106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 10
AN ACT
To enhance competition in the financial services industry by providing a
prudential framework for the affiliation of banks, securities firms, and other
financial service providers, and for other purposes.
HR 10 EH
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 10
AN ACT
To enhance competition in the financial services industry by
providing a prudential framework for the affiliation of banks, securities firms,
and other financial service providers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSES; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Financial Services Act of
1999'.
(b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this Act are as follows:
(1) To enhance competition in the financial services industry, in order
to foster innovation and efficiency.
(2) To ensure the continued safety and soundness of depository
institutions.
(3) To provide necessary and appropriate protections for investors and
ensure fair and honest markets in the delivery of financial services.
(4) To avoid duplicative, potentially conflicting, and overly burdensome
regulatory requirements through the creation of a regulatory framework for
financial holding companies that respects the divergent requirements of each
of the component businesses of the holding company, and that is based upon
principles of strong functional regulation and enhanced regulatory
coordination.
(5) To reduce and, to the maximum extent practicable, to eliminate the
legal barriers preventing affiliation among depository institutions,
securities firms, insurance companies, and other financial service providers
and to provide a prudential framework for achieving that result.
(6) To enhance the availability of financial services to citizens of all
economic circumstances and in all geographic areas.
(7) To enhance the competitiveness of United States financial service
providers internationally.
(8) To ensure compliance by depository institutions with the provisions
of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 and enhance the ability of
depository institutions to meet the capital and credit needs of all citizens
and communities, including underserved communities and populations.
(c) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; purposes; table of contents.
TITLE I--FACILITATING AFFILIATION AMONG SECURITIES FIRMS, INSURANCE
COMPANIES, AND DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS
Subtitle A--Affiliations
Sec. 101. Glass-Steagall Act reformed.
Sec. 102. Activity restrictions applicable to bank holding companies
which are not financial holding companies.
Sec. 103. Financial holding companies.
Sec. 104. Operation of State law.
Sec. 105. Mutual bank holding companies authorized.
Sec. 105A. Public meetings for large bank acquisitions and
mergers.
Sec. 106. Prohibition on deposit production offices.
Sec. 107. Clarification of branch closure requirements.
Sec. 108. Amendments relating to limited purpose banks.
Sec. 109. GAO study of economic impact on community banks, other small
financial institutions, insurance agents, and consumers.
Sec. 110. Responsiveness to community needs for financial
services.
Sec. 110A. Study of financial modernization's affect on the
accessibility of small business and farm loans.
Subtitle B--Streamlining Supervision of Financial Holding Companies
Sec. 111. Streamlining financial holding company supervision.
Sec. 112. Elimination of application requirement for financial holding
companies.
Sec. 113. Authority of State insurance regulator and Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Sec. 114. Prudential safeguards.
Sec. 115. Examination of investment companies.
Sec. 116. Limitation on rulemaking, prudential, supervisory, and
enforcement authority of the Board.
Sec. 117. Equivalent regulation and supervision.
Sec. 118. Prohibition on FDIC assistance to affiliates and
subsidiaries.
Sec. 119. Repeal of savings bank provisions in the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956.
Sec. 120. Technical amendment.
Subtitle C--Subsidiaries of National Banks
Sec. 121. Permissible activities for subsidiaries of national
banks.
Sec. 122. Safety and soundness firewalls between banks and their
financial subsidiaries.
Sec. 123. Misrepresentations regarding depository institution liability
for obligations of affiliates.
Sec. 124. Repeal of stock loan limit in Federal Reserve Act.
Subtitle D--Wholesale Financial Holding Companies; Wholesale Financial
Institutions
Chapter 1--Wholesale Financial Holding Companies
Sec. 131. Wholesale financial holding companies established.
Sec. 132. Authorization to release reports.
Sec. 133. Conforming amendments.
Chapter 2--Wholesale Financial Institutions
Sec. 136. Wholesale financial institutions.
Subtitle E--Preservation of FTC Authority
Sec. 141. Amendment to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to modify
notification and post-approval waiting period for section 3
transactions.
Sec. 142. Interagency data sharing.
Sec. 143. Clarification of status of subsidiaries and affiliates.
Sec. 144. Annual GAO report.
Subtitle F--National Treatment
Sec. 151. Foreign banks that are financial holding companies.
Sec. 152. Foreign banks and foreign financial institutions that are
wholesale financial institutions.
Sec. 153. Representative offices.
Subtitle G--Federal Home Loan Bank System Modernization
Sec. 163. Savings association membership.
Sec. 164. Advances to members; collateral.
Sec. 165. Eligibility criteria.
Sec. 166. Management of banks.
Sec. 167. Resolution Funding Corporation.
Sec. 168. Capital structure of Federal home loan banks.
Subtitle H--ATM Fee Reform
Sec. 172. Electronic fund transfer fee disclosures at any host
ATM.
Sec. 173. Disclosure of possible fees to consumers when ATM card is
issued.
Sec. 174. Feasibility study.
Sec. 175. No liability if posted notices are damaged.
Subtitle I--Direct Activities of Banks
Sec. 181. Authority of national banks to underwrite certain municipal
bonds.
Subtitle J--Deposit Insurance Funds
Sec. 186. Study of safety and soundness of funds.
Sec. 187. Elimination of SAIF and DIF special reserves.
Subtitle K--Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 191. Termination of `know your customer' regulations.
Sec. 192. Study and report on Federal electronic fund transfers.
Sec. 193. General Accounting Office study of conflicts of
interest.
Sec. 194. Study of cost of all Federal banking regulations.
Sec. 195. Study and report on adapting existing legislative requirements
to online banking and lending.
Sec. 196. Regulation of uninsured State member banks.
Sec. 197. Clarification of source of strength doctrine.
Sec. 198. Interest rates and other charges at interstate branches.
Sec. 198A. Interstate branches and agencies of foreign banks.
Sec. 198B. Fair treatment of women by financial advisers.
Subtitle L--Effective Date of Title
Sec. 199. Effective date.
TITLE II--FUNCTIONAL REGULATION
Subtitle A--Brokers and Dealers
Sec. 201. Definition of broker.
Sec. 202. Definition of dealer.
Sec. 203. Registration for sales of private securities offerings.
Sec. 204. Information sharing.
Sec. 205. Treatment of new hybrid products.
Sec. 206. Definition of excepted banking product.
Sec. 207. Additional definitions.
Sec. 208. Government securities defined.
Sec. 209. Effective date.
Sec. 210. Rule of construction.
Subtitle B--Bank Investment Company Activities
Sec. 211. Custody of investment company assets by affiliated bank.
Sec. 212. Lending to an affiliated investment company.
Sec. 213. Independent directors.
Sec. 214. Additional SEC disclosure authority.
Sec. 215. Definition of broker under the Investment Company Act of
1940.
Sec. 216. Definition of dealer under the Investment Company Act of
1940.
Sec. 217. Removal of the exclusion from the definition of investment
adviser for banks that advise investment companies.
Sec. 218. Definition of broker under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.
Sec. 219. Definition of dealer under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940.
Sec. 220. Interagency consultation.
Sec. 221. Treatment of bank common trust funds.
Sec. 222. Investment advisers prohibited from having controlling
interest in registered investment company.
Sec. 223. Statutory disqualification for bank wrongdoing.
Sec. 224. Conforming change in definition.
Sec. 225. Conforming amendment.
Sec. 226. Church plan exclusion.
Sec. 227. Effective date.
Subtitle C--Securities and Exchange Commission Supervision of Investment
Bank Holding Companies
Sec. 231. Supervision of investment bank holding companies by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Subtitle D--Disclosure of Customer Costs of Acquiring Financial
Products
Sec. 241. Improved and consistent disclosure.
Subtitle E--Banks and Bank Holding Companies
TITLE III--INSURANCE
Subtitle A--State Regulation of Insurance
Sec. 301. State regulation of the business of insurance.
Sec. 302. Mandatory insurance licensing requirements.
Sec. 303. Functional regulation of insurance.
Sec. 304. Insurance underwriting in national banks.
Sec. 305. Title insurance activities of national banks and their
affiliates.
Sec. 306. Expedited and equalized dispute resolution for Federal
regulators.
Sec. 307. Consumer protection regulations.
Sec. 308. Certain State affiliation laws preempted for insurance
companies and affiliates.
Sec. 309. Interagency consultation.
Sec. 310. Definition of State.
Subtitle B--Redomestication of Mutual Insurers
Sec. 311. General application.
Sec. 312. Redomestication of mutual insurers.
Sec. 313. Effect on State laws restricting redomestication.
Sec. 314. Other provisions.
Sec. 316. Effective date.
Subtitle C--National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers
Sec. 321. State flexibility in multistate licensing reforms.
Sec. 322. National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers.
Sec. 324. Relationship to the Federal Government.
Sec. 326. Board of directors.
Sec. 328. Bylaws, rules, and disciplinary action.
Sec. 330. Functions of the NAIC.
Sec. 331. Liability of the Association and the directors, officers, and
employees of the Association.
Sec. 332. Elimination of NAIC oversight.
Sec. 333. Relationship to State law.
Sec. 334. Coordination with other regulators.
Sec. 335. Judicial review.
Subtitle D--Rental Car Agency Insurance Activities
Sec. 341. Standard of regulation for motor vehicle rentals.
Subtitle E--Confidentiality
Sec. 351. Confidentiality of health and medical information.
TITLE IV--UNITARY SAVINGS AND LOAN HOLDING COMPANIES
Sec. 401. Prohibition on new unitary savings and loan holding
companies.
Sec. 402. Retention of `Federal' in name of converted Federal savings
association.
TITLE V--PRIVACY
Subtitle A--Disclosure of Nonpublic Personal Information
Sec. 501. Protection of nonpublic personal information.
Sec. 502. Obligations with respect to disclosures of personal
information.
Sec. 503. Disclosure of institution privacy policy.
Sec. 506. Fair Credit Reporting Act amendment.
Sec. 507. Relation to other provisions.
Sec. 508. Study of information sharing among financial affiliates.
Sec. 510. Effective date.
Subtitle B--Fraudulent Access to Financial Information
Sec. 521. Privacy protection for customer information of financial
institutions.
Sec. 522. Administrative enforcement.
Sec. 523. Criminal penalty.
Sec. 524. Relation to State laws.
Sec. 525. Agency guidance.
TITLE I--FACILITATING AFFILIATION AMONG SECURITIES FIRMS, INSURANCE
COMPANIES, AND DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS
Subtitle A--Affiliations
SEC. 101. GLASS-STEAGALL ACT REFORMED.
(a) SECTION 20 REPEALED- Section 20 of the Banking Act of 1933 (12 U.S.C.
377) (commonly referred to as the `Glass-Steagall Act') is repealed.
(b) SECTION 32 REPEALED- Section 32 of the Banking Act of 1933 (12 U.S.C.
78) is repealed.
SEC. 102. ACTIVITY RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO BANK HOLDING COMPANIES WHICH
ARE NOT FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 4(c)(8) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956
(12 U.S.C. 1843(c)(8)) is amended to read as follows:
`(8) shares of any company the activities of which had been determined
by the Board by regulation or order under this paragraph as of the day
before the date of the enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999, to
be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto (subject
to such terms and conditions contained in such regulation or order, unless
modified by the Board);'.
(b) CONFORMING CHANGES TO OTHER STATUTES-
(1) AMENDMENT TO THE BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1970-
Section 105 of the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970 (12 U.S.C.
1850) is amended by striking `, to engage directly or indirectly in a
nonbanking activity pursuant to section 4 of such Act,'.
(2) AMENDMENT TO THE BANK SERVICE COMPANY ACT- Section 4(f) of the Bank
Service Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1864(f)) is amended by striking the period
and adding at the end the following: `as of the day before the date of the
enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999.'.
SEC. 103. FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 is amended by
inserting after section 5 (12 U.S.C. 1844) the following new section:
`SEC. 6. FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES.
`(a) FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANY DEFINED- For purposes of this section, the
term `financial holding company' means a bank holding company which meets the
requirements of subsection (b).
`(b) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES-
`(1) IN GENERAL- No bank holding company may engage in any activity or
directly or indirectly acquire or retain shares of any company under this
section unless the bank holding company meets the following
requirements:
`(A) All of the subsidiary depository institutions of the bank holding
company are well capitalized.
`(B) All of the subsidiary depository institutions of the bank holding
company are well managed.
`(C) All of the subsidiary depository institutions of the bank holding
company have achieved a rating of `satisfactory record of meeting
community credit needs', or better, at the most recent examination of each
such institution.
`(D) The company has filed with the Board a declaration that the
company elects to be a financial holding company and certifying that the
company meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), and
(C).
`(2) FOREIGN BANKS AND COMPANIES- For purposes of paragraph (1), the
Board shall establish and apply comparable capital and other operating
standards to a foreign bank that operates a branch or agency or owns or
controls a bank or commercial lending company in the United States, and any
company that owns or controls such foreign bank, giving due regard to the
principle of national treatment and equality of competitive
opportunity.
`(3) LIMITED EXCLUSIONS FROM COMMUNITY NEEDS REQUIREMENTS FOR NEWLY
ACQUIRED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS- Any depository institution acquired by a
bank holding company during the 12-month period preceding the submission of
a notice under paragraph (1)(D) and any depository institution acquired
after the submission of such notice may be excluded for purposes of
paragraph (1)(C) during the 12-month period beginning on the date of such
acquisition if--
`(A) the bank holding company has submitted an affirmative plan to the
appropriate Federal banking agency to take such action as may be necessary
in order for such institution to achieve a rating of `satisfactory record
of meeting community credit needs', or better, at the next examination of
the institution; and
`(B) the plan has been accepted by such agency.
`(c) ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE FINANCIAL IN NATURE-
`(1) FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding section 4(a), a financial holding
company may engage in any activity, and acquire and retain the shares of
any company engaged in any activity, that the Board has determined (by
regulation or order and in accordance with subparagraph (B)) to
be--
`(i) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activities;
or
`(ii) complementary to activities authorized under this subsection
to the extent that the amount of such complementary activities remains
small.
`(B) COORDINATION BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY-
`(i) PROPOSALS RAISED BEFORE THE BOARD-
`(I) CONSULTATION- The Board shall notify the Secretary of the
Treasury of, and consult with the Secretary of the Treasury
concerning, any request, proposal, or application under this
subsection, including a regulation or order proposed under paragraph
(4), for a determination of whether an activity is financial in nature
or incidental to such a financial activity.
`(II) TREASURY VIEW- The Board shall not determine that any
activity is financial in nature or incidental to a financial activity
under this subsection if the Secretary of the Treasury notifies the
Board in writing, not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of
the notice described in subclause (I) (or such longer period as the
Board determines to be appropriate in light of the circumstances) that
the Secretary of the Treasury believes that the activity is not
financial in nature or incidental to a financial
activity.
`(ii) PROPOSALS RAISED BY THE TREASURY-
`(I) TREASURY RECOMMENDATION- The Secretary of the Treasury may,
at any time, recommend in writing that the Board find an activity to
be financial in nature or incidental to a financial
activity.
`(II) TIME PERIOD FOR BOARD ACTION- Not later than 30 days after
the date of receipt of a written recommendation from the Secretary of
the Treasury under subclause (I) (or such longer period as the
Secretary of the Treasury and the Board determine to be appropriate in
light of the circumstances), the Board shall determine whether to
initiate a public rulemaking proposing that the subject recommended
activity be found to be financial in nature or incidental to a
financial activity under this subsection, and shall notify the
Secretary of the Treasury in writing of the determination of the Board
and, in the event that the Board determines not to seek public comment
on the proposal, the reasons for that determination.
`(2) FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED- In determining whether an activity is
financial in nature or incidental to financial activities, the Board shall
take into account--
`(A) the purposes of this Act and the Financial Services Act of
1999;
`(B) changes or reasonably expected changes in the marketplace in
which bank holding companies compete;
`(C) changes or reasonably expected changes in the technology for
delivering financial services; and
`(D) whether such activity is necessary or appropriate to allow a bank
holding company and the affiliates of a bank holding company to--
`(i) compete effectively with any company seeking to provide
financial services in the United States;
`(ii) use any available or emerging technological means, including
any application necessary to protect the security or efficacy of systems
for the transmission of data or financial transactions, in providing
financial services; and
`(iii) offer customers any available or emerging technological means
for using financial services.
`(3) ACTIVITIES THAT ARE FINANCIAL IN NATURE- The following activities
shall be considered to be financial in nature:
`(A) Lending, exchanging, transferring, investing for others, or
safeguarding money or securities.
`(B) Insuring, guaranteeing, or indemnifying against loss, harm,
damage, illness, disability, or death, or providing and issuing annuities,
and acting as principal, agent, or broker for purposes of the
foregoing.
`(C) Providing financial, investment, or economic advisory services,
including advising an investment company (as defined in section 3 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940).
`(D) Issuing or selling instruments representing interests in pools of
assets permissible for a bank to hold directly.
`(E) Underwriting, dealing in, or making a market in
securities.
`(F) Engaging in any activity that the Board has determined, by order
or regulation that is in effect on the date of the enactment of the
Financial Services Act of 1999, to be so closely related to banking or
managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto (subject
to the same terms and conditions contained in such order or regulation,
unless modified by the Board).
`(G) Engaging, in the United States, in any activity that--
`(i) a bank holding company may engage in outside the United States;
and
`(ii) the Board has determined, under regulations issued pursuant to
section 4(c)(13) of this Act (as in effect on the day before the date of
the enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999) to be usual in
connection with the transaction of banking or other financial operations
abroad.
`(H) Directly or indirectly acquiring or controlling, whether as
principal, on behalf of one or more entities (including entities, other
than a depository institution, that the bank holding company controls) or
otherwise, shares, assets, or ownership interests (including without
limitation debt or equity securities, partnership interests, trust
certificates or other instruments representing ownership) of a company or
other entity, whether or not constituting control of such company or
entity, engaged in any activity not authorized pursuant to this section
if--
`(i) the shares, assets, or ownership interests are not acquired or
held by a depository institution;
`(ii) such shares, assets, or ownership interests are acquired and
held by an affiliate of the bank holding company that is a registered
broker or dealer that is engaged in securities underwriting activities,
or an affiliate of such broker or dealer, as part of a bona fide
underwriting or investment banking activity, including investment
activities engaged in for the purpose of appreciation and ultimate
resale or disposition of the investment;
`(iii) such shares, assets, or ownership interests are held only for
such a period of time as will permit the sale or disposition thereof on
a reasonable basis consistent with the nature of the activities
described in clause (ii); and
`(iv) during the period such shares, assets, or ownership interests
are held, the bank holding company does not actively participate in the
day to day management or operation of such company or entity, except
insofar as necessary to achieve the objectives of clause
(ii).
`(I) Directly or indirectly acquiring or controlling, whether as
principal, on behalf of one or more entities (including entities, other
than a depository institution or subsidiary of a depository institution,
that the bank holding company controls) or otherwise, shares, assets, or
ownership interests (including without limitation debt or equity
securities, partnership interests, trust certificates or other instruments
representing ownership) of a company or other entity, whether or not
constituting control of such company or entity, engaged in any activity
not authorized pursuant to this section if--
`(i) the shares, assets, or ownership interests are not acquired or
held by a depository institution or a subsidiary of a depository
institution;
`(ii) such shares, assets, or ownership interests are acquired and
held by an insurance company that is predominantly engaged in
underwriting life, accident and health, or property and casualty
insurance (other than credit-related insurance) or providing and issuing
annuities;
`(iii) such shares, assets, or ownership interests represent an
investment made in the ordinary course of business of such insurance
company in accordance with relevant State law governing such
investments; and
`(iv) during the period such shares, assets, or ownership interests
are held, the bank holding company does not directly or indirectly
participate in the day-to-day management or operation of the company or
entity except insofar as necessary to achieve the objectives of clauses
(ii) and (iii).
`(4) AUTHORIZATION OF NEW FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES- The Board shall, by
regulation or order and in accordance with paragraph (1)(B), define,
consistent with the purposes of this Act, the following activities as, and
the extent to which such activities are, financial in nature or incidental
to activities which are financial in nature:
`(A) Lending, exchanging, transferring, investing for others, or
safeguarding financial assets other than money or securities.
`(B) Providing any device or other instrumentality for transferring
money or other financial assets.
`(C) Arranging, effecting, or facilitating financial transactions for
the account of third parties.
`(5) POST-CONSUMMATION NOTIFICATION-
`(A) IN GENERAL- A financial holding company that acquires any
company, or commences any activity, pursuant to this subsection shall
provide written notice to the Board describing the activity commenced or
conducted by the company acquired no later than 30 calendar days after
commencing the activity or consummating the acquisition.
`(B) APPROVAL NOT REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES- Except as
provided in section 4(j) with regard to the acquisition of a savings
association or in paragraph (6) of this subsection, a financial holding
company may commence any activity, or acquire any company, pursuant to
paragraph (3) or any regulation prescribed or order issued under paragraph
(4), without prior approval of the Board.
`(6) NOTICE REQUIRED FOR LARGE COMBINATIONS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- No financial holding company shall directly or
indirectly acquire, and no company that becomes a financial holding
company shall directly or indirectly acquire control of, any company in
the United States, including through merger, consolidation, or other type
of business combination, that--
`(i) is engaged in activities permitted under this subsection or
subsection (g); and
`(ii) has consolidated total assets in excess of
$40,000,000,000,
unless such holding company has provided notice to the Board, not
later than 60 days prior to such proposed acquisition or prior to becoming
a financial holding company, and during that time period, or such longer
time period not exceeding an additional 60 days, as established by the
Board, the Board has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed
acquisition or retention.
`(B) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION- In reviewing any prior notice filed
under this paragraph, the Board shall take into consideration--
`(i) whether the company is in compliance with all applicable
criteria set forth in subsection (b) and the provisions of subsection
(d);
`(ii) whether the proposed combination represents an undue
aggregation of resources;
`(iii) whether the proposed combination poses a risk to the deposit
insurance system;
`(iv) whether the proposed combination poses a risk to State
insurance guaranty funds;
`(v) whether the proposed combination can reasonably be expected to
be in the best interests of depositors or policyholders of the
respective entities;
`(vi) whether the proposed transaction can reasonably be expected to
further the purposes of this Act and produce benefits to the public;
and
`(vii) whether, and the extent to which, the proposed combination
poses an undue risk to the stability of the financial system in the
United States.
`(C) REQUIRED INFORMATION- The Board may disapprove any prior notice
filed under this paragraph if the company submitting such notice neglects,
fails, or refuses to furnish to the Board all relevant information
required by the Board.
`(D) SOLICITATION OF VIEWS OF OTHER SUPERVISORY AGENCIES-
`(i) IN GENERAL- Upon receiving a prior notice under this paragraph,
in order to provide for the submission of their views and
recommendations, the Board shall give notice of the proposal
to--
`(I) the appropriate Federal banking agency of any bank
involved;
`(II) the appropriate functional regulator of any functionally
regulated nondepository institution (as defined in section 5(c)(1)(C))
involved; and
`(III) the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and
the Federal Trade Commission.
`(ii) TIMING- The views and recommendations of any agency provided
notice under this paragraph shall be submitted to the Board not later
than 30 calendar days after the date on which notice to the agency was
given, unless the Board determines that another shorter time period is
appropriate.
