover provisions, that would render more 
difficult or discourage an injection of capital by purchase of bank 
stock, a merger, the acquisition of the bank, a tender offer, a proxy 
contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of the 
bank's stock, or the removal of the incumbent board of directors or 
management is inconsistent with bank safety and soundness if:
    (i) The bank is less than adequately capitalized (as defined in 12 
CFR part 6);
    (ii) The bank is in troubled condition (as defined in 12 CFR 
5.51(c)(7));
    (iii) Grounds for the appointment of a receiver under 12 U.S.C. 
191, as determined by the OCC, are present; or
    (iv) The bank is otherwise in less than satisfactory condition, as 
determined by the OCC.
    (2) Exception. Anti-takeover provisions are not inconsistent with 
bank safety and soundness if, at the time the bank adopts the 
provisions:
    (i) The bank is not subject to any of the conditions in paragraph 
(d)(1) of this section; and
    (ii) The bank includes, in its articles of association or its 
bylaws, as applicable pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section, a 
limitation that would make the provisions ineffective if:
    (A) The conditions in paragraph (d)(1) of this section exist; or
    (B) The OCC otherwise directs the bank not to follow the provision 
for supervisory reasons.
    (e) Case-by-case review--(1) OCC determination. Based on the 
substance of the provision or the individual circumstances of a 
national bank, the OCC may determine that a State anti-takeover 
provision, as proposed or adopted by a bank, is:
    (i) Inconsistent with Federal banking statutes or regulations, 
notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section; or
    (ii) Inconsistent with bank safety and soundness other than as 
provided in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (2) Review. The OCC may initiate a review, or a bank may request 
OCC review pursuant to Sec.  7.2000(d), of a State anti-takeover 
provision.
    (f) Method of adoption for anti-takeover provisions--(1) Board and 
shareholder approval. A national bank must follow the provisions for 
approval by the board of directors and approval of shareholders for the 
adoption of an anti-takeover provision in the State corporate 
governance law it has elected to follow. However, if the provision is 
included in the bank's articles of association, the bank's shareholders 
must approve the amendment of the articles pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 21a, 
even if the State law does not require approval by the shareholders.
    (2) Documentation. If the State corporate governance law requires 
the anti-takeover provision to be in the company's articles of 
incorporation, certificate of incorporation, or similar document, the 
national bank must include the provision in its articles of 
association. If the State corporate governance law does not require the 
provision to be in the company's articles of incorporation, certificate 
of incorporation, or similar document, but allows it to be in the 
bylaws, then the national bank must include the provision in either its 
articles of association or in its bylaws, provided, however, that if 
the State corporate governance law requires shareholder approval for 
changes to the corporation's bylaws, then the national bank must 
include the provision in its articles of association.

0
33. Amend Sec.  7.2002 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading;
0
b. Removing the word ``bank's'' and adding in its place the phrase 
``national bank's'' wherever it appears; and
0
c. Adding the phrase ``for shareholder voting'' after the word 
``proxy'' wherever it appears.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  7.2002   National bank director or attorney as proxy.

* * * * *

0
34. Revise Sec.  7.2003 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2003  National bank shareholder meetings; Board of directors 
meetings.