`(d) PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES THAT FAIL TO
MEET REQUIREMENTS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- If the Board finds, after notice from or consultation
with the appropriate Federal banking agency, that a financial holding
company is not in compliance with the requirements of subparagraph (A), (B),
or (C) of subsection (b)(1), the Board shall give notice of such finding to
the company.
`(2) AGREEMENT TO CORRECT CONDITIONS REQUIRED- Within 45 days of receipt
by a financial holding company of a notice given under paragraph (1) (or
such additional period as the Board may permit), the company shall execute
an agreement acceptable to the Board to comply with the requirements
applicable to a financial holding company.
`(3) AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE LIMITATIONS- Until the conditions described in
a notice to a financial holding company under paragraph (1) are
corrected--
`(A) the Board may impose such limitations on the conduct or
activities of the company or any affiliate of the company as the Board
determines to be appropriate under the circumstances; and
`(B) the appropriate Federal banking agency may impose such
limitations on the conduct or activities of an affiliated depository
institution or subsidiary of a depository institution as the appropriate
Federal banking agency determines to be appropriate under the
circumstances.
`(4) FAILURE TO CORRECT- If, after receiving a notice under paragraph
(1), a financial holding company does not--
`(A) execute and implement an agreement in accordance with paragraph
(2);
`(B) comply with any limitations imposed under paragraph (3);
`(C) in the case of a notice of failure to comply with subsection
(b)(1)(A), restore each depository institution subsidiary to well
capitalized status before the end of the 180-day period beginning on the
date such notice is received by the company (or such other period
permitted by the Board); or
`(D) in the case of a notice of failure to comply with subparagraph
(B) or (C) of subsection (b)(1), restore compliance with any such
subparagraph by the date the next examination of the depository
institution subsidiary is completed or by the end of such other period as
the Board determines to be appropriate,
the Board may require such company, under such terms and conditions as
may be imposed by the Board and subject to such extension of time as may be
granted in the Board's discretion, to divest control of any depository
institution subsidiary or, at the election of the financial holding company,
instead to cease to engage in any activity conducted by such company or its
subsidiaries pursuant to this section.
`(5) CONSULTATION- In taking any action under this subsection, the Board
shall consult with all relevant Federal and State regulatory agencies.
`(e) SAFEGUARDS FOR BANK SUBSIDIARIES- A financial holding company shall
assure that--
`(1) the procedures of the holding company for identifying and managing
financial and operational risks within the company, and the subsidiaries of
such company, adequately protect the subsidiaries of such company which are
insured depository institutions or wholesale financial institution from such
risks;
`(2) the holding company has reasonable policies and procedures to
preserve the separate corporate identity and limited liability of such
company and the subsidiaries of such company, for the protection of the
company's subsidiary insured depository institutions and wholesale financial
institutions; and
`(3) the holding company complies with this section.
`(f) AUTHORITY TO RETAIN LIMITED NONFINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND
AFFILIATIONS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding section 4(a), a company that is not a
bank holding company or a foreign bank (as defined in section 1(b)(7) of the
International Banking Act of 1978) and becomes a financial holding company
after the date of the enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999 may
continue to engage in any activity and retain direct or indirect ownership
or control of shares of a company engaged in any activity if--
`(A) the holding company lawfully was engaged in the activity or held
the shares of such company on September 30, 1997;
`(B) the holding company is predominantly engaged in financial
activities as defined in paragraph (2); and
`(C) the company engaged in such activity continues to engage only in
the same activities that such company conducted on September 30, 1997, and
other activities permissible under this Act.
`(2) PREDOMINANTLY FINANCIAL- For purposes of this subsection, a company
is predominantly engaged in financial activities if the annual gross
revenues derived by the holding company and all subsidiaries of the holding
company (excluding revenues derived from subsidiary depository
institutions), on a consolidated basis, from engaging in activities that are
financial in nature or are incidental to activities that are financial in
nature under subsection (c) represent at least 85 percent of the
consolidated annual gross revenues of the company.
`(3) NO EXPANSION OF GRANDFATHERED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES THROUGH MERGER
OR CONSOLIDATION- A financial holding company that engages in activities or
holds shares pursuant to this subsection, or a subsidiary of such financial
holding company, may not acquire, in any merger, consolidation, or other
type of business combination, assets of any other company which is engaged
in any activity which the Board has not determined to be financial in nature
or incidental to activities that are financial in nature under subsection
(c), except this paragraph shall not apply with respect to a company that
owns a broadcasting station licensed under title III of the Communications
Act of 1934 and the shares of which have been controlled by an insurance
company since January 1, 1998.
`(4) CONTINUING REVENUE LIMITATION ON GRANDFATHERED COMMERCIAL
ACTIVITIES- Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a
financial holding company may continue to engage in activities or hold
shares in companies pursuant to this subsection only to the extent that the
aggregate annual gross revenues derived from all such activities and all
such companies does not exceed 15 percent of the consolidated annual gross
revenues of the financial holding company (excluding revenues derived from
subsidiary depository institutions).
`(5) CROSS MARKETING RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES- A
depository institution controlled by a financial holding company shall
not--
`(A) offer or market, directly or through any arrangement, any product
or service of a company whose activities are conducted or whose shares are
owned or controlled by the financial holding company pursuant to this
subsection or subparagraph (H) or (I) of subsection (c)(3); or
`(B) permit any of its products or services to be offered or marketed,
directly or through any arrangement, by or through any company described
in subparagraph (A).
`(6) TRANSACTIONS WITH NONFINANCIAL AFFILIATES- A depository institution
controlled by a financial holding company may not engage in a covered
transaction (as defined by section 23A(b)(7) of the Federal Reserve Act)
with any affiliate controlled by the company pursuant to section 10(c), this
subsection, or subparagraph (H) or (I) of subsection (c)(3).
`(7) SUNSET OF GRANDFATHER- A financial holding company engaged in any
activity, or retaining direct or indirect ownership or control of shares of
a company, pursuant to this subsection, shall terminate such activity and
divest ownership or control of the shares of such company before the end of
the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Financial
Services Act of 1999. The Board may, upon application by a financial holding
company, extend such 10-year period by a period not to exceed an additional
5 years if such extension would not be detrimental to the public
interest.
`(g) DEVELOPING ACTIVITIES- A financial holding company may engage
directly or indirectly, or acquire shares of any company engaged, in any
activity that the Board has not determined to be financial in nature or
incidental to financial activities under subsection (c) if--
`(1) the holding company reasonably concludes that the activity is
financial in nature or incidental to financial activities;
`(2) the gross revenues from all activities conducted under this
subsection represent less than 5 percent of the consolidated gross revenues
of the holding company;
`(3) the aggregate total assets of all companies the shares of which are
held under this subsection do not exceed 5 percent of the holding company's
consolidated total assets;
`(4) the total capital invested in activities conducted under this
subsection represents less than 5 percent of the consolidated total capital
of the holding company;
`(5) neither the Board nor the Secretary of the Treasury has determined
that the activity is not financial in nature or incidental to financial
activities under subsection (c);
`(6) the holding company is not required to provide prior written notice
of the transaction to the Board under subsection (c)(6); and
`(7) the holding company provides written notification to the Board
describing the activity commenced or conducted by the company acquired no
later than 10 business days after commencing the activity or consummating
the acquisition.'.
(b) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION IN REVIEWING APPLICATION BY FINANCIAL
HOLDING COMPANY TO ACQUIRE BANK- Section 3(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act
of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
`(6) `TOO BIG TO FAIL' FACTOR- In considering an acquisition, merger, or
consolidation under this section involving a financial holding company or a
company that would be any such holding company upon the consummation of the
transaction, the Board shall consider whether, and the extent to which, the
proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation poses an undue risk to the
stability of the financial system of the United States.'.
(c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
(1) Section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841)
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(p) INSURANCE COMPANY- For purposes of sections 5, 6, and 10, the term
`insurance company' includes any person engaged in the business of insurance
to the extent of such activities.'.
(2) Section 4(j) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C.
1843(j)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting `or in any complementary
activity under section 6(c)(1)(B)' after `subsection (c)(8) or (a)(2)';
and
(i) by inserting `, other than any complementary activity under
section 6(c)(1)(B),' after `to engage in any activity'; and
(ii) by inserting `or a company engaged in any complementary
activity under section 6(c)(1)(B)' after `insured depository
institution'.
(1) IN GENERAL- By the end of the 4-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act and every 4 years thereafter, the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Secretary of the Treasury
shall submit a joint report to the Congress containing a summary of new
activities which are financial in nature, including grandfathered commercial
activities, in which any financial holding company is engaged pursuant to
subsection (c)(1) or (f) of section 6 of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956 (as added by subsection (a)).
(2) OTHER CONTENTS- Each report submitted to the Congress pursuant to
paragraph (1) shall also contain the following:
(A) A discussion of actions by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System and the Secretary of the Treasury, whether by regulation,
order, interpretation, or guideline or by approval or disapproval of an
application, with regard to activities of financial holding companies
which are incidental to activities financial in nature or complementary to
such financial activities.
(B) An analysis and discussion of the risks posed by commercial
activities of financial holding companies to the safety and soundness of
affiliate depository institutions.
(C) An analysis and discussion of the effect of mergers and
acquisitions under section 6 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 on
market concentration in the financial services industry.
(D) An analysis and discussion, by the Board and the Secretary in
consultation with the other Federal banking agencies (as defined in
section 3(z) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act), of the impact of the
implementation of this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, on the
extent of meeting community credit needs and capital availability under
the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.
SEC. 104. OPERATION OF STATE LAW.
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), no State may, by
statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other action, prevent or
restrict an insured depository institution or wholesale financial
institution, or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, from being affiliated
directly or indirectly or associated with any person or entity, as
authorized or permitted by this Act or any other provision of Federal
law.
(2) INSURANCE- With respect to affiliations between insured depository
institutions or wholesale financial institutions, or any subsidiary or
affiliate thereof, and persons or entities engaged in the business of
insurance, paragraph (1) does not prohibit--
(A) any State from requiring any person or entity that proposes to
acquire control of an entity that is engaged in the business of insurance
and domiciled in that State (hereafter in this subparagraph referred to as
the `insurer') to furnish to the insurance regulatory authority of that
State, not later than 60 days before the effective date of the proposed
acquisition--
(i) the name and address of each person by whom, or on whose behalf,
the affiliation referred to in this subparagraph is to be effected
(hereafter in this subparagraph referred to as the `acquiring
party');
(ii) if the acquiring party is an individual, his or her principal
occupation and all offices and positions held during the 5 years
preceding the date of notification, and any conviction of crimes other
than minor traffic violations during the 10 years preceding the date of
notification;
(iii) if the acquiring party is not an individual--
(I) a report of the nature of its business operations during the 5
years preceding the date of notification, or for such shorter period
as such person and any predecessors thereof shall have been in
existence;
(II) an informative description of the business intended to be
done by the acquiring party and any subsidiary thereof;
and
(III) a list of all individuals who are, or who have been selected
to become, directors or executive officers of the acquiring party or
who perform, or will perform, functions appropriate to such positions,
including, for each such individual, the information required by
clause (ii);
(iv) the source, nature, and amount of the consideration used, or to
be used, in effecting the merger or other acquisition of control, a
description of any transaction wherein funds were, or are to be,
obtained for any such purpose, and the identity of persons furnishing
such consideration, except that, if a source of such consideration is a
loan made in the lender's ordinary course of business, the identity of
the lender shall remain confidential if the person filing such statement
so requests;
(v) fully audited financial information as to the earnings and
financial condition of each acquiring party for the 5 fiscal years
preceding the date of notification of each such acquiring party, or for
such lesser period as such acquiring party and any predecessors thereof
shall have been in existence, and similar unaudited information as of a
date not earlier than 90 days before the date of notification, except
that, in the case of an acquiring party that is an insurer actively
engaged in the business of insurance, the financial statements of such
insurer need not be audited, but such audit may be required if the need
therefor is determined by the insurance regulatory authority of the
State;
(vi) any plans or proposals that each acquiring party may have to
liquidate such insurer, to sell its assets, or to merge or consolidate
it with any person or to make any other material change in its business
or corporate structure or management;
(vii) the number of shares of any security of the insurer that each
acquiring party proposes to acquire, the terms of any offer, request,
invitation, agreement, or acquisition, and a statement as to the method
by which the fairness of the proposal was arrived at;
(viii) the amount of each class of any security of the insurer that
is beneficially owned or concerning which there is a right to acquire
beneficial ownership by each acquiring party;
(ix) a full description of any contracts, arrangements, or
understandings with respect to any security of the insurer in which any
acquiring party is involved, including transfer of any of the
securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls,
guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profits,
division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies,
and identification of the persons with whom such contracts,
arrangements, or understandings have been entered into;
(x) a description of the purchase of any security of the insurer
during the 12-month period preceding the date of notification by any
acquiring party, including the dates of purchase, names of the
purchasers, and consideration paid, or agreed to be paid,
therefor;
(xi) a description of any recommendations to purchase any security
of the insurer made during the 12-month period preceding the date of
notification by any acquiring party or by any person based upon
interviews or at the suggestion of such acquiring party;
(xii) copies of all tender offers for, requests or invitations for
tenders of, exchange offers for and agreements to acquire or exchange
any securities of the insurer and, if distributed, of additional
soliciting material relating thereto; and
(xiii) the terms of any agreement, contract, or understanding made
with any broker-dealer as to solicitation of securities of the insurer
for tender and the amount of any fees, commissions, or other
compensation to be paid to broker-dealers with regard
thereto;
(B) in the case of a person engaged in the business of insurance which
is the subject of an acquisition or change or continuation in control, the
State of domicile of such person from reviewing or taking action
(including approval or disapproval) with regard to the acquisition or
change or continuation in control, as long as the State reviews and
actions--
(i) are completed by the end of the 60-day period beginning on the
later of the date the State received notice of the proposed action or
the date the State received the information required under State law
regarding such acquisition or change or continuation in
control;
(ii) do not have the effect of discriminating, intentionally or
unintentionally, against an insured depository institution or affiliate
thereof or against any other person based upon affiliation with an
insured depository institution; and
(iii) are based on standards or requirements relating to solvency or
managerial fitness;
(C) any State from requiring an entity that is acquiring control of an
entity that is engaged in the business of insurance and domiciled in that
State to maintain or restore the capital requirements of that insurance
entity to the level required under the capital regulations of general
applicability in that State to avoid the requirement of preparing and
filing with the insurance regulatory authority of that State a plan to
increase the capital of the entity, except that any determination by the
State insurance regulatory authority with respect to such requirement
shall be made not later than 60 days after the date of notification under
subparagraph (A);
(D) any State from taking actions with respect to the receivership or
conservatorship of any insurance company;
(E) any State from restricting a change in the ownership of stock in
an insurance company, or a company formed for the purpose of controlling
such insurance company, for a period of not more than 3 years beginning on
the date of the conversion of such company from mutual to stock form;
or
(F) any State from requiring an organization which has been eligible
at any time since January 1, 1987, to claim the special deduction provided
by section 833 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to meet certain
conditions in order to undergo, as determined by the State, a
reorganization, recapitalization, conversion, merger, consolidation, sale
or other disposition of substantial operating assets, demutualization,
dissolution, or to undertake other similar actions and which is governed
under a State statute enacted on May 22, 1998, relating to hospital,
medical, and dental service corporation conversions.
(3) PRESERVATION OF STATE ANTITRUST AND GENERAL CORPORATE LAWS-
(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subsection (c) and the nondiscrimination
provisions contained in such subsection, no provision in paragraph (1)
shall be construed as affecting State laws, regulations, orders,
interpretations, or other actions of general applicability relating to the
governance of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies or
other business associations incorporated or formed under the laws of that
State or domiciled in that State, or the applicability of the antitrust
laws of any State or any State law that is similar to the antitrust
laws.
(B) DEFINITION- The term `antitrust laws' has the same meaning as in
subsection (a) of the first section of the Clayton Act, and includes
section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act to the extent that such
section 5 relates to unfair methods of competition.
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (3), and except with
respect to insurance sales, solicitation, and cross marketing activities,
which shall be governed by paragraph (2), no State may, by statute,
regulation, order, interpretation, or other action, prevent or restrict an
insured depository institution, wholesale financial institution, or
subsidiary or affiliate thereof from engaging directly or indirectly, either
by itself or in conjunction with a subsidiary, affiliate, or any other
entity or person, in any activity authorized or permitted under this
Act.
(A) IN GENERAL- In accordance with the legal standards for preemption
set forth in the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in
Barnett Bank of Marion County N.A. v. Nelson, 517 U.S. 25 (1996), no State
may, by statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other action,
prevent or significantly interfere with the ability of an insured
depository institution or wholesale financial institution, or a subsidiary
or affiliate thereof, to engage, directly or indirectly, either by itself
or in conjunction with a subsidiary, affiliate, or any other party, in any
insurance sales, solicitation, or cross-marketing activity.
(B) CERTAIN STATE LAWS PRESERVED- Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a
State may impose any of the following restrictions, or restrictions which
are substantially the same as but no more burdensome or restrictive than
those in each of the following clauses:
(i) Restrictions prohibiting the rejection of an insurance policy by
an insured depository institution, wholesale financial institution, or
any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, solely because the policy has been
issued or underwritten by any person who is not associated with such
insured depository institution or wholesale financial institution, or
any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, when such insurance is required in
connection with a loan or extension of credit.
(ii) Restrictions prohibiting a requirement for any debtor, insurer,
or insurance agent or broker to pay a separate charge in connection with
the handling of insurance that is required in connection with a loan or
other extension of credit or the provision of another traditional
banking product by an insured depository institution, wholesale
financial institution, or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, unless
such charge would be required when the insured depository institution or
wholesale financial institution, or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof,
is the licensed insurance agent or broker providing the
insurance.
(iii) Restrictions prohibiting the use of any advertisement or other
insurance promotional material by an insured depository institution or
wholesale financial institution, or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof,
that would cause a reasonable person to believe mistakenly
that--
(I) a State or the Federal Government is responsible for the
insurance sales activities of, or stands behind the credit of, the
institution, affiliate, or subsidiary; or
(II) a State, or the Federal Government guarantees any returns on
insurance products, or is a source of payment on any insurance
obligation of or sold by the institution, affiliate, or
subsidiary;
(iv) Restrictions prohibiting the payment or receipt of any
commission or brokerage fee or other valuable consideration for services
as an insurance agent or broker to or by any person, unless such person
holds a valid State license regarding the applicable class of insurance
at the time at which the services are performed, except that, in this
clause, the term `services as an insurance agent or broker' does not
include a referral by an unlicensed person of a customer or potential
customer to a licensed insurance agent or broker that does not include a
discussion of specific insurance policy terms and
conditions.
(v) Restrictions prohibiting any compensation paid to or received by
any individual who is not licensed to sell insurance, for the referral
of a customer that seeks to purchase, or seeks an opinion or advice on,
any insurance product to a person that sells or provides opinions or
advice on such product, based on the purchase of insurance by the
customer.
(vi) Restrictions prohibiting the release of the insurance
information of a customer (defined as information concerning the
premiums, terms, and conditions of insurance coverage, including
expiration dates and rates, and insurance claims of a customer contained
in the records of the insured depository institution or wholesale
financial institution, or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof) to any
person or entity other than an officer, director, employee, agent,
subsidiary, or affiliate of an insured depository institution or a
wholesale financial institution, for the purpose of soliciting or
selling insurance, without the express consent of the customer, other
than a provision that prohibits--
(I) a transfer of insurance information to an unaffiliated
insurance company, agent, or broker in connection with transferring
insurance in force on existing insureds of the insured depository
institution or wholesale financial institution, or subsidiary or
affiliate thereof, or in connection with a merger with or acquisition
of an unaffiliated insurance company, agent, or broker;
or
(II) the release of information as otherwise authorized by State
or Federal law.
(vii) Restrictions prohibiting the use of health information
obtained from the insurance records of a customer for any purpose, other
than for its activities as a licensed agent or broker, without the
express consent of the customer.
(viii) Restrictions prohibiting the extension of credit or any
product or service that is equivalent to an extension of credit, lease
or sale of property of any kind, or furnishing of any services or fixing
or varying the consideration for any of the foregoing, on the condition
or requirement that the customer obtain insurance from an insured
depository institution, wholesale financial institution, a subsidiary or
affiliate thereof, or a particular insurer, agent, or broker, other than
a prohibition that would prevent any insured depository institution or
wholesale financial institution, or any subsidiary or affiliate
thereof--
(I) from engaging in any activity described in this clause that
would not violate section 106 of the Bank Holding Company Act
Amendments of 1970, as interpreted by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System; or
(II) from informing a customer or prospective customer that
insurance is required in order to obtain a loan or credit, that loan
or credit approval is contingent upon the procurement by the customer
of acceptable insurance, or that insurance is available from the
insured depository institution or wholesale financial institution, or
any subsidiary or affiliate thereof.
(ix) Restrictions requiring, when an application by a consumer for a
loan or other extension of credit from an insured depository institution
or wholesale financial institution is pending, and insurance is offered
or sold to the consumer or is required in connection with the loan or
extension of credit by the insured depository institution or wholesale
financial institution or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof, that a
written disclosure be provided to the consumer or prospective customer
indicating that his or her choice of an insurance provider will not
affect the credit decision or credit terms in any way, except that the
insured depository institution or wholesale financial institution may
impose reasonable requirements concerning the creditworthiness of the
insurance provider and scope of coverage chosen.
(x) Restrictions requiring clear and conspicuous disclosure, in
writing, where practicable, to the customer prior to the sale of any
insurance policy that such policy--
(II) is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation;
(III) is not guaranteed by the insured depository institution or
wholesale financial institution or, if appropriate, its subsidiaries
or affiliates or any person soliciting the purchase of or selling
insurance on the premises thereof; and
(IV) where appropriate, involves investment risk, including
potential loss of principal.
(xi) Restrictions requiring that, when a customer obtains insurance
(other than credit insurance or flood insurance) and credit from an
insured depository institution or wholesale financial institution, or
its subsidiaries or affiliates, or any person soliciting the purchase of
or selling insurance on the premises thereof, the credit and insurance
transactions be completed through separate documents.
(xii) Restrictions prohibiting, when a customer obtains insurance
(other than credit insurance or flood insurance) and credit from an
insured depository institution or wholesale financial institution or its
subsidiaries or affiliates, or any person soliciting the purchase of or
selling insurance on the premises thereof, inclusion of the expense of
insurance premiums in the primary credit transaction without the express
written consent of the customer.
(xiii) Restrictions requiring maintenance of separate and distinct
books and records relating to insurance transactions, including all
files relating to and reflecting consumer complaints, and requiring that
such insurance books and records be made available to the appropriate
State insurance regulator for inspection upon reasonable
notice.
(i) OCC DEFERENCE- Section 306(e) does not apply with respect to any
State statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other action
regarding insurance sales, solicitation, or cross marketing activities
described in subparagraph (A) that was issued, adopted, or enacted
before September 3, 1998, and that is not described in subparagraph
(B).
(ii) NONDISCRIMINATION- Subsection (c) does not apply with respect
to any State statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other action
regarding insurance sales, solicitation, or cross marketing activities
described in subparagraph (A) that was issued, adopted, or enacted
before September 3, 1998, and that is not described in subparagraph
(B).
(iii) CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
limit the applicability of the decision of the Supreme Court in Barnett
Bank of Marion County N.A. v. Nelson, 116 S. Ct. 1103 (1996) with
respect to a State statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other
action that is not described in subparagraph (B).
(iv) LIMITATION ON INFERENCES- Nothing in this paragraph shall be
construed to create any inference with respect to any State statute,
regulation, order, interpretation, or other action that is not referred
to or described in this paragraph.
(3) INSURANCE ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN SALES- State statutes, regulations,
interpretations, orders, and other actions shall not be preempted under
subsection (b)(1) to the extent that they--
(A) relate to, or are issued, adopted, or enacted for the purpose of
regulating the business of insurance in accordance with the Act of March
9, 1945 (commonly known as the `McCarran-Ferguson Act');
(B) apply only to persons or entities that are not insured depository
institutions or wholesale financial institutions, but that are directly
engaged in the business of insurance (except that they may apply to
depository institutions engaged in providing savings bank life insurance
as principal to the extent of regulating such insurance);
(C) do not relate to or directly or indirectly regulate insurance
sales, solicitations, or cross-marketing activities; and
(D) are not prohibited under subsection (c).
(4) FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES OTHER THAN INSURANCE- No State statute,
regulation, interpretation, order, or other action shall be preempted under
subsection (b)(1) to the extent that--
(A) it does not relate to, and is not issued and adopted, or enacted
for the purpose of regulating, directly or indirectly, insurance sales,
solicitations, or cross marketing activities covered under paragraph
(2);
(B) it does not relate to, and is not issued and adopted, or enacted
for the purpose of regulating, directly or indirectly, the business of
insurance activities other than sales, solicitations, or cross marketing
activities, covered under paragraph (3);
(C) it does not relate to securities investigations or enforcement
actions referred to in subsection (d); and
(i) does not distinguish by its terms between insured depository
institutions, wholesale financial institutions, and subsidiaries and
affiliates thereof engaged in the activity at issue and other persons or
entities engaged in the same activity in a manner that is in any way
adverse with respect to the conduct of the activity by any such insured
depository institution, wholesale financial institution, or subsidiary
or affiliate thereof engaged in the activity at issue;
(ii) as interpreted or applied, does not have, and will not have, an
impact on depository institutions, wholesale financial institutions, or
subsidiaries or affiliates thereof engaged in the activity at issue, or
any person or entity affiliated therewith, that is substantially more
adverse than its impact on other persons or entities engaged in the same
activity that are not insured depository institutions, wholesale
financial institutions, or subsidiaries or affiliates thereof, or
persons or entities affiliated therewith;
(iii) does not effectively prevent a depository institution,
wholesale financial institution, or subsidiary or affiliate thereof from
engaging in activities authorized or permitted by this Act or any other
provision of Federal law; and
(iv) does not conflict with the intent of this Act generally to
permit affiliations that are authorized or permitted by Federal
law.
(c) NONDISCRIMINATION- Except as provided in any restrictions described in
subsection (b)(2)(B), no State may, by statute, regulation, order,
interpretation, or other action, regulate the insurance activities authorized
or permitted under this Act or any other provision of Federal law of an
insured depository institution or wholesale financial institution, or
subsidiary or affiliate thereof, to the extent that such statute, regulation,
order, interpretation, or other action--
(1) distinguishes by its terms between insured depository institutions
or wholesale financial institutions, or subsidiaries or affiliates thereof,
and other persons or entities engaged in such activities, in a manner that
is in any way adverse to any such insured depository institution or
wholesale financial institution, or subsidiary or affiliate thereof;
(2) as interpreted or applied, has or will have an impact on depository
institutions or wholesale financial institutions, or subsidiaries or
affiliates thereof, that is substantially more adverse than its impact on
other persons or entities providing the same products or services or engaged
in the same activities that are not insured depository institutions,
wholesale financial institutions, or subsidiaries or affiliates thereof, or
persons or entities affiliated therewith;
(3) effectively prevents a depository institution or wholesale financial
institution, or subsidiary or affiliate thereof, from engaging in insurance
activities authorized or permitted by this Act or any other provision of
Federal law; or
(4) conflicts with the intent of this Act generally to permit
affiliations that are authorized or permitted by Federal law between insured
depository institutions or wholesale financial institutions, or subsidiaries
or affiliates thereof, and persons and entities engaged in the business of
insurance.
(d) LIMITATION- Subsections (a) and (b) shall not be construed to affect
the jurisdiction of the securities commission (or any agency or office
performing like functions) of any State, under the laws of such State--
(1) to investigate and bring enforcement actions, consistent with
section 18(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to fraud or deceit
or unlawful conduct by any person, in connection with securities or
securities transactions; or
(2) to require the registration of securities or the licensure or
registration of brokers, dealers, or investment advisers (consistent with
section 203A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940), or the associated
persons of a broker, dealer, or investment adviser (consistent with such
section 203A).
(e) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section, the following definitions
shall apply:
(1) INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION- The term `insured depository
institution' includes any foreign bank that maintains a branch, agency, or
commercial lending company in the United States.
(2) STATE- The term `State' means any State of the United States, the
District of Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Virgin
Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
SEC. 105. MUTUAL BANK HOLDING COMPANIES AUTHORIZED.
Section 3(g)(2) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C.
1842(g)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
`(2) REGULATIONS- A bank holding company organized as a mutual holding
company shall be regulated on terms, and shall be subject to limitations,
comparable to those applicable to any other bank holding company.'.
SEC. 105A. PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR LARGE BANK ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS.
(a) BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1956- Section 3(c)(2) of the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking `FACTORS- In every case' and inserting `FACTORS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- In every case'; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(B) PUBLIC MEETINGS- In each case involving one or more insured
depository institutions each of which has total assets of $1,000,000,000
or more, the Board shall, as necessary and on a timely basis, conduct
public meetings in one or more areas where the Board believes, in the sole
discretion of the Board, there will be a substantial public
impact.'.
(b) FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT- Section 18(c) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(c)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
`(12) PUBLIC MEETINGS- In each merger transaction involving one or more
insured depository institutions each of which has total assets of
$1,000,000,000 or more, the responsible agency shall, as necessary and on a
timely basis, conduct public meetings in one or more areas where the agency
believes, in the sole discretion of the agency, there will be a substantial
public impact.'.
(c) NATIONAL BANK CONSOLIDATION AND MERGER ACT- The National Bank
Consolidation and Merger Act (12 U.S.C. 215 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
`SEC. 6. PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR LARGE BANK CONSOLIDATIONS AND MERGERS.
`In each case of a consolidation or merger under this Act involving one or
more banks each of which has total assets of $1,000,000,000 or more, the
Comptroller shall, as necessary and on a timely basis, conduct public meetings
in one or more areas where the Comptroller believes, in the sole discretion of
the Comptroller, there will be a substantial public impact.'.
(d) HOME OWNERS' LOAN ACT- Section 10(e) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12
U.S.C. 1463) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(7) PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR LARGE DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION ACQUISITIONS AND
MERGERS- In each case involving one or more insured depository institutions
each of which has total assets of $1,000,000,000 or more, the Director
shall, as necessary and on a timely basis, conduct public meetings in one or
more areas where the Director believes, in the sole discretion of the
Director, there will be a substantial public impact.'.
SEC. 106. PROHIBITION ON DEPOSIT PRODUCTION OFFICES.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 109(d) of the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and
Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 1835a(d)) is amended--
(1) by inserting `, the Financial Services Act of 1999,' after `pursuant
to this title'; and
(2) by inserting `or such Act' after `made by this title'.
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 109(e)(4) of the
Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C.
1835a(e)(4)) is amended by inserting `and any branch of a bank controlled by
an out-of-State bank holding company (as defined in section 2(o)(7) of the
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956)' before the period.
SEC. 107. CLARIFICATION OF BRANCH CLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.
Section 42(d)(4)(A) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.
1831r-1(d)(4)(A)) is amended by inserting `and any bank controlled by an
out-of-State bank holding company (as defined in section 2(o)(7) of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956)' before the period.
SEC. 108. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO LIMITED PURPOSE BANKS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 4(f) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12
U.S.C. 1843(f)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A)(ii)--
(A) by striking `and' at the end of subclause (IX);
(B) by inserting `and' after the semicolon at the end of subclause
(X); and
(C) by inserting after subclause (X) the following new
subclause:
`(XI) assets that are derived from, or are incidental to, consumer
lending activities in which institutions described in subparagraph (F)
or (H) of section 2(c)(2) are permitted to engage,';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following new subparagraphs:
`(B) any bank subsidiary of such company engages in any activity in
which the bank was not lawfully engaged as of March 5, 1987, unless the
bank is well managed and well capitalized;
`(C) any bank subsidiary of such company both--
`(i) accepts demand deposits or deposits that the depositor may
withdraw by check or similar means for payment to third parties;
and
`(ii) engages in the business of making commercial loans (and, for
purposes of this clause, loans made in the ordinary course of a credit
card operation shall not be treated as commercial loans); or
`(D) after the date of the enactment of the Competitive Equality
Amendments of 1987, any bank subsidiary of such company permits any
overdraft (including any intraday overdraft), or incurs any such overdraft
in such bank's account at a Federal Reserve bank, on behalf of an
affiliate, other than an overdraft described in paragraph (3).';
and
(3) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting the following new
paragraphs:
`(3) PERMISSIBLE OVERDRAFTS DESCRIBED- For purposes of paragraph (2)(D),
an overdraft is described in this paragraph if--
`(A) such overdraft results from an inadvertent computer or accounting
error that is beyond the control of both the bank and the
affiliate;
`(i) is permitted or incurred on behalf of an affiliate which is
monitored by, reports to, and is recognized as a primary dealer by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and
`(ii) is fully secured, as required by the Board, by bonds, notes,
or other obligations which are direct obligations of the United States
or on which the principal and interest are fully guaranteed by the
United States or by securities and obligations eligible for settlement
on the Federal Reserve book entry system; or
`(i) is incurred on behalf of an affiliate solely in connection with
an activity that is so closely related to banking, or managing or
controlling banks, as to be a proper incident thereto, to the extent the
bank incurring the overdraft and the affiliate on whose behalf the
overdraft is incurred each document that the overdraft is incurred for
such purpose; and
`(ii) does not cause the bank to violate any provision of section
23A or 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, either directly, in the case of a
member bank, or by virtue of section 18(j) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act, in the case of a nonmember bank.
`(4) DIVESTITURE IN CASE OF LOSS OF EXEMPTION- If any company described
in paragraph (1) fails to qualify for the exemption provided under such
paragraph by operation of paragraph (2), such exemption shall cease to apply
to such company and such company shall divest control of each bank it
controls before the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date that the
company receives notice from the Board that the company has failed to
continue to qualify for such exemption, unless before the end of such
180-day period, the company has--
`(A) corrected the condition or ceased the activity that caused the
company to fail to continue to qualify for the exemption; and
`(B) implemented procedures that are reasonably adapted to avoid the
reoccurrence of such condition or activity.
The issuance of any notice under this paragraph that relates to the
activities of a bank shall not be construed as affecting the authority of
the bank to continue to engage in such activities until the expiration of
such 180-day period.'.
(b) INDUSTRIAL LOAN COMPANIES AFFILIATE OVERDRAFTS- Section 2(c)(2)(H) of
the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841(c)(2)(H)) is amended by
inserting before the period at the end `, or that is otherwise permissible for
a bank controlled by a company described in section 4(f)(1)'.
SEC. 109. GAO STUDY OF ECONOMIC IMPACT ON COMMUNITY BANKS, OTHER SMALL
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INSURANCE AGENTS, AND CONSUMERS.
(a) STUDY REQUIRED- The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study of the projected economic impact and the actual economic
impact that the enactment of this Act will have on financial institutions,
including community banks, registered brokers and dealers and insurance
companies, which have total assets of $100,000,000 or less, insurance agents,
and consumers.
(b) REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Comptroller General of the United States shall
submit reports to the Congress, at the times required under paragraph (2),
containing the findings and conclusions of the Comptroller General with
regard to the study required under subsection (a) and such recommendations
for legislative or administrative action as the Comptroller General may
determine to be appropriate.
(2) TIMING OF REPORTS- The Comptroller General shall submit--
(A) an interim report before the end of the 6-month period beginning
after the date of the enactment of this Act;
(B) another interim report before the end of the next 6-month period;
and
(C) a final report before the end of the 1-year period after such
second 6-month period,'.
SEC. 110. RESPONSIVENESS TO COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES.
(a) STUDY- The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Federal
banking agencies (as defined in section 3(z) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act), shall conduct a study of the extent to which adequate services are being
provided as intended by the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, including
services in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and for persons of modest
means, as a result of the enactment of this Act.
(b) REPORT- Before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with
the Federal banking agencies, shall submit a report to the Congress on the
study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) and shall include such
recommendations as the Secretary determines to be appropriate for
administrative and legislative action with respect to institutions covered
under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.
SEC. 110A. STUDY OF FINANCIAL MODERNIZATION'S AFFECT ON THE ACCESSIBILITY OF
SMALL BUSINESS AND FARM LOANS.
(a) STUDY- The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Federal
banking agencies (as defined in Section 3(z) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act), shall conduct a study of the extent to which credit is being provided to
and for small business and farms, as a result of this Act.
(b) REPORT- Before the end of the 5-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Federal
banking agencies, shall submit a report to the Congress on the study conducted
pursuant to subsection (a) and shall include such recommendations as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate for administrative and legislative
action.
Subtitle B--Streamlining Supervision of Financial Holding
Companies
SEC. 111. STREAMLINING FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANY SUPERVISION.
Section 5(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1844(c))
is amended to read as follows:
`(c) REPORTS AND EXAMINATIONS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Board from time to time may require any bank
holding company and any subsidiary of such company to submit reports under
oath to keep the Board informed as to--
`(i) its financial condition, systems for monitoring and controlling
financial and operating risks, and transactions with depository
institution subsidiaries of the holding company; and
`(ii) compliance by the company or subsidiary with applicable
provisions of this Act.
`(B) USE OF EXISTING REPORTS-
`(i) IN GENERAL- The Board shall, to the fullest extent possible,
accept reports in fulfillment of the Board's reporting requirements
under this paragraph that a bank holding company or any subsidiary of
such company has provided or been required to provide to other Federal
and State supervisors or to appropriate self-regulatory
organizations.
`(ii) AVAILABILITY- A bank holding company or a subsidiary of such
company shall provide to the Board, at the request of the Board, a
report referred to in clause (i).
`(iii) REQUIRED USE OF PUBLICLY REPORTED INFORMATION- The Board
shall, to the fullest extent possible, accept in fulfillment of any
reporting or recordkeeping requirements under this Act information that
is otherwise required to be reported publicly and externally audited
financial statements.
`(iv) REPORTS FILED WITH OTHER AGENCIES- In the event the Board
requires a report from a functionally regulated nondepository
institution subsidiary of a bank holding company of a kind that is not
required by another Federal or State regulator or appropriate
self-regulatory organization, the Board shall request that the
appropriate regulator or self-regulatory organization obtain such
report. If the report is not made available to the Board, and the report
is necessary to assess a material risk to the bank holding company or
any of its subsidiary depository institutions or compliance with this
Act, the Board may require such subsidiary to provide such a report to
the Board.
`(C) DEFINITION- For purposes of this subsection, the term
`functionally regulated nondepository institution' means--
`(i) a broker or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934;
`(ii) an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, or with any State, with respect to the investment advisory
activities of such investment adviser and activities incidental to such
investment advisory activities;
`(iii) an insurance company subject to supervision by a State
insurance commission, agency, or similar authority; and
`(iv) an entity subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission, with respect to the commodities activities of such
entity and activities incidental to such commodities
activities.
`(A) EXAMINATION AUTHORITY-
`(i) IN GENERAL- The Board may make examinations of each bank
holding company and each subsidiary of a bank holding
company.
`(ii) FUNCTIONALLY REGULATED NONDEPOSITORY INSTITUTION SUBSIDIARIES-
Notwithstanding clause (i), the Board may make examinations of a
functionally regulated nondepository institution subsidiary of a bank
holding company only if--
`(I) the Board has reasonable cause to believe that such
subsidiary is engaged in activities that pose a material risk to an
affiliated depository institution; or
`(II) based on reports and other available information, the Board
has reasonable cause to believe that a subsidiary is not in compliance
with this Act or with provisions relating to transactions with an
affiliated depository institution and the Board cannot make such
determination through examination of the affiliated depository
institution or bank holding company.
`(B) LIMITATIONS ON EXAMINATION AUTHORITY FOR BANK HOLDING COMPANIES
AND SUBSIDIARIES- Subject to subparagraph (A)(ii), the Board may make
examinations under subparagraph (A)(i) of each bank holding company and
each subsidiary of such holding company in order to--
`(i) inform the Board of the nature of the operations and financial
condition of the holding company and such subsidiaries;
`(ii) inform the Board of--
`(I) the financial and operational risks within the holding
company system that may pose a threat to the safety and soundness of
any subsidiary depository institution of such holding company;
and
`(II) the systems for monitoring and controlling such risks;
and
`(iii) monitor compliance with the provisions of this Act and those
governing transactions and relationships between any subsidiary
depository institution and its affiliates.
`(C) RESTRICTED FOCUS OF EXAMINATIONS- The Board shall, to the fullest
extent possible, limit the focus and scope of any examination of a bank
holding company to--
`(i) the bank holding company; and
`(ii) any subsidiary of the holding company that, because
of--
`(I) the size, condition, or activities of the subsidiary;
or
`(II) the nature or size of transactions between such subsidiary
and any depository institution which is also a subsidiary of such
holding company,
could have a materially adverse effect on the safety and soundness
of any depository institution affiliate of the holding
company.
`(D) DEFERENCE TO BANK EXAMINATIONS- The Board shall, to the fullest
extent possible, use, for the purposes of this paragraph, the reports of
examinations of depository institutions made by the appropriate Federal
and State depository institution supervisory authority.
`(E) DEFERENCE TO OTHER EXAMINATIONS- The Board shall, to the fullest
extent possible, address the circumstances which might otherwise permit or
require an examination by the Board by forgoing an examination and instead
reviewing the reports of examination made of--
`(i) any registered broker or dealer by or on behalf of the
Securities and Exchange Commission;
`(ii) any investment adviser registered by or on behalf of either
the Securities and Exchange Commission or any State, whichever is
required by law;
`(iii) any licensed insurance company by or on behalf of any State
regulatory authority responsible for the supervision of insurance
companies; and
`(iv) any other subsidiary that the Board finds to be
comprehensively supervised by a Federal or State authority.
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Board shall not, by regulation, guideline, order
or otherwise, prescribe or impose any capital or capital adequacy rules,
guidelines, standards, or requirements on any subsidiary of a financial
holding company that is not a depository institution and--
`(i) is in compliance with applicable capital requirements of
another Federal regulatory authority (including the Securities and
Exchange Commission) or State insurance authority;
`(ii) is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, or with any State, whichever is required by law;
or
`(iii) is licensed as an insurance agent with the appropriate State
insurance authority.
`(B) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as
preventing the Board from imposing capital or capital adequacy rules,
guidelines, standards, or requirements with respect to--
`(i) activities of a registered investment adviser other than
investment advisory activities or activities incidental to investment
advisory activities; or
`(ii) activities of a licensed insurance agent other than insurance
agency activities or activities incidental to insurance agency
activities.
`(C) LIMITATIONS ON INDIRECT ACTION- In developing, establishing, or
assessing holding company capital or capital adequacy rules, guidelines,
standards, or requirements for purposes of this paragraph, the Board shall
not take into account the activities, operations, or investments of an
affiliated investment company registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, unless the investment company is--
`(i) a bank holding company; or
`(ii) controlled by a bank holding company by reason of ownership by
the bank holding company (including through all of its affiliates) of 25
percent or more of the shares of the investment company, and the shares
owned by the bank holding company have a market value equal to more than
$1,000,000.
`(4) TRANSFER OF BOARD AUTHORITY TO APPROPRIATE FEDERAL BANKING
AGENCY-
`(A) IN GENERAL- In the case of any bank holding company which is not
significantly engaged in nonbanking activities, the Board, in consultation
with the appropriate Federal banking agency, may designate the appropriate
Federal banking agency of the lead insured depository institution
subsidiary of such holding company as the appropriate Federal banking
agency for the bank holding company.
`(B) AUTHORITY TRANSFERRED- An agency designated by the Board under
subparagraph (A) shall have the same authority as the Board under this Act
to--
`(i) examine and require reports from the bank holding company and
any affiliate of such company (other than a depository institution)
under section 5;
`(ii) approve or disapprove applications or transactions under
section 3;
`(iii) take actions and impose penalties under subsections (e) and
(f) of section 5 and section 8; and
`(iv) take actions regarding the holding company, any affiliate of
the holding company (other than a depository institution), or any
institution-affiliated party of such company or affiliate under the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act and any other statute which the Board may
designate.
`(C) AGENCY ORDERS- Section 9 of this Act and section 105 of the Bank
Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970 shall apply to orders issued by an
agency designated under subparagraph (A) in the same manner such sections
apply to orders issued by the Board.
`(5) FUNCTIONAL REGULATION OF SECURITIES AND INSURANCE ACTIVITIES- The
Board shall defer to--
`(A) the Securities and Exchange Commission with regard to all
interpretations of, and the enforcement of, applicable Federal securities
laws (and rules, regulations, orders, and other directives issued
thereunder) relating to the activities, conduct, and operations of
registered brokers, dealers, investment advisers, and investment
companies;
`(B) the relevant State securities authorities with regard to all
interpretations of, and the enforcement of, applicable State securities
laws (and rules, regulations, orders, and other directives issued
thereunder) relating to the activities, conduct, and operations of
brokers, dealers, and investment advisers required to be registered under
State law; and
`(C) the relevant State insurance authorities with regard to all
interpretations of, and the enforcement of, applicable State insurance
laws (and rules, regulations, orders, and other directives issued
thereunder) relating to the activities, conduct, and operations of
insurance companies and insurance agents.'.
SEC. 112. ELIMINATION OF APPLICATION REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCIAL HOLDING
COMPANIES.
(a) PREVENTION OF DUPLICATIVE FILINGS- Section 5(a) of the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1844(a)) is amended by adding the following new
sentence at the end: `A declaration filed in accordance with section
6(b)(1)(D) shall satisfy the requirements of this subsection with regard to
the registration of a bank holding company but not any requirement to file an
application to acquire a bank pursuant to section 3.'.
(b) DIVESTITURE PROCEDURES- Section 5(e)(1) of the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1844(e)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking `Financial Institutions Supervisory Act of 1966, order'
and inserting `Financial Institutions Supervisory Act of 1966, at the
election of the bank holding company--
(2) by striking `shareholders of the bank holding company. Such
distribution' and inserting `shareholders of the bank holding company;
or
`(B) order the bank holding company, after due notice and opportunity
for hearing, and after consultation with the primary supervisor for the
bank, which shall be the Comptroller of the Currency in the case of a
national bank, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the
appropriate State supervisor in the case of an insured nonmember bank, to
terminate (within 120 days or such longer period as the Board may direct)
the ownership or control of any such bank by such company.
The distribution referred to in subparagraph (A)'.
SEC. 113. AUTHORITY OF STATE INSURANCE REGULATOR AND SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.