    (a) Notice of shareholders' meetings. A national bank must mail 
shareholders notice of the time, place, and purpose of all 
shareholders' meetings at least 10 days prior to the meeting by first 
class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance 
exists. Where a national bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary, the sole 
shareholder is permitted to waive notice of the shareholder's meeting. 
The articles of association, bylaws, or law applicable to a national 
bank may require a longer period of notice.
    (b) Annual meeting for election of directors. When the day fixed 
for the regular annual meeting of the shareholders falls on a legal 
holiday in the State in which the bank is located, the shareholders' 
meeting must be held, and the directors elected, on the next following 
banking day.
    (c) Virtual participation at shareholder meetings--(1) In general. 
A national bank may provide for telephonic or electronic participation 
at shareholder meetings.
    (2) Procedures. A national bank must follow the procedures for 
telephonic or electronic participation in a shareholder meeting of the 
corporate governance provisions it has elected to follow pursuant to 
Sec.  7.2000(b), if those elected provisions include telephonic or 
electronic participation procedures; the Delaware General Corporation 
Law, Del. Code Ann. Tit. 8 (1991, as amended 1994, and as amended 
thereafter); or the Model Business Corporation Act, provided, however, 
that such procedures are not inconsistent with applicable Federal 
statutes and regulations and safety and soundness. The national bank 
must indicate the use of these procedures in its bylaws.
    (d) Virtual participation at board of directors meetings. A 
national bank may provide for telephonic or electronic participation at 
a meeting of its board of directors.

0
35. Revise the heading for Sec.  7.2004 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2004   Honorary national bank directors or advisory boards.

* * * * *

0
36. Amend Sec.  7.2005 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading and the heading in paragraph (a); and
0
b. Removing in paragraph (c)(3)(ii), the word ``shall'' and adding in 
its place the word ``must''.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  7.2005   Ownership of stock necessary to qualify as director of a 
national bank.

    (a) In general. * * *
* * * * *

0
37. Amend Sec.  7.2006 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading; and
0
b. In the first sentence, removing the phrase ``When electing 
directors, a shareholder shall'' and adding in its

[[Page 83735]]

place the phrase ``When electing national bank directors, a shareholder 
must''.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  7.2006   Cumulative voting in election of national bank 
directors.

* * * * *

0
38. Amend Sec.  7.2007 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading;
0
b. In paragraph (a), adding the word ``national'' before the phrase 
``bank's articles of association'' in the first sentence; and
0
c. In paragraph (b), removing the phrase ``If a vacancy occurs on the 
board of directors,'' and adding in its place the phrase ``If a vacancy 
occurs on the national bank's board of directors,''.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  7.2007   Filling vacancies and increasing board of directors of a 
national bank other than by shareholder action.

* * * * *

0
39. Amend Sec.  7.2008 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading and paragraph (a); and
0
b. In paragraph (b):
0
i. Removing the phrase ``Each director shall execute'' and adding in 
its place the phrase ``Each national bank director must execute'' in 
the first sentence; and
0
ii. Removing the phrase ``A director shall take'' and adding in its 
place the phrase ``A national bank director must take'' in the second 
sentence.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  7.2008   Oath of national bank directors.

    (a) Administration of the oath. The oath of directors must be 
administered by:
    (1) A notary public, including one who is a director but not an 
officer of the national bank; or
    (2) Any person, including one who is a director but not an officer 
of the national bank, having an official seal and authorized by the 
State to administer oaths.
* * * * *

0
40. Amend Sec.  7.2009 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading; and
0
b. Removing the word ``shall'' and adding in its place the word 
``must''.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  7.2009   Quorum of a national bank board of directors; proxies 
not permissible.

* * * * *

0
41. Amend Sec.  7.2010 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading; and
0
b. Removing the phrase ``affairs of the bank shall'' and adding in its 
place the phrase ``affairs of a national bank must'' in the first 
sentence.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  7.2010   National bank directors' responsibilities.

* * * * *

0
42. Revise the heading of Sec.  7.2011 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2011   National bank compensation plans.

* * * * *

0
43. Revise Sec.  7.2012 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2012  President as director of a national bank.

    Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 76, the person serving as, or in the function 
of, president of a national bank, regardless of title, must be a member 
of the board of directors. A director other than the person serving as, 
or in the function of, president may be elected chairman of the board.

0
44. Revise the heading of Sec.  7.2013 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2013   Fidelity bonds covering national bank officers and 
employees.

* * * * *

0
45. Revise Sec.  7.2014 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2014  Indemnification of national bank and Federal savings 
association institution-affiliated parties.