(a) BANK HOLDING COMPANIES- Section 5 of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956 (12 U.S.C. 1844) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
`(g) AUTHORITY OF STATE INSURANCE REGULATOR AND THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
regulation, order, or other action of the Board which requires a bank
holding company to provide funds or other assets to a subsidiary insured
depository institution shall not be effective nor enforceable with respect
to an entity described in subparagraph (A) if--
`(A) such funds or assets are to be provided by--
`(i) a bank holding company that is an insurance company, a broker
or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, an
investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
or an investment adviser registered by or on behalf of either the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any State; or
`(ii) an affiliate of the depository institution which is an
insurance company or a broker or dealer registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, an investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, or an investment adviser registered by
or on behalf of either the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
State; and
`(B) the State insurance authority for the insurance company or the
Securities and Exchange Commission for the registered broker, dealer,
investment adviser (solely with respect to investment advisory activities
or activities incidental thereto), or investment company, as the case may
be, determines in writing sent to the holding company and the Board that
the holding company shall not provide such funds or assets because such
action would have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of
the insurance company or the broker, dealer, investment company, or
investment adviser, as the case may be.
`(2) NOTICE TO STATE INSURANCE AUTHORITY OR SEC REQUIRED- If the Board
requires a bank holding company, or an affiliate of a bank holding company,
which is an insurance company or a broker, dealer, investment company, or
investment adviser described in paragraph (1)(A) to provide funds or assets
to an insured depository institution subsidiary of the holding company
pursuant to any regulation, order, or other action of the Board referred to
in paragraph (1), the Board shall promptly notify the State insurance
authority for the insurance company, the Securities and Exchange Commission,
or State securities regulator, as the case may be, of such
requirement.
`(3) DIVESTITURE IN LIEU OF OTHER ACTION- If the Board receives a notice
described in paragraph (1)(B) from a State insurance authority or the
Securities and Exchange Commission with regard to a bank holding company or
affiliate referred to in that paragraph, the Board may order the bank
holding company to divest the insured depository institution not later than
180 days after receiving the notice, or such longer period as the Board
determines consistent with the safe and sound operation of the insured
depository institution.
`(4) CONDITIONS BEFORE DIVESTITURE- During the period beginning on the
date an order to divest is issued by the Board under paragraph (3) to a bank
holding company and ending on the date the divestiture is completed, the
Board may impose any conditions or restrictions on the holding company's
ownership or operation of the insured depository institution, including
restricting or prohibiting transactions between the insured depository
institution and any affiliate of the institution, as are appropriate under
the circumstances.'.
(b) SUBSIDIARIES OF DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS- The Federal Deposit Insurance
Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
`SEC. 45. AUTHORITY OF STATE INSURANCE REGULATOR AND SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.
`(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
regulation, order, or other action of the appropriate Federal banking agency
which requires a subsidiary to provide funds or other assets to an insured
depository institution shall not be effective nor enforceable with respect to
an entity described in paragraph (1) if--
`(1) such funds or assets are to be provided by a subsidiary which is an
insurance company, a broker or dealer registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, an investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, or an investment adviser registered by or on behalf of
either the Securities and Exchange Commission or any State; and
`(2) the State insurance authority for the insurance company or the
Securities and Exchange Commission for the registered broker or dealer, the
investment company, or the investment adviser, as the case may be,
determines in writing sent to the insured depository institution and the
appropriate Federal banking agency that the subsidiary shall not provide
such funds or assets because such action would have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition of the insurance company or the broker,
dealer, investment company, or investment adviser, as the case may be.
`(b) NOTICE TO STATE INSURANCE AUTHORITY OR SEC REQUIRED- If the
appropriate Federal banking agency requires a subsidiary, which is an
insurance company, a broker or dealer, an investment company, or an investment
adviser (solely with respect to investment advisory activities or activities
incidental thereto) described in subsection (a)(1) to provide funds or assets
to an insured depository institution pursuant to any regulation, order, or
other action of the appropriate Federal banking agency referred to in
subsection (a), the appropriate Federal banking agency shall promptly notify
the State insurance authority for the insurance company, the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or State securities regulator, as the case may be, of
such requirement.
`(c) DIVESTITURE IN LIEU OF OTHER ACTION- If the appropriate Federal
banking agency receives a notice described in subsection (a)(2) from a State
insurance authority or the Securities and Exchange Commission with regard to a
subsidiary referred to in that subsection, the appropriate Federal banking
agency may order the insured depository institution to divest the subsidiary
not later than 180 days after receiving the notice, or such longer period as
the appropriate Federal banking agency determines consistent with the safe and
sound operation of the insured depository institution.
`(d) CONDITIONS BEFORE DIVESTITURE- During the period beginning on the
date an order to divest is issued by the appropriate Federal banking agency
under subsection (c) to an insured depository institution and ending on the
date the divestiture is complete, the appropriate Federal banking agency may
impose any conditions or restrictions on the insured depository institution's
ownership of the subsidiary including restricting or prohibiting transactions
between the insured depository institution and the subsidiary, as are
appropriate under the circumstances.'.
SEC. 114. PRUDENTIAL SAFEGUARDS.
(a) COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Comptroller of the Currency may, by regulation or
order, impose restrictions or requirements on relationships or transactions
between a national bank and a subsidiary of the national bank which the
Comptroller finds are consistent with the public interest, the purposes of
this Act, title LXII of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and other
Federal law applicable to national banks, and the standards in paragraph
(2).
(2) STANDARDS- The Comptroller of the Currency may exercise authority
under paragraph (1) if the Comptroller finds that such action will have any
of the following effects:
(A) Avoid any significant risk to the safety and soundness of
depository institutions or any Federal deposit insurance fund.
(B) Enhance the financial stability of banks.
(C) Avoid conflicts of interest or other abuses.
(D) Enhance the privacy of customers of the national bank or any
subsidiary of the bank.
(E) Promote the application of national treatment and equality of
competitive opportunity between subsidiaries owned or controlled by
domestic banks and subsidiaries owned or controlled by foreign banks
operating in the United States.
(3) REVIEW- The Comptroller of the Currency shall regularly--
(A) review all restrictions or requirements established pursuant to
paragraph (1) to determine whether there is a continuing need for any such
restriction or requirement to carry out the purposes of the Act, including
any purpose described in paragraph (2); and
(B) modify or eliminate any restriction or requirement the Comptroller
finds is no longer required for such purposes.
(b) BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
may, by regulation or order, impose restrictions or requirements on
relationships or transactions--
(A) between a depository institution subsidiary of a bank holding
company and any affiliate of such depository institution (other than a
subsidiary of such institution); or
(B) between a State member bank and a subsidiary of such
bank,
which the Board finds are consistent with the public interest, the
purposes of this Act, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, the Federal
Reserve Act, and other Federal law applicable to depository institution
subsidiaries of bank holding companies or State banks (as the case may be),
and the standards in paragraph (2).
(2) STANDARDS- The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System may
exercise authority under paragraph (1) if the Board finds that such action
will have any of the following effects:
(A) Avoid any significant risk to the safety and soundness of
depository institutions or any Federal deposit insurance fund.
(B) Enhance the financial stability of bank holding
companies.
(C) Avoid conflicts of interest or other abuses.
(D) Enhance the privacy of customers of the State member bank or any
subsidiary of the bank.
(E) Promote the application of national treatment and equality of
competitive opportunity between nonbank affiliates owned or controlled by
domestic bank holding companies and nonbank affiliates owned or controlled
by foreign banks operating in the United States.
(3) REVIEW- The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall
regularly--
(A) review all restrictions or requirements established pursuant to
paragraph (1) to determine whether there is a continuing need for any such
restriction or requirement to carry out the purposes of the Act, including
any purpose described in paragraph (2); and
(B) modify or eliminate any restriction or requirement the Board finds
is no longer required for such purposes.
(A) IN GENERAL- The Board may, by regulation or order, impose
restrictions or requirements on relationships or transactions between a
branch, agency, or commercial lending company of a foreign bank in the
United States and any affiliate in the United States of such foreign bank
that the Board finds are consistent with the public interest, the purposes
of this Act, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, the Federal Reserve
Act, and other Federal law applicable to foreign banks and their
affiliates in the United States, and the standards in paragraphs (2) and
(3).
(B) EVASION- In the event that the Board determines that there may be
circumstances that would result in an evasion of this paragraph, the Board
may also impose restrictions or requirements on relationships or
transactions between a foreign bank outside the United States and any
affiliate in the United States of such foreign bank that are consistent
with national treatment and equality of competitive opportunity.
(c) FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation may, by
regulation or order, impose restrictions or requirements on relationships or
transactions between a State nonmember bank (as defined in section 3 of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act) and a subsidiary of the State nonmember bank
which the Corporation finds are consistent with the public interest, the
purposes of this Act, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, or other Federal
law applicable to State nonmember banks and the standards in paragraph
(2).
(2) STANDARDS- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation may exercise
authority under paragraph (1) if the Corporation finds that such action will
have any of the following effects:
(A) Avoid any significant risk to the safety and soundness of
depository institutions or any Federal deposit insurance fund.
(B) Enhance the financial stability of banks.
(C) Avoid conflicts of interest or other abuses.
(D) Enhance the privacy of customers of the State nonmember bank or
any subsidiary of the bank.
(E) Promote the application of national treatment and equality of
competitive opportunity between subsidiaries owned or controlled by
domestic banks and subsidiaries owned or controlled by foreign banks
operating in the United States.
(3) REVIEW- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation shall
regularly--
(A) review all restrictions or requirements established pursuant to
paragraph (1) to determine whether there is a continuing need for any such
restriction or requirement to carry out the purposes of the Act, including
any purpose described in paragraph (2); and
(B) modify or eliminate any restriction or requirement the Corporation
finds is no longer required for such purposes.
SEC. 115. EXAMINATION OF INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
(a) EXCLUSIVE COMMISSION AUTHORITY-
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Commission
shall be the sole Federal agency with authority to inspect and examine any
registered investment company that is not a bank holding company or a
savings and loan holding company.
(2) PROHIBITION ON BANKING AGENCIES- Except as provided in paragraph
(3), a Federal banking agency may not inspect or examine any registered
investment company that is not a bank holding company or a savings and loan
holding company.
(3) CERTAIN EXAMINATIONS AUTHORIZED- Nothing in this subsection prevents
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, if the Corporation finds it
necessary to determine the condition of an insured depository institution
for insurance purposes, from examining an affiliate of any insured
depository institution, pursuant to its authority under section 10(b)(4) of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as may be necessary to disclose fully the
relationship between the depository institution and the affiliate, and the
effect of such relationship on the depository institution.
(b) EXAMINATION RESULTS AND OTHER INFORMATION- The Commission shall
provide to any Federal banking agency, upon request, the results of any
examination, reports, records, or other information with respect to any
registered investment company to the extent necessary for the agency to carry
out its statutory responsibilities.
(c) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section, the following definitions
shall apply:
(1) BANK HOLDING COMPANY- The term `bank holding company' has the same
meaning as in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.
(2) COMMISSION- The term `Commission' means the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(3) FEDERAL BANKING AGENCY- The term `Federal banking agency' has the
same meaning as in section 3(z) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
(4) REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANY- The term `registered investment
company' means an investment company which is registered with the Commission
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(5) SAVINGS AND LOAN HOLDING COMPANY- The term `savings and loan holding
company' has the same meaning as in section 10(a)(1)(D) of the Home Owners'
Loan Act.
SEC. 116. LIMITATION ON RULEMAKING, PRUDENTIAL, SUPERVISORY, AND ENFORCEMENT
AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD.
The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.) is amended
by inserting after section 10 the following new section:
`SEC. 10A. LIMITATION ON RULEMAKING, PRUDENTIAL, SUPERVISORY, AND
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD.
`(a) LIMITATION ON DIRECT ACTION-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Board may not prescribe regulations, issue or seek
entry of orders, impose restraints, restrictions, guidelines, requirements,
safeguards, or standards, or otherwise take any action under or pursuant to
any provision of this Act or section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act
against or with respect to a regulated subsidiary of a bank holding company
unless the action is necessary to prevent or redress an unsafe or unsound
practice or breach of fiduciary duty by such subsidiary that poses a
material risk to--
`(A) the financial safety, soundness, or stability of an affiliated
depository institution; or
`(B) the domestic or international payment system.
`(2) CRITERIA FOR BOARD ACTION- The Board shall not take action
otherwise permitted under paragraph (1) unless the Board finds that it is
not reasonably possible to effectively protect against the material risk at
issue through action directed at or against the affiliated depository
institution or against depository institutions generally.
`(b) LIMITATION ON INDIRECT ACTION- The Board may not prescribe
regulations, issue or seek entry of orders, impose restraints, restrictions,
guidelines, requirements, safeguards, or standards, or otherwise take any
action under or pursuant to any provision of this Act or section 8 of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act against or with respect to a financial holding
company or a wholesale financial holding company where the purpose or effect
of doing so would be to take action indirectly against or with respect to a
regulated subsidiary that may not be taken directly against or with respect to
such subsidiary in accordance with subsection (a).
`(c) ACTIONS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED- Notwithstanding subsection (a), the
Board may take action under this Act or section 8 of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act to enforce compliance by a regulated subsidiary with Federal law
that the Board has specific jurisdiction to enforce against such
subsidiary.
`(d) REGULATED SUBSIDIARY DEFINED- For purposes of this section, the term
`regulated subsidiary' means any company that is not a bank holding company
and is--
`(1) a broker or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934;
`(2) an investment adviser registered by or on behalf of either the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any State, whichever is required by
law, with respect to the investment advisory activities of such investment
adviser and activities incidental to such investment advisory
activities;
`(3) an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940;
`(4) an insurance company or an insurance agency, with respect to the
insurance activities and activities incidental to such insurance activities,
subject to supervision by a State insurance commission, agency, or similar
authority; or
`(5) an entity subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, with respect to the commodities activities of such entity and
activities incidental to such commodities activities.'.
SEC. 117. EQUIVALENT REGULATION AND SUPERVISION.
(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions
of--
(1) section 5(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (as amended by
this Act) that limit the authority of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System to require reports from, to make examinations of, or to
impose capital requirements on bank holding companies and their nonbank
subsidiaries or that require deference to other regulators; and
(2) section 10A of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (as added by
this Act) that limit whatever authority the Board might otherwise have to
take direct or indirect action with respect to bank holding companies and
their nonbank subsidiaries,
shall also limit whatever authority that a Federal banking agency (as
defined in section 3(z) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) might otherwise
have under any statute to require reports, make examinations, impose capital
requirements or take any other direct or indirect action with respect to bank
holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries (including nonbank
subsidiaries of depository institutions), subject to the same standards and
requirements as are applicable to the Board under such provisions.
(b) CERTAIN EXAMINATIONS AUTHORIZED- No provision of this section shall be
construed as preventing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, if the
Corporation finds it necessary to determine the condition of an insured
depository institution for insurance purposes, from examining an affiliate of
any insured depository institution, pursuant to its authority under section
10(b)(4) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as may be necessary to disclose
fully the relationship between the depository institution and the affiliate,
and the effect of such relationship on the depository institution.
SEC. 118. PROHIBITION ON FDIC ASSISTANCE TO AFFILIATES AND
SUBSIDIARIES.
Section 11(a)(4)(B) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.
1821(a)(4)(B)) is amended by striking `to benefit any shareholder of' and
inserting `to benefit any shareholder, affiliate (other than an insured
depository institution that receives assistance in accordance with the
provisions of this Act), or subsidiary of'.
SEC. 119. REPEAL OF SAVINGS BANK PROVISIONS IN THE BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT
OF 1956.
Section 3(f) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1842(f))
is amended to read as follows:
SEC. 120. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.
Section 2(o)(1)(A) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C.
1841(o)(1)(A)) is amended by striking `section 38(b)' and inserting `section
38'.
Subtitle C--Subsidiaries of National Banks
SEC. 121. PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES FOR SUBSIDIARIES OF NATIONAL BANKS.
(a) FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARIES OF NATIONAL BANKS- Chapter 1 of title LXII of
the Revised Statutes of United States (12 U.S.C. 21 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 5136A as section 5136C; and
(2) by inserting after section 5136 (12 U.S.C. 24) the following new
section:
`SEC. 5136A. SUBSIDIARIES OF NATIONAL BANKS.
`(a) SUBSIDIARIES OF NATIONAL BANKS AUTHORIZED TO ENGAGE IN FINANCIAL
ACTIVITIES-
`(1) EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY- No provision of section 5136 or any other
provision of this title LXII of the Revised Statutes of the United States
shall be construed as authorizing a subsidiary of a national bank to engage
in, or own any share of or any other interest in any company engaged in, any
activity that--
`(A) is not permissible for a national bank to engage in directly;
or
`(B) is conducted under terms or conditions other than those that
would govern the conduct of such activity by a national bank,
unless a national bank is specifically authorized by the express terms
of a Federal statute and not by implication or interpretation to acquire
shares of or an interest in, or to control, such subsidiary, such as by
paragraph (2) of this subsection and section 25A of the Federal Reserve
Act.
`(2) SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE FINANCIAL IN
NATURE- Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), a national bank may control a
financial subsidiary, or hold an interest in a financial subsidiary, that is
controlled by insured depository institutions or subsidiaries thereof.
`(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS- A national bank may control or hold an
interest in a company pursuant to paragraph (2) only if--
`(A) the national bank and all depository institution affiliates of
the national bank are well capitalized;
`(B) the national bank and all depository institution affiliates of
the national bank are well managed;
`(C) the national bank and all depository institution affiliates of
such national bank have achieved a rating of `satisfactory record of
meeting community credit needs', or better, at the most recent examination
of each such bank or institution; and
`(D) the bank has received the approval of the Comptroller of the
Currency.
`(4) ACTIVITY LIMITATIONS- In addition to any other limitation imposed
on the activity of subsidiaries of national banks, a subsidiary of a
national bank may not, pursuant to paragraph (2)--
`(A) engage as principal in insuring, guaranteeing, or indemnifying
against loss, harm, damage, illness, disability, or death (other than in
connection with credit-related insurance) or in providing or issuing
annuities;
`(B) engage in real estate investment or development activities;
or
`(C) engage in any activity permissible for a financial holding
company under paragraph (3)(I) of section 6(c) of the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956 (relating to insurance company investments).
`(5) SIZE FACTOR WITH REGARD TO FREE-STANDING NATIONAL BANKS-
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a national bank which has total assets of
$10,000,000,000 or more may not control a subsidiary engaged in financial
activities pursuant to such paragraph unless such national bank is a
subsidiary of a bank holding company.
`(6) LIMITED EXCLUSIONS FROM COMMUNITY NEEDS REQUIREMENTS FOR NEWLY
AFFILIATED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS- Any depository institution which becomes
an affiliate of a national bank during the 12-month period preceding the
date of an approval by the Comptroller of the Currency under paragraph
(3)(D) for such bank, and any depository institution which becomes an
affiliate of the national bank after such date, may be excluded for purposes
of paragraph (3)(C) during the 12-month period beginning on the date of such
affiliation if--
`(A) the national bank or such depository institution has submitted an
affirmative plan to the appropriate Federal banking agency to take such
action as may be necessary in order for such institution to achieve a
rating of `satisfactory record of meeting community credit needs', or
better, at the next examination of the institution; and
`(B) the plan has been accepted by such agency.
`(7) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section, the following
definitions shall apply:
`(A) COMPANY; CONTROL; AFFILIATE; SUBSIDIARY- The terms `company',
`control', `affiliate', and `subsidiary' have the same meanings as in
section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.
`(B) FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARY- The term `financial subsidiary' means a
company which is a subsidiary of an insured bank and is engaged in
financial activities that have been determined to be financial in nature
or incidental to such financial activities in accordance with subsection
(b) or permitted in accordance with subsection (b)(4), other than
activities that are permissible for a national bank to engage in directly
or that are authorized under the Bank Service Company Act, section 25 or
25A of the Federal Reserve Act, or any other Federal statute (other than
this section) that specifically authorizes the conduct of such activities
by its express terms and not by implication or interpretation.
`(C) WELL CAPITALIZED- The term `well capitalized' has the same
meaning as in section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and, for
purposes of this section, the Comptroller shall have exclusive
jurisdiction to determine whether a national bank is well
capitalized.
`(D) WELL MANAGED- The term `well managed' means--
`(i) in the case of a depository institution that has been examined,
unless otherwise determined in writing by the appropriate Federal
banking agency--
`(I) the achievement of a composite rating of 1 or 2 under the
Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (or an equivalent rating
under an equivalent rating system) in connection with the most recent
examination or subsequent review of the depository institution;
and
`(II) at least a rating of 2 for management, if that rating is
given; or
`(ii) in the case of any depository institution that has not been
examined, the existence and use of managerial resources that the
appropriate Federal banking agency determines are
satisfactory.
`(E) INCORPORATED DEFINITIONS- The terms `appropriate Federal banking
agency' and `depository institution' have the same meanings as in section
3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
`(b) ACTIVITIES THAT ARE FINANCIAL IN NATURE-
`(1) FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of subsection (a)(7)(B), an activity
shall be considered to have been determined to be financial in nature or
incidental to such financial activities only if--
`(i) such activity is permitted for a financial holding company
pursuant to section 6(c)(3) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (to
the extent such activity is not otherwise prohibited under this section
or any other provision of law for a subsidiary of a national bank
engaged in activities pursuant to subsection (a)(2)); or
`(ii) the Secretary of the Treasury determines the activity to be
financial in nature or incidental to such financial activities in
accordance with subparagraph (B) or paragraph (3).
`(B) COORDINATION BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY-
`(i) PROPOSALS RAISED BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY-
`(I) CONSULTATION- The Secretary of the Treasury shall notify the
Board of, and consult with the Board concerning, any request,
proposal, or application under this subsection, including any
regulation or order proposed under paragraph (3), for a determination
of whether an activity is financial in nature or incidental to such a
financial activity.
`(II) BOARD VIEW- The Secretary of the Treasury shall not
determine that any activity is financial in nature or incidental to a
financial activity under this subsection if the Board notifies the
Secretary in writing, not later than 30 days after the date of receipt
of the notice described in subclause (I) (or such longer period as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate in light of the circumstances)
that the Board believes that the activity is not financial in nature
or incidental to a financial activity.
`(ii) PROPOSALS RAISED BY THE BOARD-
`(I) BOARD RECOMMENDATION- The Board may, at any time, recommend
in writing that the Secretary of the Treasury find an activity to be
financial in nature or incidental to a financial activity (other than
an activity which the Board has sole authority to regulate under
subparagraph (C)).
`(II) TIME PERIOD FOR SECRETARIAL ACTION- Not later than 30 days
after the date of receipt of a written recommendation from the Board
under subclause (I) (or such longer period as the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Board determine to be appropriate in light of the
circumstances), the Secretary shall determine whether to initiate a
public rulemaking proposing that the subject recommended activity be
found to be financial in nature or incidental to a financial activity
under this subsection, and shall notify the Board in writing of the
determination of the Secretary and, in the event that the Secretary
determines not to seek public comment on the proposal, the reasons for
that determination.
`(C) AUTHORITY OVER MERCHANT BANKING- The Board shall have sole
authority to prescribe regulations and issue interpretations to implement
this paragraph with respect to activities described in section 6(c)(3)(H)
of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.
`(2) FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED- In determining whether an activity is
financial in nature or incidental to financial activities, the Secretary
shall take into account--
`(A) the purposes of this Act and the Financial Services Act of
1999;
`(B) changes or reasonably expected changes in the marketplace in
which banks compete;
`(C) changes or reasonably expected changes in the technology for
delivering financial services; and
`(D) whether such activity is necessary or appropriate to allow a bank
and the subsidiaries of a bank to--
`(i) compete effectively with any company seeking to provide
financial services in the United States;
`(ii) use any available or emerging technological means, including
any application necessary to protect the security or efficacy of systems
for the transmission of data or financial transactions, in providing
financial services; and
`(iii) offer customers any available or emerging technological means
for using financial services.