    (a) Indemnification under State law. Subject to the limitations of 
paragraph (b) of this section, a national bank or Federal savings 
association may indemnify an institution-affiliated party for damages 
and expenses, including the advancement of expenses and legal fees, in 
accordance with the law of the State the bank or savings association 
has designated for its corporate governance pursuant to Sec.  7.2000(b) 
(for national banks), 12 CFR 5.21(j)(3)(ii) (for Federal mutual savings 
associations), or 12 CFR 5.22(j)(2)(ii) (for Federal stock savings 
associations), provided such payments are consistent with safe and 
sound banking practices. The term ``institution-affiliated party'' has 
the same meaning as set forth at 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).
    (b) Administrative proceedings or civil actions initiated by 
Federal banking agencies. With respect to an administrative proceeding 
or civil action initiated by any Federal banking agency, a national 
bank or Federal savings association may only make or agree to make 
indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party that are 
reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. 1828(k) 
and 12 CFR chapter III.
    (c) Written agreement required for advancement. Before advancing 
funds to an institutional-affiliated party under this section, a 
national bank or Federal savings association must obtain a written 
agreement that the institution-affiliated party will reimburse the bank 
or savings association, as appropriate, for any portion of that 
indemnification that the institution-affiliated party is ultimately 
found not to be entitled to under 12 U.S.C. 1828(k) and 12 CFR chapter 
III, except to the extent that the bank's or savings association's 
expenses have been reimbursed by an insurance policy or fidelity bond.
    (d) Insurance premiums. A national bank or Federal savings 
association may provide for the payment of reasonable premiums for 
insurance covering the expenses, legal fees, and liability of 
institution-affiliated parties to the extent that the expenses, fees, 
or liability could be indemnified under this section.

0
46. Revise the heading of Sec.  7.2015 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2015   National bank cashier.

* * * * *

0
47. Amend Sec.  7.2016 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading;
0
b. Redesignating paragraphs (a) and (b) as paragraphs (a)(1) and (2), 
respectively, and adding a heading for paragraph (a); and
0
c. Adding a new paragraph (b).
    The revision and additions read as follows:


Sec.  7.2016  Restricting transfer of national bank stock and record 
dates; stock certificates.

    (a) Restricting transfer of stock and record dates--* * *
    (b) Bank stock certificates. (1) A national bank may prescribe the 
manner in which its stock must be transferred in its bylaws or articles 
of association. A bank issuing stock in certificated form must comply 
with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. 52, including as to:
    (i) The name and location of the bank;
    (ii) The name of the holder of record of the stock represented 
thereby;
    (iii) The number and class of shares which the certificate 
represents;
    (iv) If the bank issues more than one class of stock, the 
respective rights, preferences, privileges, voting rights, powers, 
restrictions, limitations, and qualifications of each class of stock 
issued (unless incorporated by reference to the articles of 
association);
    (v) Signatures of the president and cashier of the bank, or such 
other officers as the bylaws of the bank provide; and
    (vi) The seal of the bank.
    (2) The requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(v) of this section may be 
met through the use of electronic means or by facsimile.


Sec. Sec.  7.2017 and 7.2018   [Removed]

0
48. Remove Sec. Sec.  7.2017 and 7.2018.

[[Page 83736]]


0
49. Revise the heading of Sec.  7.2019 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2019   Loans secured by a national bank's own shares.

* * * * *


Sec.  7.2020  [Removed]

0
50. Remove Sec.  7.2020.

0
51. Revise the heading of Sec.  7.2021 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2021   National bank preemptive rights.

* * * * *

0
52. Amend Sec.  7.2022 by:
0
a. Revising the section heading; and
0
b. Removing the word ``state'' and adding in its place the word 
``State''.
    The revision reads as follows:


Sec.  7.2022   National bank voting trusts.

* * * * *

0
53. Revise the heading of Sec.  7.2023 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2023   National bank reverse stock splits.