`(3) AUTHORIZATION OF NEW FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES- The Secretary of the
Treasury shall, by regulation or order and in accordance with paragraph
(1)(B), define, consistent with the purposes of this Act, the following
activities as, and the extent to which such activities are, financial in
nature or incidental to activities which are financial in nature:
`(A) Lending, exchanging, transferring, investing for others, or
safeguarding financial assets other than money or securities.
`(B) Providing any device or other instrumentality for transferring
money or other financial assets.
`(C) Arranging, effecting, or facilitating financial transactions for
the account of third parties.
`(4) DEVELOPING ACTIVITIES- Subject to subsection (a)(2), a financial
subsidiary of a national bank may engage directly or indirectly, or acquire
shares of any company engaged, in any activity that the Secretary has not
determined to be financial in nature or incidental to financial activities
under this subsection if--
`(A) the subsidiary reasonably concludes that the activity is
financial in nature or incidental to financial activities;
`(B) the gross revenues from all activities conducted under this
paragraph represent less than 5 percent of the consolidated gross revenues
of the national bank;
`(C) the aggregate total assets of all companies the shares of which
are held under this paragraph do not exceed 5 percent of the national
bank's consolidated total assets;
`(D) the total capital invested in activities conducted under this
paragraph represents less than 5 percent of the consolidated total capital
of the national bank;
`(E) neither the Secretary of the Treasury nor the Board has
determined that the activity is not financial in nature or incidental to
financial activities under this subsection; and
`(F) the national bank provides written notice to the Secretary of the
Treasury describing the activity commenced by the subsidiary or conducted
by the company acquired no later than 10 business days after commencing
the activity or consummating the acquisition.
`(c) PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS THAT FAIL TO MEET
REQUIREMENTS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- If a national bank or depository institution affiliate
is not in compliance with the requirements of subparagraph (A), (B), or (C)
of subsection (a)(3), the appropriate Federal banking agency shall notify
the Comptroller of the Currency, who shall give notice of such finding to
the national bank.
`(2) AGREEMENT TO CORRECT CONDITIONS REQUIRED- Not later than 45 days
after receipt by a national bank of a notice given under paragraph (1) (or
such additional period as the Comptroller of the Currency may permit), the
national bank and any relevant affiliated depository institution shall
execute an agreement acceptable to the Comptroller of the Currency and the
other appropriate Federal banking agencies, if any, to comply with the
requirements applicable under subsection (a)(3).
`(3) COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY MAY IMPOSE LIMITATIONS- Until the
conditions described in a notice to a national bank under paragraph (1) are
corrected--
`(A) the Comptroller of the Currency may impose such limitations on
the conduct or activities of the national bank or any subsidiary of the
bank as the Comptroller of the Currency determines to be appropriate under
the circumstances; and
`(B) the appropriate Federal banking agency may impose such
limitations on the conduct or activities of an affiliated depository
institution or any subsidiary of the depository institution as such agency
determines to be appropriate under the circumstances.
`(4) FAILURE TO CORRECT- If, after receiving a notice under paragraph
(1), a national bank and other affiliated depository institutions do
not--
`(A) execute and implement an agreement in accordance with paragraph
(2);
`(B) comply with any limitations imposed under paragraph (3);
`(C) in the case of a notice of failure to comply with subsection
(a)(3)(A), restore the national bank or any depository institution
affiliate of the bank to well capitalized status before the end of the
180-day period beginning on the date such notice is received by the
national bank (or such other period permitted by the Comptroller of the
Currency); or
`(D) in the case of a notice of failure to comply with subparagraph
(B) or (C) of subsection (a)(3), restore compliance with any such
subparagraph on or before the date on which the next examination of the
depository institution subsidiary is completed or by the end of such other
period as the Comptroller of the Currency determines to be
appropriate,
the Comptroller of the Currency may require such national bank, under
such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Comptroller of the
Currency and subject to such extension of time as may be granted in the
Comptroller of the Currency's discretion, to divest control of any
subsidiary engaged in activities pursuant to subsection (a)(2) or, at the
election of the national bank, instead to cease to engage in any activity
conducted by a subsidiary of the national bank pursuant to subsection
(a)(2).
`(5) CONSULTATION- In taking any action under this subsection, the
Comptroller of the Currency shall consult with all relevant Federal and
State regulatory agencies.'.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections for chapter 1 of title LXII
of the Revised Statutes of the United States is amended--
(1) by redesignating the item relating to section 5136A as section
5136C; and
(2) by inserting after the item relating to section 5136 the following
new item:
`5136A. Subsidiaries of national banks.'.
SEC. 122. SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS FIREWALLS BETWEEN BANKS AND THEIR FINANCIAL
SUBSIDIARIES.
(a) PURPOSES- The purposes of this section are--
(1) to protect the safety and soundness of any insured bank that has a
financial subsidiary;
(2) to apply to any transaction between the bank and the financial
subsidiary (including a loan, extension of credit, guarantee, or purchase of
assets), other than an equity investment, the same restrictions and
requirements as would apply if the financial subsidiary were a subsidiary of
a bank holding company having control of the bank; and
(3) to apply to any equity investment of the bank in the financial
subsidiary restrictions and requirements equivalent to those that would
apply if--
(A) the bank paid a dividend in the same dollar amount to a bank
holding company having control of the bank; and
(B) the bank holding company used the proceeds of the dividend to make
an equity investment in a subsidiary that was engaged in the same
activities as the financial subsidiary of the bank.
(b) SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS FIREWALLS APPLICABLE TO SUBSIDIARIES OF BANKS-
The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 45 (as added by section 113(b) of this title) the
following new section:
`SEC. 46. SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS FIREWALLS APPLICABLE TO SUBSIDIARIES OF
BANKS.
`(a) LIMITING THE EQUITY INVESTMENT OF A BANK IN A SUBSIDIARY-
`(1) CAPITAL DEDUCTION- In determining whether an insured bank complies
with applicable regulatory capital standards--
`(A) the appropriate Federal banking agency shall deduct from the
assets and tangible equity of the bank the aggregate amount of the
outstanding equity investments of the bank in financial subsidiaries of
the bank; and
`(B) the assets and liabilities of such financial subsidiaries shall
not be consolidated with those of the bank.
`(2) INVESTMENT LIMITATION- An insured bank shall not, without the prior
approval of the appropriate Federal banking agency, make any equity
investment in a financial subsidiary of the bank if that investment would,
when made, exceed the amount that the bank could pay as a dividend without
obtaining prior regulatory approval.
`(3) TREATMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS- The amount of any net earnings
retained by a financial subsidiary of an insured depository institution
shall be treated as an outstanding equity investment of the bank in the
subsidiary for purposes of paragraph (1).
`(b) OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL SAFEGUARDS FOR THE BANK- An insured bank
that has a financial subsidiary shall maintain procedures for identifying and
managing any financial and operational risks posed by the financial
subsidiary.
`(c) MAINTENANCE OF SEPARATE CORPORATE IDENTITY AND SEPARATE LEGAL
STATUS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Each insured bank shall ensure that the bank maintains
and complies with reasonable policies and procedures to preserve the
separate corporate identity and legal status of the bank and any financial
subsidiary or affiliate of the bank.
`(2) EXAMINATIONS- The appropriate Federal banking agency, as part of
each examination, shall review whether an insured bank is observing the
separate corporate identity and separate legal status of any subsidiaries
and affiliates of the bank.
`(d) FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARY DEFINED- For purposes of this section, the term
`financial subsidiary' has the meaning given to such term in section
5136A(a)(7)(B) of the Revised Statutes of the United States.
`(e) REGULATIONS- The appropriate Federal banking agencies shall jointly
prescribe regulations implementing this section.'.
(c) TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARIES AND OTHER AFFILIATES-
Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 371c) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (d), the following new
subsection:
`(e) RULES RELATING TO BANKS WITH FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARIES-
`(1) FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARY DEFINED- For purposes of this section and
section 23B, the term `financial subsidiary' means a company which is a
subsidiary of a bank and is engaged in activities that are financial in
nature or incidental to such financial activities pursuant to subsection
(a)(2) or (b)(4) of section 5136A of the Revised Statutes of the United
States.
`(2) APPLICATION TO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN A FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARY OF A
BANK AND THE BANK- For purposes of applying this section and section 23B to
a transaction between a financial subsidiary of a bank and the bank (or
between such financial subsidiary and any other subsidiary of the bank which
is not a financial subsidiary) and notwithstanding subsection (b)(2) and
section 23B(d)(1), the financial subsidiary of the bank--
`(A) shall be an affiliate of the bank and any other subsidiary of the
bank which is not a financial subsidiary; and
`(B) shall not be treated as a subsidiary of the bank.
`(3) APPLICATION TO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARY AND
NONBANK AFFILIATES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- A transaction between a financial subsidiary and an
affiliate of the financial subsidiary shall not be deemed to be a
transaction between a subsidiary of a national bank and an affiliate of
the bank for purposes of section 23A or section 23B of the Federal Reserve
Act.
`(B) CERTAIN AFFILIATES EXCLUDED- For purposes of subparagraph (A) and
notwithstanding paragraph (4), the term `affiliate' shall not include a
bank, or a subsidiary of a bank, which is engaged exclusively in
activities permissible for a national bank to engage in directly or which
are authorized by any Federal law other than section 5136A of the Revised
Statutes of the United States.
`(4) EQUITY INVESTMENTS EXCLUDED SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE BANKING
AGENCY- Subsection (a)(1) shall not apply so as to limit the equity
investment of a bank in a financial subsidiary of such bank, except that any
investment that exceeds the amount of a dividend that the bank could pay at
the time of the investment without obtaining prior approval of the
appropriate Federal banking agency and is in excess of the limitation which
would apply under subsection (a)(1), but for this paragraph, may be made
only with the approval of the appropriate Federal banking agency (as defined
in section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) with respect to such
bank.'.
(d) ANTITYING- Section 106(a) of the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments
of 1970 is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: `For
purposes of this section, a subsidiary of a national bank which engages in
activities pursuant to subsection (a)(2) or (b)(4) of section 5136A of the
Revised Statutes of the United States shall be deemed to be a subsidiary of a
bank holding company, and not a subsidiary of a bank.'.
SEC. 123. MISREPRESENTATIONS REGARDING DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION LIABILITY FOR
OBLIGATIONS OF AFFILIATES.
(a) IN GENERAL- Chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after section 1007 the following new section:
`Sec. 1008. Misrepresentations regarding financial institution liability for
obligations of affiliates
`(a) IN GENERAL- No institution-affiliated party of an insured depository
institution or institution-affiliated party of a subsidiary or affiliate of an
insured depository institution shall fraudulently represent that the
institution is or will be liable for any obligation of a subsidiary or other
affiliate of the institution.
`(b) CRIMINAL PENALTY- Whoever violates subsection (a) shall be fined
under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
`(c) INSTITUTION-AFFILIATED PARTY DEFINED- For purposes of this section,
the term `institution-affiliated party' has the same meaning as in section 3
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and any reference in that section shall
also be deemed to refer to a subsidiary or affiliate of an insured depository
institution.
`(d) OTHER DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section, the terms
`affiliate', `insured depository institution', and `subsidiary' have same
meanings as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.'.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections for chapter 47 of title 18,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
1007 the following new item:
`1008. Misrepresentations regarding financial institution liability for
obligations of affiliates.'.
SEC. 124. REPEAL OF STOCK LOAN LIMIT IN FEDERAL RESERVE ACT.
Section 11 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 248) is amended by
striking the paragraph designated as `(m)' and inserting `(m) [Repealed]'.
Subtitle D--Wholesale Financial Holding Companies; Wholesale Financial
Institutions
CHAPTER 1--WHOLESALE FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES
SEC. 131. WHOLESALE FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES ESTABLISHED.
Section 10 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et
seq.) is amended to read as follows:
`SEC. 10. WHOLESALE FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES.
`(a) COMPANIES THAT CONTROL WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS-
`(1) WHOLESALE FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANY DEFINED- The term `wholesale
financial holding company' means any company that--
`(A) is registered as a bank holding company;
`(B) is predominantly engaged in financial activities as defined in
section 6(f)(2);
`(C) controls one or more wholesale financial institutions;
`(i) a bank other than a wholesale financial
institution;
`(ii) an insured bank other than an institution permitted under
subparagraph (D), (F), or (G) of section 2(c)(2); or
`(iii) a savings association; and
`(E) is not a foreign bank (as defined in section 1(b)(7) of the
International Banking Act of 1978).
`(2) SAVINGS ASSOCIATION TRANSITION PERIOD- Notwithstanding paragraph
(1)(D)(iii), the Board may permit a company that controls a savings
association and that otherwise meets the requirements of paragraph (1) to
become supervised under paragraph (1), if the company divests control of any
such savings association within such period not to exceed 5 years after
becoming supervised under paragraph (1) as permitted by the Board.
`(b) SUPERVISION BY THE BOARD-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The provisions of this section shall govern the
reporting, examination, and capital requirements of wholesale financial
holding companies.
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Board from time to time may require any wholesale
financial holding company and any subsidiary of such company to submit
reports under oath to keep the Board informed as to--
`(i) the company's or subsidiary's activities, financial condition,
policies, systems for monitoring and controlling financial and
operational risks, and transactions with depository institution
subsidiaries of the holding company; and
`(ii) the extent to which the company or subsidiary has complied
with the provisions of this Act and regulations prescribed and orders
issued under this Act.
`(B) USE OF EXISTING REPORTS-
`(i) IN GENERAL- The Board shall, to the fullest extent possible,
accept reports in fulfillment of the Board's reporting requirements
under this paragraph that the wholesale financial holding company or any
subsidiary of such company has provided or been required to provide to
other Federal and State supervisors or to appropriate self-regulatory
organizations.
`(ii) AVAILABILITY- A wholesale financial holding company or a
subsidiary of such company shall provide to the Board, at the request of
the Board, a report referred to in clause (i).
`(C) EXEMPTIONS FROM REPORTING REQUIREMENTS-
`(i) IN GENERAL- The Board may, by regulation or order, exempt any
company or class of companies, under such terms and conditions and for
such periods as the Board shall provide in such regulation or order,
from the provisions of this paragraph and any regulation prescribed
under this paragraph.
`(ii) CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION- In making any determination under
clause (i) with regard to any exemption under such clause, the Board
shall consider, among such other factors as the Board may determine to
be appropriate, the following factors:
`(I) Whether information of the type required under this paragraph
is available from a supervisory agency (as defined in section 1101(7)
of the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978) or a foreign regulatory
authority of a similar type.
`(II) The primary business of the company.
`(III) The nature and extent of the domestic and foreign
regulation of the activities of the company.
`(A) LIMITED USE OF EXAMINATION AUTHORITY- The Board may make
examinations of each wholesale financial holding company and each
subsidiary of such company in order to--
`(i) inform the Board regarding the nature of the operations and
financial condition of the wholesale financial holding company and its
subsidiaries;
`(ii) inform the Board regarding--
`(I) the financial and operational risks within the wholesale
financial holding company system that may affect any depository
institution owned by such holding company; and
`(II) the systems of the holding company and its subsidiaries for
monitoring and controlling those risks; and
`(iii) monitor compliance with the provisions of this Act and those
governing transactions and relationships between any depository
institution controlled by the wholesale financial holding company and
any of the company's other subsidiaries.
`(B) RESTRICTED FOCUS OF EXAMINATIONS- The Board shall, to the fullest
extent possible, limit the focus and scope of any examination of a
wholesale financial holding company under this paragraph to--
`(i) the holding company; and
`(ii) any subsidiary (other than an insured depository institution
subsidiary) of the holding company that, because of the size, condition,
or activities of the subsidiary, the nature or size of transactions
between such subsidiary and any affiliated depository institution, or
the centralization of functions within the holding company system, could
have a materially adverse effect on the safety and soundness of any
depository institution affiliate of the holding company.
`(C) DEFERENCE TO BANK EXAMINATIONS- The Board shall, to the fullest
extent possible, use the reports of examination of depository institutions
made by the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision or the
appropriate State depository institution supervisory authority for the
purposes of this section.
`(D) DEFERENCE TO OTHER EXAMINATIONS- The Board shall, to the fullest
extent possible, address the circumstances which might otherwise permit or
require an examination by the Board by forgoing an examination and by
instead reviewing the reports of examination made of--
`(i) any registered broker or dealer or any registered investment
adviser by or on behalf of the Commission; and
`(ii) any licensed insurance company by or on behalf of any State
government insurance agency responsible for the supervision of the
insurance company.
`(E) CONFIDENTIALITY OF REPORTED INFORMATION-
`(i) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Board shall not be compelled to disclose any nonpublic information
required to be reported under this paragraph, or any information
supplied to the Board by any domestic or foreign regulatory agency, that
relates to the financial or operational condition of any wholesale
financial holding company or any subsidiary of such company.
`(ii) COMPLIANCE WITH REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION- No provision of this
subparagraph shall be construed as authorizing the Board to withhold
information from the Congress, or preventing the Board from complying
with a request for information from any other Federal department or
agency for purposes within the scope of such department's or agency's
jurisdiction, or from complying with any order of a court of competent
jurisdiction in an action brought by the United States or the
Board.
`(iii) COORDINATION WITH OTHER LAW- For purposes of section 552 of
title 5, United States Code, this subparagraph shall be considered to be
a statute described in subsection (b)(3)(B) of such section.
`(iv) DESIGNATION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION- In prescribing
regulations to carry out the requirements of this subsection, the Board
shall designate information described in or obtained pursuant to this
paragraph as confidential information.
`(F) COSTS- The cost of any examination conducted by the Board under
this section may be assessed against, and made payable by, the wholesale
financial holding company.
`(4) CAPITAL ADEQUACY GUIDELINES-
`(A) CAPITAL ADEQUACY PROVISIONS- Subject to the requirements of, and
solely in accordance with, the terms of this paragraph, the Board may
adopt capital adequacy rules or guidelines for wholesale financial holding
companies.
`(B) METHOD OF CALCULATION- In developing rules or guidelines under
this paragraph, the following provisions shall apply:
`(i) FOCUS ON DOUBLE LEVERAGE- The Board shall focus on the use by
wholesale financial holding companies of debt and other liabilities to
fund capital investments in subsidiaries.
`(ii) NO UNWEIGHTED CAPITAL RATIO- The Board shall not, by
regulation, guideline, order, or otherwise, impose under this section a
capital ratio that is not based on appropriate risk-weighting
considerations.
`(iii) NO CAPITAL REQUIREMENT ON REGULATED ENTITIES- The Board shall
not, by regulation, guideline, order or otherwise, prescribe or impose
any capital or capital adequacy rules, standards, guidelines, or
requirements upon any subsidiary that--
`(I) is not a depository institution; and
`(II) is in compliance with applicable capital requirements of
another Federal regulatory authority (including the Securities and
Exchange Commission) or State insurance authority.
`(iv) LIMITATION- The Board shall not, by regulation, guideline,
order or otherwise, prescribe or impose any capital or capital adequacy
rules, standards, guidelines, or requirements upon any subsidiary that
is not a depository institution and that is registered as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, except that this
clause shall not be construed as preventing the Board from imposing
capital or capital adequacy rules, guidelines, standards, or
requirements with respect to activities of a registered investment
adviser other than investment advisory activities or activities
incidental to investment advisory activities.
`(v) LIMITATIONS ON INDIRECT ACTION- In developing, establishing, or
assessing holding company capital or capital adequacy rules, guidelines,
standards, or requirements for purposes of this paragraph, the Board
shall not take into account the activities, operations, or investments
of an affiliated investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, unless the investment company is--
`(I) a bank holding company; or
`(II) controlled by a bank holding company by reason of ownership
by the bank holding company (including through all of its affiliates)
of 25 percent or more of the shares of the investment company, and the
shares owned by the bank holding company have a market value equal to
more than $1,000,000.
`(vi) APPROPRIATE EXCLUSIONS- The Board shall take full account
of--
`(I) the capital requirements made applicable to any subsidiary
that is not a depository institution by another Federal regulatory
authority or State insurance authority; and
`(II) industry norms for capitalization of a company's unregulated
subsidiaries and activities.
`(vii) INTERNAL RISK MANAGEMENT MODELS- The Board may incorporate
internal risk management models of wholesale financial holding companies
into its capital adequacy guidelines or rules and may take account of
the extent to which resources of a subsidiary depository institution may
be used to service the debt or other liabilities of the wholesale
financial holding company.
`(c) NONFINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND INVESTMENTS-
`(1) GRANDFATHERED ACTIVITIES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding section 4(a), a company that becomes
a wholesale financial holding company may continue to engage, directly or
indirectly, in any activity and may retain ownership and control of shares
of a company engaged in any activity if--
`(i) on the date of the enactment of the Financial Services Act of
1999, such wholesale financial holding company was lawfully engaged in
that nonfinancial activity, held the shares of such company, or had
entered into a contract to acquire shares of any company engaged in such
activity; and
`(ii) the company engaged in such activity continues to engage only
in the same activities that such company conducted on the date of the
enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999, and other activities
permissible under this Act.
`(B) NO EXPANSION OF GRANDFATHERED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES THROUGH
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION- A wholesale financial holding company that
engages in activities or holds shares pursuant to this paragraph, or a
subsidiary of such wholesale financial holding company, may not acquire,
in any merger, consolidation, or other type of business combination,
assets of any other company which is engaged in any activity which the
Board has not determined to be financial in nature or incidental to
activities that are financial in nature under section 6(c).
`(C) LIMITATION TO SINGLE EXEMPTION- No company that engages in any
activity or controls any shares under subsection (f) of section 6 may
engage in any activity or own any shares pursuant to this
paragraph.
`(A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding section 4(a), a wholesale financial
holding company which was predominately engaged as of January 1, 1997, in
financial activities in the United States (or any successor to any such
company) may engage in, or directly or indirectly own or control shares of
a company engaged in, activities related to the trading, sale, or
investment in commodities and underlying physical properties that were not
permissible for bank holding companies to conduct in the United States as
of January 1, 1997, if such wholesale financial holding company, or any
subsidiary of such holding company, was engaged directly, indirectly, or
through any such company in any of such activities as of January 1, 1997,
in the United States.
`(B) LIMITATION- The attributed aggregate consolidated assets of a
wholesale financial holding company held under the authority granted under
this paragraph and not otherwise permitted to be held by all wholesale
financial holding companies under this section may not exceed 5 percent of
the total consolidated assets of the wholesale financial holding company,
except that the Board may increase such percentage of total consolidated
assets by such amounts and under such circumstances as the Board considers
appropriate, consistent with the purposes of this Act.
`(3) CROSS MARKETING RESTRICTIONS- A wholesale financial holding company
shall not permit--
`(A) any company whose shares it owns or controls pursuant to
paragraph (1) or (2) to offer or market any product or service of an
affiliated wholesale financial institution; or
`(B) any affiliated wholesale financial institution to offer or market
any product or service of any company whose shares are owned or controlled
by such wholesale financial holding company pursuant to such
paragraphs.
`(d) QUALIFICATION OF FOREIGN BANK AS WHOLESALE FINANCIAL HOLDING
COMPANY-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Any foreign bank, or any company that owns or controls
a foreign bank, that operates a branch, agency, or commercial lending
company in the United States, including a foreign bank or company that owns
or controls a wholesale financial institution, may request a determination
from the Board that such bank or company be treated as a wholesale financial
holding company other than for purposes of subsection (c), subject to such
conditions as the Board considers appropriate, giving due regard to the
principle of national treatment and equality of competitive opportunity and
the requirements imposed on domestic banks and companies.
`(2) CONDITIONS FOR TREATMENT AS A WHOLESALE FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANY-
A foreign bank and a company that owns or controls a foreign bank may not be
treated as a wholesale financial holding company unless the bank and company
meet and continue to meet the following criteria:
`(A) NO INSURED DEPOSITS- No deposits held directly by a foreign bank
or through an affiliate (other than an institution described in
subparagraph (D) or (F) of section 2(c)(2)) are insured under the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act.
`(B) CAPITAL STANDARDS- The foreign bank meets risk-based capital
standards comparable to the capital standards required for a wholesale
financial institution, giving due regard to the principle of national
treatment and equality of competitive opportunity.
`(C) TRANSACTION WITH AFFILIATES- Transactions between a branch,
agency, or commercial lending company subsidiary of the foreign bank in
the United States, and any securities affiliate or company in which the
foreign bank (or any company that owns or controls such foreign bank) has
invested, directly or indirectly, and which engages in any activity
pursuant to subsection (c) or (g) of section 6, comply with the provisions
of sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act in the same manner and
to the same extent as such transactions would be required to comply with
such sections if the bank were a member bank.
`(3) TREATMENT AS A WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION- Any foreign bank
which is, or is affiliated with a company which is, treated as a wholesale
financial holding company under this subsection shall be treated as a
wholesale financial institution for purposes of subsections (c)(1)(C) and
(c)(3) of section 9B of the Federal Reserve Act, and any such foreign bank
or company shall be subject to paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of section 9B(d)
of the Federal Reserve Act, except that the Board may adopt such
modifications, conditions, or exemptions as the Board deems appropriate,
giving due regard to the principle of national treatment and equality of
competitive opportunity.
`(4) SUPERVISION OF FOREIGN BANK WHICH MAINTAINS NO BANKING PRESENCE
OTHER THAN CONTROL OF A WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION- A foreign bank that
owns or controls a wholesale financial institution but does not operate a
branch, agency, or commercial lending company in the United States (and any
company that owns or controls such foreign bank) may request a determination
from the Board that such bank or company be treated as a wholesale financial
holding company, except that such bank or company shall be subject to the
restrictions of paragraphs (2)(A) and (3) of this subsection.
`(5) NO EFFECT ON OTHER PROVISIONS- This section shall not be construed
as limiting the authority of the Board under the International Banking Act
of 1978 with respect to the regulation, supervision, or examination of
foreign banks and their offices and affiliates in the United States.
`(6) APPLICABILITY OF COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT OF 1977- The branches
in the United States of a foreign bank that is, or is affiliated with a
company that is, treated as a wholesale financial holding company shall be
subject to section 9B(b)(11) of the Federal Reserve Act as if the foreign
bank were a wholesale financial institution under such section. The Board
and the Comptroller of the Currency shall apply the provisions of sections
803(2), 804, and 807(1) of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 to
branches of foreign banks which receive only such deposits as are
permissible for receipt by a corporation organized under section 25A of the
Federal Reserve Act, in the same manner and to the same extent such sections
apply to such a corporation.'.
SEC. 132. AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE REPORTS.
(a) FEDERAL RESERVE ACT- The last sentence of the eighth undesignated
paragraph of section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 326) is amended
to read as follows: `The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, at
its discretion, may furnish reports of examination or other confidential
supervisory information concerning State member banks or any other entities
examined under any other authority of the Board to any Federal or State
authorities with supervisory or regulatory authority over the examined entity,
to officers, directors, or receivers of the examined entity, and to any other
person that the Board determines to be proper.'.
(b) COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION- The Right to Financial Privacy
Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 1101(7) of the (12 U.S.C. 3401(7))--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as subparagraphs (H)
and (I), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new
subparagraph:
`(G) the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; or'; and
(2) in section 1112(e), by striking `and the Securities and Exchange
Commission' and inserting `, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission'.
SEC. 133. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1956-
(1) DEFINITIONS- Section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12
U.S.C. 1841) is amended by inserting after subsection (p) (as added by
section 103(b)(1)) the following new subsections:
`(q) WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION- The term `wholesale financial
institution' means a wholesale financial institution subject to section 9B of
the Federal Reserve Act.
`(r) COMMISSION- The term `Commission' means the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
`(s) DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION- The term `depository institution'--
`(1) has the meaning given to such term in section 3 of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act; and
`(2) includes a wholesale financial institution.'.
(2) DEFINITION OF BANK INCLUDES WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION- Section
2(c)(1) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841(c)(1)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(C) A wholesale financial institution.'.
(3) INCORPORATED DEFINITIONS- Section 2(n) of the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841(n)) is amended by inserting `insured bank','
after `in danger of default','.
(4) EXCEPTION TO DEPOSIT INSURANCE REQUIREMENT- Section 3(e) of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1842(e)) is amended by adding at the
end the following: `This subsection shall not apply to a wholesale financial
institution.'.
(b) FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT- Section 3(q)(2)(A) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(q)(2)(A)) is amended to read as
follows:
`(A) any State member insured bank (except a District bank) and any
wholesale financial institution subject to section 9B of the Federal
Reserve Act;'.
CHAPTER 2--WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SEC. 136. WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
(a) NATIONAL WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS-
(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 1 of title LXII of the Revised Statutes of the
United States (12 U.S.C. 21 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
5136A (as added by section 121(a) of this title) the following new
section:
`SEC. 5136B. NATIONAL WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
`(a) AUTHORIZATION OF THE COMPTROLLER REQUIRED- A national bank may apply
to the Comptroller on such forms and in accordance with such regulations as
the Comptroller may prescribe, for permission to operate as a national
wholesale financial institution.
`(b) REGULATION- A national wholesale financial institution may exercise,
in accordance with such institution's articles of incorporation and
regulations issued by the Comptroller, all the powers and privileges of a
national bank formed in accordance with section 5133 of the Revised Statutes
of the United States, subject to section 9B of the Federal Reserve Act and the
limitations and restrictions contained therein.
`(c) COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT OF 1977- A national wholesale financial
institution shall be subject to the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections for chapter 1 of title
LXII of the Revised Statutes of the United States is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 5136A (as added by section 121(d) of this
title) the following new item:
`5136B. National wholesale financial institutions.'.
(b) WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS- The Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C.
221 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 9A the following new
section:
`SEC. 9B. WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
`(a) APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP AS WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION-
`(1) APPLICATION REQUIRED-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Any bank may apply to the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System to become a State wholesale financial institution,
or to the Comptroller of the Currency to become a national wholesale
financial institution, and, as a wholesale financial institution, to
subscribe to the stock of the Federal Reserve bank organized within the
district where the applying bank is located.
`(B) TREATMENT AS MEMBER BANK- Any application under subparagraph (A)
shall be treated as an application under, and shall be subject to the
provisions of, section 9.
`(2) INSURANCE TERMINATION- No bank the deposits of which are insured
under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act may become a wholesale financial
institution unless it has met all requirements under that Act for voluntary
termination of deposit insurance.
`(b) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO WHOLESALE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS-
`(1) FEDERAL RESERVE ACT- Except as otherwise provided in this section,
wholesale financial institutions shall be member banks and shall be subject
to the provisions of this Act that apply to member banks to the same extent
and in the same manner as State member insured banks or national banks,
except that a wholesale financial institution may terminate membership under
this Act only with the prior written approval of the Board and on terms and
conditions that the Board determines are appropriate to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
`(2) PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION- A wholesale financial institution shall
be deemed to be an insured depository institution for purposes of section 38
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act except that--
`(A) the relevant capital levels and capital measures for each capital
category shall be the levels specified by the Board for wholesale
financial institutions;
`(B) subject to subparagraph (A), all references to the appropriate
Federal banking agency or to the Corporation in that section shall be
deemed to be references to the Comptroller of the Currency, in the case of
a national wholesale financial institution, and to the Board, in the case
of all other wholesale financial institutions; and
`(C) in the case of wholesale financial institutions, the purpose of
prompt corrective action shall be to protect taxpayers and the financial
system from the risks associated with the operation and activities of
wholesale financial institutions.
`(3) ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY- Section 3(u), subsections (j) and (k) of
section 7, subsections (b) through (n), (s), (u), and (v) of section 8, and
section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act shall apply to a wholesale
financial institution in the same manner and to the same extent as such
provisions apply to State member insured banks or national banks, as the
case may be, and any reference in such sections to an insured depository
institution shall be deemed to include a reference to a wholesale financial
institution.
`(4) CERTAIN OTHER STATUTES APPLICABLE- A wholesale financial
institution shall be deemed to be a banking institution, and the Board shall
be the appropriate Federal banking agency for such bank and all such bank's
affiliates, for purposes of the International Lending Supervision Act.
`(5) BANK MERGER ACT- A wholesale financial institution shall be subject
to sections 18(c) and 44 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act in the same
manner and to the same extent the wholesale financial institution would be
subject to such sections if the institution were a State member insured bank
or a national bank.
`(6) BRANCHING- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a wholesale
financial institution may establish and operate a branch at any location on
such terms and conditions as established by, and with the approval
of--
`(A) the Board, in the case of a State-chartered wholesale financial
institution; and
`(B) the Comptroller of the Currency, in the case of a national bank
wholesale financial institution.
`(7) ACTIVITIES OF OUT-OF-STATE BRANCHES OF WHOLESALE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS- A State-chartered wholesale financial institution shall be
deemed to be a State bank and an insured State bank for purposes of
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 24(j) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act.
`(8) DISCRIMINATION REGARDING INTEREST RATES- Section 27 of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act shall apply to State-chartered wholesale financial
institutions in the same manner and to the same extent as such provisions
apply to State member insured banks and any reference in such section to a
State-chartered insured depository institution shall be deemed to include a
reference to a State-chartered wholesale financial institution.
`(9) PREEMPTION OF STATE LAWS REQUIRING DEPOSIT INSURANCE FOR WHOLESALE
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS- The appropriate State banking authority may grant a
charter to a wholesale financial institution notwithstanding any State
constitution or statute requiring that the institution obtain insurance of
its deposits and any such State constitution or statute is hereby preempted
solely for purposes of this paragraph.
`(10) PARITY FOR WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS- A State bank that is
a wholesale financial institution under this section shall have all of the
rights, powers, privileges, and immunities (including those derived from
status as a federally chartered institution) of and as if it were a national
bank, subject to such terms and conditions as established by the
Board.
`(11) COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT OF 1977- A State wholesale financial
institution shall be subject to the Community Reinvestment Act of
1977.
`(c) SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO WHOLESALE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS-
`(1) LIMITATIONS ON DEPOSITS-
`(i) IN GENERAL- No wholesale financial institution may receive
initial deposits of $100,000 or less, other than on an incidental and
occasional basis.
`(ii) LIMITATION ON DEPOSITS OF LESS THAN $100,000- No wholesale
financial institution may receive initial deposits of $100,000 or less
if such deposits constitute more than 5 percent of the institution's
total deposits.
`(B) NO DEPOSIT INSURANCE- Except as otherwise provided in section
8A(f) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, no deposits held by a
wholesale financial institution shall be insured deposits under the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
`(C) ADVERTISING AND DISCLOSURE- The Board and the Comptroller of the
Currency shall prescribe jointly regulations pertaining to advertising and
disclosure by wholesale financial institutions to ensure that each
depositor is notified that deposits at the wholesale financial institution
are not federally insured or otherwise guaranteed by the United States
Government.
`(2) MINIMUM CAPITAL LEVELS APPLICABLE TO WHOLESALE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS- The Board shall, by regulation, adopt capital requirements for
wholesale financial institutions--
`(A) to account for the status of wholesale financial institutions as
institutions that accept deposits that are not insured under the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act; and
`(B) to provide for the safe and sound operation of the wholesale
financial institution without undue risk to creditors or other persons,
including Federal Reserve banks, engaged in transactions with the
bank.
`(3) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO WHOLESALE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS- In addition to any requirement otherwise applicable to State
member insured banks or applicable, under this section, to wholesale
financial institutions, the Board may impose, by regulation or order, upon
wholesale financial institutions--
`(A) limitations on transactions, direct or indirect, with affiliates
to prevent--
`(i) the transfer of risk to the deposit insurance funds;
or
`(ii) an affiliate from gaining access to, or the benefits of,
credit from a Federal Reserve bank, including overdrafts at a Federal
Reserve bank;
`(B) special clearing balance requirements; and
`(C) any additional requirements that the Board determines to be
appropriate or necessary to--
`(i) promote the safety and soundness of the wholesale financial
institution or any insured depository institution affiliate of the
wholesale financial institution;
`(ii) prevent the transfer of risk to the deposit insurance funds;
or
`(iii) protect creditors and other persons, including Federal
Reserve banks, engaged in transactions with the wholesale financial
institution.
`(4) EXEMPTIONS FOR WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS- The Board may, by
regulation or order, exempt any wholesale financial institution from any
provision applicable to a member bank that is not a wholesale financial
institution, if the Board finds that such exemption is consistent
with--
`(A) the promotion of the safety and soundness of the wholesale
financial institution or any insured depository institution affiliate of
the wholesale financial institution;
`(B) the protection of the deposit insurance funds; and
`(C) the protection of creditors and other persons, including Federal
Reserve banks, engaged in transactions with the wholesale financial
institution.
`(5) LIMITATION ON TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN A WHOLESALE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION AND AN INSURED BANK- For purposes of section 23A(d)(1) of the
Federal Reserve Act, a wholesale financial institution that is affiliated
with an insured bank shall not be a bank.
`(6) NO EFFECT ON OTHER PROVISIONS- This section shall not be construed
as limiting the Board's authority over member banks or the authority of the
Comptroller of the Currency over national banks under any other provision of
law, or to create any obligation for any Federal Reserve bank to make,
increase, renew, or extend any advance or discount under this Act to any
member bank or other depository institution.
`(d) CAPITAL AND MANAGERIAL REQUIREMENTS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- A wholesale financial institution shall be well
capitalized and well managed.
`(2) NOTICE TO COMPANY- The Board shall promptly provide notice to a
company that controls a wholesale financial institution whenever such
wholesale financial institution is not well capitalized or well
managed.
`(3) AGREEMENT TO RESTORE INSTITUTION- Not later than 45 days after the
date of receipt of a notice under paragraph (2) (or such additional period
not to exceed 90 days as the Board may permit), the company shall execute an
agreement acceptable to the Board to restore the wholesale financial
institution to compliance with all of the requirements of paragraph
(1).
`(4) LIMITATIONS UNTIL INSTITUTION RESTORED- Until the wholesale
financial institution is restored to compliance with all of the requirements
of paragraph (1), the Board may impose such limitations on the conduct or
activities of the company or any affiliate of the company as the Board
determines to be appropriate under the circumstances.
`(5) FAILURE TO RESTORE- If the company does not execute and implement
an agreement in accordance with paragraph (3), comply with any limitation
imposed under paragraph (4), restore the wholesale financial institution to
well capitalized status not later than 180 days after the date of receipt by
the company of the notice described in paragraph (2), or restore the
wholesale financial institution to well managed status within such period as
the Board may permit, the company shall, under such terms and conditions as
may be imposed by the Board subject to such extension of time as may be
granted in the discretion of the Board, divest control of its subsidiary
depository institutions.
`(6) WELL MANAGED DEFINED- For purposes of this subsection, the term
`well managed' has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956.
`(e) RESOLUTION OF WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS-
`(1) CONSERVATORSHIP OR RECEIVERSHIP-
`(A) APPOINTMENT- The Board may appoint a conservator or receiver to
take possession and control of a wholesale financial institution to the
same extent and in the same manner as the Comptroller of the Currency may
appoint a conservator or receiver for a national bank.
`(B) POWERS- The conservator or receiver for a wholesale financial
institution shall exercise the same powers, functions, and duties, subject
to the same limitations, as a conservator or receiver for a national
bank.
`(2) BOARD AUTHORITY- The Board shall have the same authority with
respect to any conservator or receiver appointed under paragraph (1), and
the wholesale financial institution for which it has been appointed, as the
Comptroller of the Currency has with respect to a conservator or receiver
for a national bank and the national bank for which the conservator or
receiver has been appointed.
`(3) BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS- The Comptroller of the Currency (in the
case of a national wholesale financial institution) or the Board may direct
the conservator or receiver of a wholesale financial institution to file a
petition pursuant to title 11, United States Code, in which case, title 11,
United States Code, shall apply to the wholesale financial institution in
lieu of otherwise applicable Federal or State insolvency law.
`(f) BOARD BACKUP AUTHORITY-
`(1) NOTICE TO THE COMPTROLLER- Before taking any action under section 8
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act involving a wholesale financial
institution that is chartered as a national bank, the Board shall notify the
Comptroller and recommend that the Comptroller take appropriate action. If
the Comptroller fails to take the recommended action or to provide an
acceptable plan for addressing the concerns of the Board before the close of
the 30-day period beginning on the date of receipt of the formal
recommendation from the Board, the Board may take such action.
`(2) EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES- Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Board may
exercise its authority without regard to the time period set forth in
paragraph (1) where the Board finds that exigent circumstances exist and the
Board notifies the Comptroller of the Board's action and of the exigent
circumstances.
`(g) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION- Subsections (c) and (e) of section 43 of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act shall not apply to any wholesale financial
institution.'.
(c) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF INSURED STATUS BY CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS-
(1) SECTION 8 DESIGNATIONS- Section 8(a) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(a)) is amended--
(A) by striking paragraph (1); and
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (10) as paragraphs (1)
through (9), respectively.
(2) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF INSURED STATUS- The Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section
8 the following new section:
`SEC. 8A. VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF STATUS AS INSURED DEPOSITORY
INSTITUTION.
`(a) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subsection (b), an insured State
bank or a national bank may voluntarily terminate such bank's status as an
insured depository institution in accordance with regulations of the
Corporation if--
`(1) the bank provides written notice of the bank's intent to terminate
such insured status--
`(A) to the Corporation and the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, in the case of an insured State bank, or to the
Corporation and the Comptroller of the Currency, in the case of an insured
national bank authorized to operate as a wholesale financial institution,
not less than 6 months before the effective date of such termination;
and
`(B) to all depositors at such bank, not less than 6 months before the
effective date of the termination of such status; and
`(A) the deposit insurance fund of which such bank is a member equals
or exceeds the fund's designated reserve ratio as of the date the bank
provides a written notice under paragraph (1) and the Corporation
determines that the fund will equal or exceed the applicable designated
reserve ratio for the 2 semiannual assessment periods immediately
following such date; or
`(B) the Corporation and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, in the case of an insured State bank, or the Corporation and the
Comptroller of the Currency, in the case of an insured national bank
authorized to operate as a wholesale financial institution, has approved
the termination of the bank's insured status and the bank pays an exit fee
in accordance with subsection (e).
`(b) EXCEPTION- Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to--
`(1) an insured savings association; or
`(2) an insured branch that is required to be insured under subsection
(a) or (b) of section 6 of the International Banking Act of 1978.
`(c) ELIGIBILITY FOR INSURANCE TERMINATED- Any bank that voluntarily
elects to terminate the bank's insured status under subsection (a) shall not
be eligible for insurance on any deposits or any assistance authorized under
this Act after the period specified in subsection (f)(1).
`(d) INSTITUTION MUST BECOME WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION OR TERMINATE
DEPOSIT-TAKING ACTIVITIES- Any depository institution which voluntarily
terminates such institution's status as an insured depository institution
under this section may not, upon termination of insurance, accept any deposits
unless the institution is a wholesale financial institution subject to section
9B of the Federal Reserve Act.
`(1) IN GENERAL- Any bank that voluntarily terminates such bank's status
as an insured depository institution under this section shall pay an exit
fee in an amount that the Corporation determines is sufficient to account
for the institution's pro rata share of the amount (if any) which would be
required to restore the relevant deposit insurance fund to the fund's
designated reserve ratio as of the date the bank provides a written notice
under subsection (a)(1).
`(2) PROCEDURES- The Corporation shall prescribe, by regulation,
procedures for assessing any exit fee under this subsection.
`(f) TEMPORARY INSURANCE OF DEPOSITS INSURED AS OF TERMINATION-
`(1) TRANSITION PERIOD- The insured deposits of each depositor in a
State bank or a national bank on the effective date of the voluntary
termination of the bank's insured status, less all subsequent withdrawals
from any deposits of such depositor, shall continue to be insured for a
period of not less than 6 months and not more than 2 years, as determined by
the Corporation. During such period, no additions to any such deposits, and
no new deposits in the depository institution made after the effective date
of such termination shall be insured by the Corporation.
`(2) TEMPORARY ASSESSMENTS; OBLIGATIONS AND DUTIES- During the period
specified in paragraph (1) with respect to any bank, the bank shall continue
to pay assessments under section 7 as if the bank were an insured depository
institution. The bank shall, in all other respects, be subject to the
authority of the Corporation and the duties and obligations of an insured
depository institution under this Act during such period, and in the event
that the bank is closed due to an inability to meet the demands of the
bank's depositors during such period, the Corporation shall have the same
powers and rights with respect to such bank as in the case of an insured
depository institution.
`(1) IN GENERAL- A bank that voluntarily terminates the bank's insured
status under this section shall not advertise or hold itself out as having
insured deposits, except that the bank may advertise the temporary insurance
of deposits under subsection (f) if, in connection with any such
advertisement, the advertisement also states with equal prominence that
additions to deposits and new deposits made after the effective date of the
termination are not insured.
`(2) CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT, OBLIGATIONS, AND SECURITIES- Any
certificate of deposit or other obligation or security issued by a State
bank or a national bank after the effective date of the voluntary
termination of the bank's insured status under this section shall be
accompanied by a conspicuous, prominently displayed notice that such
certificate of deposit or other obligation or security is not insured under
this Act.
`(h) NOTICE REQUIREMENTS-
`(1) NOTICE TO THE CORPORATION- The notice required under subsection
(a)(1)(A) shall be in such form as the Corporation may require.
`(2) NOTICE TO DEPOSITORS- The notice required under subsection
(a)(1)(B) shall be--
`(A) sent to each depositor's last address of record with the bank;
and
`(B) in such manner and form as the Corporation finds to be necessary
and appropriate for the protection of depositors.'.
(3) DEFINITION- Section 19(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Federal Reserve Act (12
U.S.C. 461(b)(1)(A)(i)) is amended by inserting `, or any wholesale
financial institution subject to section 9B of this Act' after `such
Act'.
(d) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKRUPTCY CODE-
(1) BANKRUPTCY CODE DEBTORS- Section 109(b)(2) of title 11, United
States Code, is amended by striking `; or' and inserting the following: `,
except that--
`(A) a wholesale financial institution established under section 5136B
of the Revised Statutes of the United States or section 9B of the Federal
Reserve Act may be a debtor if a petition is filed at the direction of the
Comptroller of the Currency (in the case of a wholesale financial
institution established under section 5136B of the Revised Statutes of the
United States) or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (in
the case of any wholesale financial institution); and
`(B) a corporation organized under section 25A of the Federal Reserve
Act may be a debtor if a petition is filed at the direction of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; or'.