* * * * *


Sec.  7.2024  [Amended]

0
54. Amend Sec.  7.2024(a) and (c) by removing the word ``shall'' and 
adding in its place the word ``must'' wherever it appears.

0
55. Add Sec.  7.2025 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.2025  Capital stock-related activities of a national bank.

    (a) In general. A national bank must obtain the necessary 
shareholder approval required by 12 U.S.C. 51a, 57, or 59 for any 
change in its permanent capital. An increase or decrease in the amount 
of a national bank's common or preferred stock is a change in permanent 
capital subject to the notice and approval requirements of 12 CFR 5.46 
and applicable law. A national bank may obtain the required shareholder 
approval of changes in permanent capital, as provided in paragraphs 
(b), (c), and (d) of this section.
    (b) Issuance of previously approved and authorized common stock. In 
compliance with 12 U.S.C. 57, a national bank may issue common stock up 
to an amount previously approved and authorized in the national bank's 
articles of association by holders of two-thirds of the national bank's 
shares without obtaining additional shareholder approval for each 
subsequent issuance within the authorized amount.
    (c) Issuance, repurchase, and redemption of preferred stock 
pursuant to certain procedures. Subject to the requirements of 12 
U.S.C. 51a and 59, a national bank may adopt procedures to authorize 
the board of directors to issue, determine the terms of, repurchase, 
and redeem one or more series of preferred stock, if permitted by the 
corporate governance provisions adopted by the bank under Sec.  7.2000. 
To satisfy the shareholder approval requirements of 12 U.S.C. 51a and 
59, the adoption of such procedures must be approved by shareholders in 
advance through an amendment to the national bank's articles of 
association. Any amendment to a national bank's articles of association 
that authorizes both the issuance and the repurchase and redemption of 
shares must be approved by holders of two-thirds of the national bank's 
shares.
    (d) Share repurchase programs. Subject to the requirements of 12 
U.S.C. 59, a national bank may establish a program for the repurchase, 
from time to time, of the national bank's common or preferred stock, if 
permitted by the corporate governance provisions adopted by the bank 
under Sec.  7.2000. To satisfy the shareholder approval requirement of 
12 U.S.C. 59, the repurchase program must be approved in advance by the 
holders of two-thirds of the national bank's shares, including through 
an amendment to the national bank's articles of association that 
authorizes the board of directors to repurchase the national bank's 
common or preferred stock from time to time under board-determined 
parameters that can limit the frequency, type, aggregate limit, or 
purchase price of repurchases.
    (e) Preferred Stock Features. A national bank's preferred stock may 
be cumulative or non-cumulative and may or may not have voting rights 
on one or more series.

0
56. Revise the heading for subpart C to read as follows:

Subpart C--National Bank and Federal Savings Association Operations

0
57. Revise Sec.  7.3000 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.3000  National bank and Federal savings association operating 
hours and closings.