(2) CHAPTER 7 DEBTORS- Section 109(d) of title 11, United States Code,
is amended to read as follows:
`(d) Only a railroad and a person that may be a debtor under chapter 7 of
this title, except that a stockbroker, a wholesale financial institution
established under section 5136B of the Revised Statutes of the United States
or section 9B of the Federal Reserve Act, a corporation organized under
section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act, or a commodity broker, may be a debtor
under chapter 11 of this title.'.
(3) DEFINITION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION- Section 101(22) of title 11,
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
`(22) `financial institution' means a person that is a commercial or
savings bank, industrial savings bank, savings and loan association, trust
company, wholesale financial institution established under section 5136B of
the Revised Statutes of the United States or section 9B of the Federal
Reserve Act, or corporation organized under section 25A of the Federal
Reserve Act and, when any such person is acting as agent or custodian for a
customer in connection with a securities contract, as defined in section 741
of this title, such customer,'.
(4) SUBCHAPTER V OF CHAPTER 7-
(A) IN GENERAL- Section 103 of title 11, United States Code, is
amended--
(i) by redesignating subsections (e) through (i) as subsections (f)
through (j), respectively; and
(ii) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
`(e) Subchapter V of chapter 7 of this title applies only in a case under
such chapter concerning the liquidation of a wholesale financial institution
established under section 5136B of the Revised Statutes of the United States
or section 9B of the Federal Reserve Act, or a corporation organized under
section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act.'.
(B) WHOLESALE BANK LIQUIDATION- Chapter 7 of title 11, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SUBCHAPTER V--WHOLESALE BANK LIQUIDATION
`Sec. 781. Definitions for subchapter
`(1) the term `Board' means the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System;
`(2) the term `depository institution' has the same meaning as in
section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and includes any wholesale
bank;
`(3) the term `national wholesale financial institution' means a
wholesale financial institution established under section 5136B of the
Revised Statutes of the United States; and
`(4) the term `wholesale bank' means a national wholesale financial
institution, a wholesale financial institution established under section 9B
of the Federal Reserve Act, or a corporation organized under section 25A of
the Federal Reserve Act.
`Sec. 782. Selection of trustee
`(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the conservator or
receiver who files the petition shall be the trustee under this chapter,
unless the Comptroller of the Currency (in the case of a national wholesale
financial institution for which it appointed the conservator or receiver) or
the Board (in the case of any wholesale bank for which it appointed the
conservator or receiver) designates an alternative trustee. The Comptroller of
the Currency or the Board (as applicable) may designate a successor trustee,
if required.
`(b) Whenever the Comptroller of the Currency or the Board appoints or
designates a trustee, chapter 3 and sections 704 and 705 of this title shall
apply to the Comptroller or the Board, as applicable, in the same way and to
the same extent that they apply to a United States trustee.
`Sec. 783. Additional powers of trustee
`(a) The trustee under this subchapter has power to distribute property
not of the estate, including distributions to customers that are mandated by
subchapters III and Iv of this chapter.
`(b) The trustee under this subchapter may, after notice and a
hearing--
`(1) sell the wholesale bank to a depository institution or consortium
of depository institutions (which consortium may agree on the allocation of
the wholesale bank among the consortium);
`(2) merge the wholesale bank with a depository institution;
`(3) transfer contracts to the same extent as could a receiver for a
depository institution under paragraphs (9) and (10) of section 11(e) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
`(4) transfer assets or liabilities to a depository institution;
`(5) transfer assets and liabilities to a bridge bank as provided in
paragraphs (1), (3)(A), (5), (6), and (9) through (13), and subparagraphs
(A) through (H) and (K) of paragraph (4) of section 11(n) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, except that--
`(A) the bridge bank shall be treated as a wholesale bank for the
purpose of this subsection; and
`(B) any references in any such provision of law to the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation shall be construed to be references to the
appointing agency and that references to deposit insurance shall be
omitted.
`(c) Any reference in this section to transfers of liabilities includes a
ratable transfer of liabilities within a priority class.
`Sec. 784. Right to be heard
`The Comptroller of the Currency (in the case of a national wholesale
financial institution), the Board (in the case of any wholesale bank), or a
Federal Reserve bank (in the case of a wholesale bank that is a member of that
bank) may raise and may appear and be heard on any issue in a case under this
subchapter.
(C) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- The table of sections for chapter 7 of title
11, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`SUBCHAPTER V--WHOLESALE BANK LIQUIDATION
`781. Definitions for subchapter.
`782. Selection of trustee.
`783. Additional powers of trustee.
`784. Right to be heard.'.
(e) RESOLUTION OF EDGE CORPORATIONS- The sixteenth undesignated paragraph
of section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 624) is amended to read
as follows:
`(16) APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER OR CONSERVATOR-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The Board may appoint a conservator or receiver for a
corporation organized under the provisions of this section to the same
extent and in the same manner as the Comptroller of the Currency may
appoint a conservator or receiver for a national bank, and the conservator
or receiver for such corporation shall exercise the same powers,
functions, and duties, subject to the same limitations, as a conservator
or receiver for a national bank.
`(B) EQUIVALENT AUTHORITY- The Board shall have the same authority
with respect to any conservator or receiver appointed for a corporation
organized under the provisions of this section under this paragraph and
any such corporation as the Comptroller of the Currency has with respect
to a conservator or receiver of a national bank and the national bank for
which a conservator or receiver has been appointed.
`(C) TITLE 11 PETITIONS- The Board may direct the conservator or
receiver of a corporation organized under the provisions of this section
to file a petition pursuant to title 11, United States Code, in which
case, title 11, United States Code, shall apply to the corporation in lieu
of otherwise applicable Federal or State insolvency law.'.
Subtitle E--Preservation of FTC Authority
SEC. 141. AMENDMENT TO THE BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1956 TO MODIFY
NOTIFICATION AND POST-APPROVAL WAITING PERIOD FOR SECTION 3 TRANSACTIONS.
Section 11(b)(1) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C.
1849(b)(1)) is amended by inserting `and, if the transaction also involves an
acquisition under section 4 or section 6, the Board shall also notify the
Federal Trade Commission of such approval' before the period at the end of the
first sentence.
SEC. 142. INTERAGENCY DATA SHARING.
To the extent not prohibited by other law, the Comptroller of the
Currency, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System shall make available to the Attorney General and the Federal
Trade Commission any data in the possession of any such banking agency that
the antitrust agency deems necessary for antitrust review of any transaction
requiring notice to any such antitrust agency or the approval of such agency
under section 3, 4, or 6 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, section
18(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the National Bank Consolidation
and Merger Act, section 10 of the Home Owners' Loan Act, or the antitrust
laws.
SEC. 143. CLARIFICATION OF STATUS OF SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES.
(a) CLARIFICATION OF FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION JURISDICTION- Any person
which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled directly or indirectly
by, or is directly or indirectly under common control with, any bank or
savings association (as such terms are defined in section 3 of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act) and is not itself a bank or savings association shall
not be deemed to be a bank or savings association for purposes of the Federal
Trade Commission Act or any other law enforced by the Federal Trade
Commission.
(b) SAVINGS PROVISION- No provision of this section shall be construed as
restricting the authority of any Federal banking agency (as defined in section
3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) under any Federal banking law,
including section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
(c) HART-SCOTT-RODINO AMENDMENTS-
(1) BANKS- Section 7A(c)(7) of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a(c)(7)) is
amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: `,
except that a portion of a transaction is not exempt under this paragraph if
such portion of the transaction (A) is subject to section 6 of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956; and (B) does not require agency approval under
section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956'.
(2) BANK HOLDING COMPANIES- Section 7A(c)(8) of the Clayton Act (15
U.S.C. 18a(c)(8)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end
the following: `, except that a portion of a transaction is not exempt under
this paragraph if such portion of the transaction (A) is subject to section
6 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956; and (B) does not require agency
approval under section 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956'.
SEC. 144. ANNUAL GAO REPORT.
(a) IN GENERAL- By the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Comptroller General of
the United States shall submit a report to the Congress on market
concentration in the financial services industry and its impact on
consumers.
(b) ANALYSIS- Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall contain an
analysis of--
(1) the positive and negative effects of affiliations between various
types of financial companies, and of acquisitions pursuant to this Act and
the amendments made by this Act to other provisions of law, including any
positive or negative effects on consumers, area markets, and submarkets
thereof or on registered securities brokers and dealers which have been
purchased by depository institutions or depository institution holding
companies;
(2) the changes in business practices and the effects of any such
changes on the availability of venture capital, consumer credit, and other
financial services or products and the availability of capital and credit
for small businesses; and
(3) the acquisition patterns among depository institutions, depository
institution holding companies, securities firms, and insurance companies
including acquisitions among the largest 20 percent of firms and
acquisitions within regions or other limited geographical areas.
(c) SUNSET- This section shall not apply after the end of the 5-year
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Subtitle F--National Treatment
SEC. 151. FOREIGN BANKS THAT ARE FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANIES.
Section 8(c) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3106(c))
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(3) TERMINATION OF GRANDFATHERED RIGHTS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- If any foreign bank or foreign company files a
declaration under section 6(b)(1)(D) or receives a determination under
section 10(d)(1) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, any authority
conferred by this subsection on any foreign bank or company to engage in
any activity which the Board has determined to be permissible for
financial holding companies under section 6 of such Act shall terminate
immediately.
`(B) RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS AUTHORIZED- If a foreign bank or
company that engages, directly or through an affiliate pursuant to
paragraph (1), in an activity which the Board has determined to be
permissible for financial holding companies under section 6 of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956 has not filed a declaration with the Board of
its status as a financial holding company under such section or received a
determination under section 10(d)(1) by the end of the 2-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of the Financial Services Act of
1999, the Board, giving due regard to the principle of national treatment
and equality of competitive opportunity, may impose such restrictions and
requirements on the conduct of such activities by such foreign bank or
company as are comparable to those imposed on a financial holding company
organized under the laws of the United States, including a requirement to
conduct such activities in compliance with any prudential safeguards
established under section 114 of the Financial Services Act.'.
SEC. 152. FOREIGN BANKS AND FOREIGN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE
WHOLESALE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
Section 8A of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (as added by section
136(c)(2) of this Act) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
`(i) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF DEPOSIT INSURANCE- The provisions on
voluntary termination of insurance in this section shall apply to an insured
branch of a foreign bank (including a Federal branch) in the same manner and
to the same extent as they apply to an insured State bank or a national
bank.'.
SEC. 153. REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES.
(a) DEFINITION OF `REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE'- Section 1(b)(15) of the
International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3101(15)) is amended by striking
`State agency, or subsidiary of a foreign bank' and inserting `or State
agency'.
(b) EXAMINATIONS- Section 10(c) of the International Banking Act of 1978
(12 U.S.C. 3107(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: `The Board
may also make examinations of any affiliate of a foreign bank conducting
business in any State if the Board deems it necessary to determine and enforce
compliance with this Act, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841
et seq.), or other applicable Federal banking law.'.
SEC. 154. RECIPROCITY.
(a) NATIONAL TREATMENT REPORTS-
(1) REPORT REQUIRED IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN ACQUISITIONS-
(A) IN GENERAL- Whenever a person from a foreign country announces its
intention to acquire or acquires a bank, a securities underwriter, broker,
or dealer, an investment adviser, or insurance company that ranks within
the top 50 firms in that line of business in the United States, the
Secretary of Commerce, in the case of an insurance company, or the
Secretary of the Treasury, in the case of a bank, a securities
underwriter, broker, or dealer, or an investment adviser, shall, within
the earlier of 6 months of such announcement or such acquisition and in
consultation with other appropriate Federal and State agencies, prepare
and submit to the Congress a report on whether a United States person
would be able, de facto or de jure, to acquire an equivalent sized firm in
the country in which such person from a foreign country is
located.
(B) ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS- If a report submitted under
subparagraph (A) states that the equivalent treatment referred to in such
subparagraph, de facto and de jure, is not provided in the country which
is the subject of the report, the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary
of the Treasury, as the case may be and in consultation with other
appropriate Federal and State agencies, shall include in the report
analysis and recommendations as to how that country's laws and regulations
would need to be changed so that reciprocal treatment would
exist.
(2) REPORT REQUIRED BEFORE FINANCIAL SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS COMMENCE- The
Secretary of Commerce, with respect to insurance companies, and the
Secretary of the Treasury, with respect to banks, securities underwriters,
brokers, dealers, and investment advisers, shall, not less than 6 months
before the commencement of the financial services negotiations of the World
Trade Organization and in consultation with other appropriate Federal and
State agencies, prepare and submit to the Congress a report
containing--
(A) an assessment of the 30 largest financial services markets with
regard to whether reciprocal access is available in such markets to United
States financial services providers; and
(B) with respect to any such financial services markets in which
reciprocal access is not available to United States financial services
providers, an analysis and recommendations as to what legislative,
regulatory, or enforcement changes would be required to ensure full
reciprocity for such providers.
(3) PERSON OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY DEFINED- For purposes of this
subsection, the term `person of a foreign country' means a person, or a
person which directly or indirectly owns or controls that person, that is a
resident of that country, is organized under the laws of that country, or
has its principal place of business in that country.
(b) PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO SUBMISSIONS-
(1) NOTICE- Before preparing any report required under subsection (a),
the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Treasury, as the case may
be, shall publish notice that a report is in preparation and seek comment
from United States persons.
(2) PRIVILEGED SUBMISSIONS- Upon the request of the submitting person,
any comments or related communications received by the Secretary of Commerce
or the Secretary of the Treasury, as the case may be, with regard to the
report shall, for the purposes of section 552 of title 5, of the United
States Code, be treated as commercial information obtained from a person
that is privileged or confidential, regardless of the medium in which the
information is obtained. This confidential information shall be the property
of the Secretary and shall be privileged from disclosure to any other
person. However, this privilege shall not be construed as preventing access
to that confidential information by the Congress.
(3) PROHIBITION OF UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURES- No person in possession of
confidential information, provided under this section may disclose that
information, in whole or in part, except for disclosure made in published
statistical material that does not disclose, either directly or when used in
conjunction with publicly available information, the confidential
information of any person.
Subtitle G--Federal Home Loan Bank System Modernization
SEC. 161. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the `Federal Home Loan Bank System
Modernization Act of 1999'.
SEC. 162. DEFINITIONS.
Section 2 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1422) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking `term `Board' means' and inserting
`terms `Finance Board' and `Board' mean';
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
`(3) STATE- The term `State', in addition to the States of the United
States, includes the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the United
States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands.'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(13) COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `community financial institution' means a
member--
`(i) the deposits of which are insured under the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act; and
`(ii) that has, as of the date of the transaction at issue, less
than $500,000,000 in average total assets, based on an average of total
assets over the 3 years preceding that date.
`(B) ADJUSTMENTS- The $500,000,000 limit referred to in subparagraph
(A)(ii) shall be adjusted annually by the Finance Board, based on the
annual percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for all
urban consumers, as published by the Department of Labor.'.
SEC. 163. SAVINGS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP.
Section 5(f) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1464(f)) is amended
to read as follows:
`(f) FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK MEMBERSHIP- On and after January 1, 1999, a
Federal savings association may become a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank
System, and shall qualify for such membership in the manner provided by the
Federal Home Loan Bank Act.'.
SEC. 164. ADVANCES TO MEMBERS; COLLATERAL.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 10(a) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C.
1430(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A)
through (D), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
(2) by striking `(a) Each' and inserting the following:
`(1) ALL ADVANCES- Each';
(3) by striking the second sentence and inserting the following:
`(2) PURPOSES OF ADVANCES- A long-term advance may only be made for the
purposes of--
`(A) providing funds to any member for residential housing finance;
and
`(B) providing funds to any community financial institution for small
business, agricultural, rural development, or low-income community
development lending.';
(4) by striking `A Bank' and inserting the following:
`(3) COLLATERAL- A Bank';
(5) in paragraph (3) (as so designated by paragraph (4) of this
subsection)--
(A) in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this
subsection) by striking `Deposits' and inserting `Cash or
deposits';
(B) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated by paragraph (1) of this
subsection), by striking the second sentence; and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated by
paragraph (1) of this subsection) the following new subparagraph:
`(E) Secured loans for small business, agriculture, rural development,
or low-income community development, or securities representing a whole
interest in such secured loans, in the case of any community financial
institution.';
(A) in the second sentence, by striking `and the Board';
(B) in the third sentence, by striking `Board' and inserting `Federal
home loan bank'; and
(C) by striking `(5) Paragraphs (1) through (4)' and inserting the
following:
`(4) ADDITIONAL BANK AUTHORITY- Subparagraphs (A) through (E) of
paragraph (3)'; and
(7) by adding at the end the following:
`(5) REVIEW OF CERTAIN COLLATERAL STANDARDS- The Board may review the
collateral standards applicable to each Federal home loan bank for the
classes of collateral described in subparagraphs (D) and (E) of paragraph
(3), and may, if necessary for safety and soundness purposes, require an
increase in the collateral standards for any or all of those classes of
collateral.
`(6) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this subsection, the terms `small
business', `agriculture', `rural development', and `low-income community
development' shall have the meanings given those terms by rule or regulation
of the Finance Board.'.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The section heading for section 10 of the Federal
Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1430) is amended to read as follows:
`SEC. 10. ADVANCES TO MEMBERS.'.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO MEMBERS WHICH ARE NOT QUALIFIED
THRIFT LENDERS--The first of the 2 subsections designated as subsection (e) of
section 10 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1430(e)(1)) is
amended--
(1) in the last sentence of paragraph (1), by inserting `or, in the case
of any community financial institution, for the purposes described in
subsection (a)(2)' before the period; and
(2) in paragraph (5)(C), by inserting `except that, in determining the
actual thrift investment percentage of any community financial institution
for purposes of this subsection, the total investment of such member in
loans for small business, agriculture, rural development, or low-income
community development, or securities representing a whole interest in such
loans, shall be treated as a qualified thrift investment (as defined in such
section 10(m))' before the period.
SEC. 165. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.
Section 4(a) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1424(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting, `(other than a community
financial institution)' after `institution'; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(3) LIMITED EXEMPTION FOR COMMUNITY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS- A community
financial institution that otherwise meets the requirements of paragraph (2)
may become a member without regard to the percentage of its total assets
that is represented by residential mortgage loans, as described in
subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2).'.
SEC. 166. MANAGEMENT OF BANKS.
(a) BOARD OF DIRECTORS- Section 7(d) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12
U.S.C. 1427(d)) is amended--
(1) by striking `(d) The term' and inserting the following:
`(d) TERMS OF OFFICE- The term'; and
(2) by striking `shall be two years'.
(b) COMPENSATION- Section 7(i) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12
U.S.C. 1427(i)) is amended by striking `, subject to the approval of the
board'.
(c) REPEAL OF SECTIONS 22A AND 27- The Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12
U.S.C. 1421 et seq.) is amended by striking sections 22A (12 U.S.C. 1442a) and
27 (12 U.S.C. 1447).
(d) SECTION 12- Section 12 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C.
1432) is amended--
(A) by striking `, but, except' and all that follows through `ten
years';
(B) by striking `subject to the approval of the Board' the first place
that term appears;
(C) by striking `and, by its Board of directors,' and all that follows
through `agent of such bank,' and inserting `and, by the board of
directors of the bank, to prescribe, amend, and repeal by-laws governing
the manner in which its affairs may be administered, consistent with
applicable laws and regulations, as administered by the Finance Board. No
officer, employee, attorney, or agent of a Federal home loan bank';
and
(D) by striking `Board of directors' where such term appears in the
penultimate sentence and inserting `board of directors'; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking `loans banks' and inserting `loan
banks'.
(e) POWERS AND DUTIES OF FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD-
(1) ISSUANCE OF NOTICES OF VIOLATIONS- Section 2B(a) of the Federal Home
Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1422b(a)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraphs:
`(5) To issue and serve a notice of charges upon a Federal home loan
bank or upon any executive officer or director of a Federal home loan bank
if, in the determination of the Finance Board, the bank, executive officer,
or director is engaging or has engaged in, or the Finance Board has
reasonable cause to believe that the bank, executive officer, or director is
about to engage in, any conduct that violates any provision of this Act or
any law, order, rule, or regulation or any condition imposed in writing by
the Finance Board in connection with the granting of any application or
other request by the bank, or any written agreement entered into by the bank
with the agency, in accordance with the procedures provided in section
1371(c) of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness
Act of 1992. Such authority includes the same authority to take affirmative
action to correct conditions resulting from violations or practices or to
limit activities of a bank or any executive officer or director of a bank as
appropriate Federal banking agencies have to take with respect to insured
depository institutions under paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 8(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and to have all other powers, rights, and
duties to enforce this Act with respect to the Federal home loan banks and
their executive officers and directors as the Office of Federal Housing
Enterprise Oversight has to enforce the Federal Housing Enterprises
Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992, the Federal National Mortgage
Association Charter Act, or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act
with respect to the Federal housing enterprises under the Federal Housing
Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992.
`(6) To address any insufficiencies in capital levels resulting from the
application of section 5(f) of the Home Owners' Loan Act.
`(7) To sue and be sued, by and through its own attorneys.'.
(2) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT- Section 111 of Public Law 93-495 (12 U.S.C.
250) is amended by striking `Federal Home Loan Bank Board,' and inserting
`Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, `the Federal Housing Finance
Board,'.
(f) ELIGIBILITY TO SECURE ADVANCES-
(1) SECTION 9- Section 9 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C.
1429) is amended--
(A) in the second sentence, by striking `with the approval of the
Board'; and
(B) in the third sentence, by striking `, subject to the approval of
the Board,'.
(2) SECTION 10- Section 10 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C.
1430) is amended--
(i) in the first sentence, by striking `Board' and inserting
`Federal home loan bank'; and
(ii) by striking the second sentence;
(i) in the first sentence, by striking `and the approval of the
Board'; and
(ii) by striking `Subject to the approval of the Board, any' and
inserting `Any'; and
(C) in subsection (j)(1)--
(i) by striking `to subsidize the interest rate on advances' and
inserting `to provide subsidies, including subsidized interest rates on
advances';
(ii) by striking `Pursuant' and inserting the following:
`(A) ESTABLISHMENT- Pursuant'; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
`(B) NONDELEGATION OF APPROVAL AUTHORITY- Subject to such regulations
as the Finance Board may prescribe, the board of directors of each Federal
home loan bank may approve or disapprove requests from members for
Affordable Housing Program subsidies, and may not delegate such
authority.'.
(g) SECTION 16- Section 16(a) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C.
1436(a)) is amended--
(1) in the third sentence--
(A) by striking `net earnings' and inserting `previously retained
earnings or current net earnings'; and
(B) by striking `, and then only with the approval of the Federal
Housing Finance Board'; and
(2) by striking the fourth sentence.
(h) SECTION 18- Section 18(b) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C.
1438(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (4).
SEC. 167. RESOLUTION FUNDING CORPORATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 21B(f)(2)(C) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12
U.S.C. 1441b(f)(2)(C)) is amended to read as follows:
`(C) PAYMENTS BY FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANKS-
`(i) IN GENERAL- To the extent that the amounts available pursuant
to subparagraphs (A) and (B) are insufficient to cover the amount of
interest payments, each Federal home loan bank shall pay to the Funding
Corporation in each calendar year, 20.75 percent of the net earnings of
that bank (after deducting expenses relating to section 10(j) and
operating expenses).