    (a) Operating hours. The board of directors of a national bank or 
Federal savings association, or an equivalent person or committee of a 
Federal branch or agency, should review its hours of operations for 
customers and, independently of any other bank, savings association, or 
Federal branch or agency, take appropriate action to establish a 
schedule of operating hours for customers.
    (b) Emergency closings declared by the Comptroller. Pursuant to 12 
U.S.C. 95(b)(1) and 1463(a)(1)(A), the Comptroller of the Currency 
(Comptroller), may declare any day a legal holiday if emergency 
conditions exist. That day is a legal holiday for national banks, 
Federal savings associations, and Federal branches or agencies in the 
affected geographic area (i.e., throughout the United States, in a 
State, or in part of a State), and national banks, Federal savings 
associations, and Federal branches and agencies may temporarily limit 
or suspend operations at their affected offices, unless the Comptroller 
by written order directs otherwise. Emergency conditions may be caused 
by acts of nature or of man and may include natural and other 
disasters, public health or safety emergencies, civil and municipal 
emergencies, and cyber threats or other unauthorized intrusions (e.g., 
severe flooding, a pandemic, terrorism, a cyber-attack on bank systems, 
or a power emergency declared by a local power company or government 
requesting that businesses in the affected area close). The Comptroller 
may issue a proclamation authorizing the emergency closing in 
anticipation of the emergency condition, at the time of the emergency 
condition, or soon thereafter. In the absence of a Comptroller 
declaration of a bank holiday, a national bank, Federal savings 
associations, or Federal branch or agency may choose to temporarily 
close offices in response to an emergency condition. The national bank, 
Federal savings associations, or Federal branch or agency should notify 
the OCC of such temporary closure as soon as feasible.
    (c) Emergency and ceremonial closings declared by a State or State 
official. In the event a State or a legally authorized State official 
declares any day to be a legal holiday for emergency or ceremonial 
reasons in that State or part of the State, that same day is a legal 
holiday for national banks, Federal savings associations, and Federal 
branches or agencies or their offices in the affected geographic area. 
National banks, Federal savings associations, and Federal branches or 
agencies or their affected offices may close their affected offices or 
remain open on such a State-designated holiday, unless the Comptroller 
by written order directs otherwise.
    (d) Liability. A national bank, Federal savings association, or 
Federal branch or agency should assure that all liabilities or other 
obligations under the applicable law due to its closing are satisfied.
    (e) Definition. For the purpose of this subpart, the term ``State'' 
means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto

[[Page 83737]]

Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American 
Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or any other 
territory or possession of the United States.


Sec.  7.3001  [Amended]

0
58. Amend Sec.  7.3001 by:
0
a. In paragraph (a)(1), removing the phrase ``Lease excess space'' and 
adding in its place the phrase ``Consistent with Sec.  7.1024, lease 
excess space'';
0
b. In paragraph (c) introductory text, removing the word ``shall'' and 
adding in its place the word ``must''; and
0
c. In paragraph (c)(3), removing the word ``state'' and adding in its 
place the word ``State''.


Sec.  Sec.  7.4003 through 7.4005   [Removed]

0
59. Remove Sec. Sec.  7.4003 through 7.4005.

0
60. Revise Sec.  7.5001 to read as follows:


Sec.  7.5001  Electronic activities that are incidental to the business 
of banking.

    In addition to the electronic activities specifically permitted in 
Sec.  7.5004 (sale of excess electronic capacity and by-products) and 
Sec.  7.5006 (incidental non-financial data processing), the OCC has 
determined that the following electronic activities are incidental to 
the business of banking, pursuant to Sec.  7.1000. This list of 
activities is illustrative and not exclusive; the OCC may determine 
that other activities are permissible pursuant to this authority.
    (a) Website development where incidental to other banking services;
    (b) Internet access and email provided on a non-profit basis as a 
promotional activity;
    (c) Advisory and consulting services on electronic activities where 
the services are incidental to customer use of electronic banking 
services; and
    (d) Sale of equipment that is convenient or useful to customer's 
use of related electronic banking services, such as specialized 
terminals for scanning checks that will be deposited electronically by 
wholesale customers of banks under the Check Clearing for the 21st 
Century Act, Public Law 108-100 (12 U.S.C. 5001-5018) (the Check 21 
Act).

PART 145--FEDERAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS--OPERATIONS

0
61. The authority citation for part 145 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1462a, 1463, 1464, 1828, 5412(b)(2)(B).


Sec.  145.121  [Removed]

0
62. Remove Sec.  145.121.

PART 160--LENDING AND INVESTMENT

0
63. The authority citation for part 160 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1462a, 1463, 1464, 1467a, 1701j-3, 1828, 
3803, 3806, 5412(b)(2)(B); 42 U.S.C. 4106.


Sec.  160.50  [Removed]

0
64. Remove Sec.  160.50.


Sec.  160.120  [Removed]

0
65. Remove Sec.  160.120.

Brian P. Brooks,
Acting Comptroller of the Currency.
[FR Doc. 2020-26225 Filed 12-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P