`(ii) ANNUAL DETERMINATION- The Board annually shall determine the
extent to which the value of the aggregate amounts paid by the Federal
home loan banks exceeds or falls short of the value of an annuity of
$300,000,000 per year that commences on the issuance date and ends on
the final scheduled maturity date of the obligations, and shall select
appropriate present value factors for making such
determinations.
`(iii) PAYMENT TERM ALTERATIONS- The Board shall extend or shorten
the term of the payment obligations of a Federal home loan bank under
this subparagraph as necessary to ensure that the value of all payments
made by the banks is equivalent to the value of an annuity referred to
in clause (ii).
`(iv) TERM BEYOND MATURITY- If the Board extends the term of
payments beyond the final scheduled maturity date for the obligations,
each Federal home loan bank shall continue to pay 20.75 percent of its
net earnings (after deducting expenses relating to section 10(j) and
operating expenses) to the Treasury of the United States until the value
of all such payments by the Federal home loan banks is equivalent to the
value of an annuity referred to in clause (ii). In the final year in
which the Federal home loan banks are required to make any payment to
the Treasury under this subparagraph, if the dollar amount represented
by 20.75 percent of the net earnings of the Federal home loan banks
exceeds the remaining obligation of the banks to the Treasury, the
Finance Board shall reduce the percentage pro rata to a level sufficient
to pay the remaining obligation.'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall become
effective on January 1, 1999. Payments made by a Federal home loan bank before
that effective date shall be counted toward the total obligation of that bank
under section 21B(f)(2)(C) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, as amended by
this section.
SEC. 168. CAPITAL STRUCTURE OF FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANKS.
Section 6 of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1426) is amended to
read as follows:
`SEC. 6. CAPITAL STRUCTURE OF FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANKS.
`(1) CAPITAL STANDARDS- Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999, the Finance Board shall
issue regulations prescribing uniform capital standards applicable to each
Federal home loan bank, which shall require each such bank to meet--
`(A) the leverage requirement specified in paragraph (2); and
`(B) the risk-based capital requirements, in accordance with paragraph
(3).
`(2) LEVERAGE REQUIREMENT-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The leverage requirement shall require each Federal
home loan bank to maintain a minimum amount of total capital based on the
aggregate on-balance sheet assets of the bank and shall be 5
percent.
`(B) TREATMENT OF STOCK AND RETAINED EARNINGS- In determining
compliance with the minimum leverage ratio established under subparagraph
(A), the paid-in value of the outstanding Class B stock shall be
multiplied by 1.5, the paid-in value of the outstanding Class C stock and
the amount of retained earnings shall be multiplied by 2.0, and such
higher amounts shall be deemed to be capital for purposes of meeting the 5
percent minimum leverage ratio.
`(3) RISK-BASED CAPITAL STANDARDS-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Each Federal home loan bank shall maintain permanent
capital in an amount that is sufficient, as determined in accordance with
the regulations of the Finance Board, to meet--
`(i) the credit risk to which the Federal home loan bank is subject;
and
`(ii) the market risk, including interest rate risk, to which the
Federal home loan bank is subject, based on a stress test established by
the Finance Board that rigorously tests for changes in market variables,
including changes in interest rates, rate volatility, and changes in the
shape of the yield curve.
`(B) CONSIDERATION OF OTHER RISK-BASED STANDARDS- In establishing the
risk-based standard under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Finance Board shall
take due consideration of any risk-based capital test established pursuant
to section 1361 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and
Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4611) for the enterprises (as defined in
that Act), with such modifications as the Finance Board determines to be
appropriate to reflect differences in operations between the Federal home
loan banks and those enterprises.
`(4) OTHER REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS- The regulations issued by the
Finance Board under paragraph (1) shall--
`(A) permit each Federal home loan bank to issue, with such rights,
terms, and preferences, not inconsistent with this Act and the regulations
issued hereunder, as the board of directors of that bank may approve, any
one or more of--
`(i) Class A stock, which shall be redeemable in cash and at par 6
months following submission by a member of a written notice of its
intent to redeem such shares;
`(ii) Class B stock, which shall be redeemable in cash and at par 5
years following submission by a member of a written notice of its intent
to redeem such shares; and
`(iii) Class C stock, which shall be nonredeemable;
`(B) provide that the stock of a Federal home loan bank may be issued
to and held by only members of the bank, and that a bank may not issue any
stock other than as provided in this section;
`(C) prescribe the manner in which stock of a Federal home loan bank
may be sold, transferred, redeemed, or repurchased; and
`(D) provide the manner of disposition of outstanding stock held by,
and the liquidation of any claims of the Federal home loan bank against,
an institution that ceases to be a member of the bank, through merger or
otherwise, or that provides notice of intention to withdraw from
membership in the bank.
`(5) DEFINITIONS OF CAPITAL- For purposes of determining compliance with
the capital standards established under this subsection--
`(A) permanent capital of a Federal home loan bank shall include (as
determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles)--
`(i) the amounts paid for the Class C stock and any other
nonredeemable stock approved by the Finance Board;
`(ii) the amounts paid for the Class B stock, in an amount not to
exceed 1 percent of the total assets of the bank; and
`(iii) the retained earnings of the bank; and
`(B) total capital of a Federal home loan bank shall
include--
`(ii) the amounts paid for the Class A stock, Class B stock
(excluding any amount treated as permanent capital under subparagraph
(5)(A)(ii)), or any other class of redeemable stock approved by the
Finance Board;
`(iii) consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, and
subject to the regulation of the Finance Board, a general allowance for
losses, which may not include any reserves or allowances made or held
against specific assets; and
`(iv) any other amounts from sources available to absorb losses
incurred by the bank that the Finance Board determines by regulation to
be appropriate to include in determining total capital.
`(6) TRANSITION PERIOD- Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Act, the requirements relating to purchase and retention of capital stock of
a Federal home loan bank by any member thereof in effect on the day before
the date of the enactment of the Federal Home Loan Bank System Modernization
Act of 1999, shall continue in effect with respect to each Federal home loan
bank until the regulations required by this subsection have taken effect and
the capital structure plan required by subsection (b) has been approved by
the Finance Board and implemented by such bank.
`(b) CAPITAL STRUCTURE PLAN-
`(1) APPROVAL OF PLANS- Not later than 270 days after the date of
publication by the Finance Board of final regulations in accordance with
subsection (a), the board of directors of each Federal home loan bank shall
submit for Finance Board approval a plan establishing and implementing a
capital structure for such bank that--
`(A) the board of directors determines is best suited for the
condition and operation of the bank and the interests of the members of
the bank;
`(B) meets the requirements of subsection (c); and
`(C) meets the minimum capital standards and requirements established
under subsection (a) and other regulations prescribed by the Finance
Board.
`(2) APPROVAL OF MODIFICATIONS- The board of directors of a Federal home
loan bank shall submit to the Finance Board for approval any modifications
that the bank proposes to make to an approved capital structure plan.
`(c) CONTENTS OF PLAN- The capital structure plan of each Federal home
loan bank shall contain provisions addressing each of the following:
`(A) IN GENERAL- Each capital structure plan of a Federal home loan
bank shall require each member of the bank to maintain a minimum
investment in the stock of the bank, the amount of which shall be
determined in a manner to be prescribed by the board of directors of each
bank and to be included as part of the plan.
`(B) INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES-
`(i) IN GENERAL- In establishing the minimum investment required for
each member under subparagraph (A), a Federal home loan bank may, in its
discretion, include any one or more of the requirements referred to in
clause (ii), or any other provisions approved by the Finance
Board.
`(ii) AUTHORIZED REQUIREMENTS- A requirement is referred to in this
clause if it is a requirement for--
`(I) a stock purchase based on a percentage of the total assets of
a member; or
`(II) a stock purchase based on a percentage of the outstanding
advances from the bank to the member.
`(C) MINIMUM AMOUNT- Each capital structure plan of a Federal home
loan bank shall require that the minimum stock investment established for
members shall be set at a level that is sufficient for the bank to meet
the minimum capital requirements established by the Finance Board under
subsection (a).
`(D) ADJUSTMENTS TO MINIMUM REQUIRED INVESTMENT- The capital structure
plan of each Federal home loan bank shall impose a continuing obligation
on the board of directors of the bank to review and adjust the minimum
investment required of each member of that bank, as necessary to ensure
that the bank remains in compliance with applicable minimum capital levels
established by the Finance Board, and shall require each member to comply
promptly with any adjustments to the required minimum investment.
`(A) IN GENERAL- The capital structure plan of each Federal home loan
bank shall specify the date on which it shall take effect, and may provide
for a transition period of not longer than 3 years to allow the bank to
come into compliance with the capital requirements prescribed under
subsection (a), and to allow any institution that was a member of the bank
on the date of the enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999, to
come into compliance with the minimum investment required pursuant to the
plan.
`(B) INTERIM PURCHASE REQUIREMENTS- The capital structure plan of a
Federal home loan bank may allow any member referred to in subparagraph
(A) that would be required by the terms of the capital structure plan to
increase its investment in the stock of the bank to do so in periodic
installments during the transition period.
`(3) DISPOSITION OF SHARES- The capital structure plan of a Federal home
loan bank shall provide for the manner of disposition of any stock held by a
member of that bank that terminates its membership or that provides notice
of its intention to withdraw from membership in that bank.
`(A) IN GENERAL- The capital structure plan of a Federal home loan
bank shall afford each member of that bank the option of maintaining its
required investment in the bank through the purchase of any combination of
classes of stock authorized by the board of directors of the bank and
approved by the Finance Board in accordance with its regulations.
`(B) RIGHTS REQUIREMENT- A Federal home loan bank shall include in its
capital structure plan provisions establishing terms, rights, and
preferences, including minimum investment, dividends, voting, and
liquidation preferences of each class of stock issued by the bank,
consistent with Finance Board regulations and market
requirements.
`(C) REDUCED MINIMUM INVESTMENT- The capital structure plan of a
Federal home loan bank may provide for a reduced minimum stock investment
for any member of that bank that elects to purchase Class B, Class C, or
any other class of nonredeemable stock, in a manner that is consistent
with meeting the minimum capital requirements of the bank, as established
by the Finance Board.
`(D) LIQUIDATION OF CLAIMS- The capital structure plan of a Federal
home loan bank shall provide for the liquidation in an orderly manner, as
determined by the bank, of any claim of that bank against a member,
including claims for any applicable prepayment fees or penalties resulting
from prepayment of advances prior to stated maturity.
`(5) LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY OF STOCK- The capital structure plan of a
Federal home loan bank shall--
`(i) any stock issued by that bank shall be available only to, held
only by, and tradable only among members of that bank and between that
bank and its members; and
`(ii) a bank has no obligation to repurchase its outstanding Class C
stock but may do so, provided it is consistent with Finance Board
regulations and is at a price that is mutually agreeable to the bank and
the member; and
`(B) establish standards, criteria, and requirements for the issuance,
purchase, transfer, retirement, and redemption of stock issued by that
bank.
`(6) BANK REVIEW OF PLAN- Before filing a capital structure plan with
the Finance Board, each Federal home loan bank shall conduct a review of the
plan by--
`(A) an independent certified public accountant, to ensure, to the
extent possible, that implementation of the plan would not result in any
write-down of the redeemable bank stock investment of its members;
and
`(B) at least one major credit rating agency, to determine, to the
extent possible, whether implementation of the plan would have any
material effect on the credit ratings of the bank.
`(d) TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP-
`(1) VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL- Any member may withdraw from a Federal home
loan bank by providing written notice to the bank of its intent to do so.
The applicable stock redemption notice periods shall commence upon receipt
of the notice by the bank. Upon the expiration of the applicable notice
period for each class of redeemable stock, the member may surrender such
stock to the bank, and shall be entitled to receive in cash the par value of
the stock. During the applicable notice periods, the member shall be
entitled to dividends and other membership rights commensurate with
continuing stock ownership.
`(2) INVOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The board of directors of a Federal home loan bank
may terminate the membership of any institution if, subject to Finance
Board regulations, it determines that--
`(i) the member has failed to comply with a provision of this Act or
any regulation prescribed under this Act; or
`(ii) the member has been determined to be insolvent, or otherwise
subject to the appointment of a conservator, receiver, or other legal
custodian, by a State or Federal authority with regulatory and
supervisory responsibility for the member.
`(B) STOCK DISPOSITION- An institution, the membership of which is
terminated in accordance with subparagraph (A)--
`(i) shall surrender redeemable stock to the Federal home loan bank,
and shall receive in cash the par value of the stock, upon the
expiration of the applicable notice period under subsection
(a)(4)(A);
`(ii) shall receive any dividends declared on its redeemable stock,
during the applicable notice period under subsection (a)(4)(A);
and
`(iii) shall not be entitled to any other rights or privileges
accorded to members after the date of the termination.
`(C) COMMENCEMENT OF NOTICE PERIOD- With respect to an institution,
the membership of which is terminated in accordance with subparagraph (A),
the applicable notice period under subsection (a)(4) for each class of
redeemable stock shall commence on the earlier of--
`(i) the date of such termination; or
`(ii) the date on which the member has provided notice of its intent
to redeem such stock.
`(3) LIQUIDATION OF INDEBTEDNESS- Upon the termination of the membership
of an institution for any reason, the outstanding indebtedness of the member
to the bank shall be liquidated in an orderly manner, as determined by the
bank and, upon the extinguishment of all such indebtedness, the bank shall
return to the member all collateral pledged to secure the
indebtedness.
`(e) REDEMPTION OF EXCESS STOCK-
`(1) IN GENERAL- A Federal home loan bank, in its sole discretion, may
redeem or repurchase, as appropriate, any shares of Class A or Class B stock
issued by the bank and held by a member that are in excess of the minimum
stock investment required of that member.
`(2) EXCESS STOCK- Shares of stock held by a member shall not be deemed
to be `excess stock' for purposes of this subsection by virtue of a member's
submission of a notice of intent to withdraw from membership or termination
of its membership in any other manner.
`(3) PRIORITY- A Federal home loan bank may not redeem any excess Class
B stock prior to the end of the 5-year notice period, unless the member has
no Class A stock outstanding that could be redeemed as excess.
`(f) IMPAIRMENT OF CAPITAL- If the Finance Board or the board of directors
of a Federal home loan bank determines that the bank has incurred or is likely
to incur losses that result in or are expected to result in charges against
the capital of the bank, the bank shall not redeem or repurchase any stock of
the bank without the prior approval of the Finance Board while such charges
are continuing or are expected to continue. In no case may a bank redeem or
repurchase any applicable capital stock if, following the redemption, the bank
would fail to satisfy any minimum capital requirement.
`(g) REJOINING AFTER DIVESTITURE OF ALL SHARES-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), and
notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an institution that divests
all shares of stock in a Federal home loan bank may not, after such
divestiture, acquire shares of any Federal home loan bank before the end of
the 5-year period beginning on the date of the completion of such
divestiture, unless the divestiture is a consequence of a transfer of
membership on an uninterrupted basis between banks.
`(2) EXCEPTION FOR WITHDRAWALS FROM MEMBERSHIP BEFORE 1998- Any
institution that withdrew from membership in any Federal home loan bank
before December 31, 1997, may acquire shares of a Federal home loan bank at
any time after that date, subject to the approval of the Finance Board and
the requirements of this Act.
`(h) TREATMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The holders of the Class C stock of a Federal home loan
bank, and any other classes of nonredeemable stock approved by the Finance
Board (to the extent provided in the terms thereof), shall own the retained
earnings, surplus, undivided profits, and equity reserves, if any, of the
bank.
`(2) NO NONREDEEMABLE CLASSES OF STOCK- If a Federal home loan bank has
no outstanding Class C or other such nonredeemable stock, then the holders
of any other classes of stock of the bank then outstanding shall have
ownership in, and a private property right in, the retained earnings,
surplus, undivided profits, and equity reserves, if any, of the bank.
`(3) EXCEPTION- Except as specifically provided in this section or
through the declaration of a dividend or a capital distribution by a Federal
home loan bank, or in the event of liquidation of the bank, a member shall
have no right to withdraw or otherwise receive distribution of any portion
of the retained earnings of the bank.
`(4) LIMITATION- A Federal home loan bank may not make any distribution
of its retained earnings unless, following such distribution, the bank would
continue to meet all applicable capital requirements.'.
Subtitle H--ATM Fee Reform
SEC. 171. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the `ATM Fee Reform Act of 1999'.
SEC. 172. ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER FEE DISCLOSURES AT ANY HOST ATM.
Section 904(d) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693b(d)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(3) FEE DISCLOSURES AT AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES-
`(A) IN GENERAL- The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall
require any automated teller machine operator who imposes a fee on any
consumer for providing host transfer services to such consumer to provide
notice in accordance with subparagraph (B) to the consumer (at the time
the service is provided) of--
`(i) the fact that a fee is imposed by such operator for providing
the service; and
`(ii) the amount of any such fee.
`(B) NOTICE REQUIREMENTS-
`(i) ON THE MACHINE- The notice required under clause (i) of
subparagraph (A) with respect to any fee described in such subparagraph
shall be posted in a prominent and conspicuous location on or at the
automated teller machine at which the electronic fund transfer is
initiated by the consumer; and
`(ii) ON THE SCREEN- The notice required under clauses (i) and (ii)
of subparagraph (A) with respect to any fee described in such
subparagraph shall appear on the screen of the automated teller machine,
or on a paper notice issued from such machine, after the transaction is
initiated and before the consumer is irrevocably committed to completing
the transaction.
`(C) PROHIBITION ON FEES NOT PROPERLY DISCLOSED AND EXPLICITLY ASSUMED
BY CONSUMER- No fee may be imposed by any automated teller machine
operator in connection with any electronic fund transfer initiated by a
consumer for which a notice is required under subparagraph (A),
unless--
`(i) the consumer receives such notice in accordance with
subparagraph (B); and
`(ii) the consumer elects to continue in the manner necessary to
effect the transaction after receiving such notice.
`(D) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this paragraph, the following
definitions shall apply:
`(i) ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER- The term `electronic fund transfer'
includes a transaction which involves a balance inquiry initiated by a
consumer in the same manner as an electronic fund transfer, whether or
not the consumer initiates a transfer of funds in the course of the
transaction.
`(ii) AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE OPERATOR- The term `automated teller
machine operator' means any person who--
`(I) operates an automated teller machine at which consumers
initiate electronic fund transfers; and
`(II) is not the financial institution which holds the account of
such consumer from which the transfer is made.
`(iii) HOST TRANSFER SERVICES- The term `host transfer services'
means any electronic fund transfer made by an automated teller machine
operator in connection with a transaction initiated by a consumer at an
automated teller machine operated by such operator.'.
SEC. 173. DISCLOSURE OF POSSIBLE FEES TO CONSUMERS WHEN ATM CARD IS
ISSUED.
Section 905(a) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693c(a)) is
amended--
(1) by striking `and' at the end of paragraph (8);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (9) and inserting `;
and'; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraph:
`(10) a notice to the consumer that a fee may be imposed by--
`(A) an automated teller machine operator (as defined in section
904(d)(3)(D)(ii)) if the consumer initiates a transfer from an automated
teller machine which is not operated by the person issuing the card or
other means of access; and
`(B) any national, regional, or local network utilized to effect the
transaction.'.
SEC. 174. FEASIBILITY STUDY.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct
a study of the feasibility of requiring, in connection with any electronic
fund transfer initiated by a consumer through the use of an automated teller
machine--
(1) a notice to be provided to the consumer before the consumer is
irrevocably committed to completing the transaction, which clearly states
the amount of any fee which will be imposed upon the consummation of the
transaction by--
(A) any automated teller machine operator (as defined in section
904(d)(3)(D)(ii) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act) involved in the
transaction;
(B) the financial institution holding the account of the
consumer;
(C) any national, regional, or local network utilized to effect the
transaction; and
(D) any other party involved in the transfer; and
(2) the consumer to elect to consummate the transaction after receiving
the notice described in paragraph (1).
(b) FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED- In conducting the study required under
subsection (a) with regard to the notice requirement described in such
subsection, the Comptroller General shall consider the following factors:
(1) The availability of appropriate technology.
(2) Implementation and operating costs.
(3) The competitive impact any such notice requirement would have on
various sizes and types of institutions, if implemented.
(4) The period of time which would be reasonable for implementing any
such notice requirement.
(5) The extent to which consumers would benefit from any such notice
requirement.
(6) Any other factor the Comptroller General determines to be
appropriate in analyzing the feasibility of imposing any such notice
requirement.
(c) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS- Before the end of the 6-month period beginning
on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit
a report to the Congress containing--
(1) the findings and conclusions of the Comptroller General in
connection with the study required under subsection (a); and
(2) the recommendation of the Comptroller General with regard to the
question of whether a notice requirement described in subsection (a) should
be implemented and, if so, how such requirement should be implemented.
SEC. 175. NO LIABILITY IF POSTED NOTICES ARE DAMAGED.
Section 910 of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C 1693h) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(d) EXCEPTION FOR DAMAGED NOTICES- If the notice required to be posted
pursuant to section 904(d)(3)(B)(i) by an automated teller machine operator
has been posted by such operator in compliance with such section and the
notice is subsequently removed, damaged, or altered by any person other than
the operator of the automated teller machine, the operator shall have no
liability under this section for failure to comply with section
904(d)(3)(B)(i).'.
Subtitle I--Direct Activities of Banks
SEC. 181. AUTHORITY OF NATIONAL BANKS TO UNDERWRITE CERTAIN MUNICIPAL
BONDS.
The paragraph designated the Seventh of section 5136 of the Revised
Statutes of the United States (12 U.S.C. 24(7)) is amended by adding at the
end the following new sentence: `In addition to the provisions in this
paragraph for dealing in, underwriting or purchasing securities, the
limitations and restrictions contained in this paragraph as to dealing in,
underwriting, and purchasing investment securities for the national bank's own
account shall not apply to obligations (including limited obligation bonds,
revenue bonds, and obligations that satisfy the requirements of section
142(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) issued by or on behalf of any
State or political subdivision of a State, including any municipal corporate
instrumentality of one or more States, or any public agency or authority of
any State or political subdivision of a State, if the national bank is well
capitalized (as defined in section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act).'.
Subtitle J--Deposit Insurance Funds
SEC. 186. STUDY OF SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS OF FUNDS.
(a) STUDY REQUIRED- The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation shall conduct a study of the following issues with
regard to the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance
Fund:
(1) SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS- The safety and soundness of the funds and the
adequacy of the reserve requirements applicable to the funds in light
of--
(A) the size of the insured depository institutions which are
resulting from mergers and consolidations since the effective date of the
Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994;
and
(B) the affiliation of insured depository institutions with other
financial institutions pursuant to this Act and the amendments made by
this Act.
(2) CONCENTRATION LEVELS- The concentration levels of the funds, taking
into account the number of members of each fund and the geographic
distribution of such members, and the extent to which either fund is exposed
to higher risks due to a regional concentration of members or an
insufficient membership base relative to the size of member
institutions.
(3) MERGER ISSUES- Issues relating to the planned merger of the funds,
including the cost of merging the funds and the manner in which such costs
will be distributed among the members of the respective funds.
(1) IN GENERAL- Before the end of the 9-month period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of Directors of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation shall submit a report to the Congress on the
study conducted pursuant to subsection (a).
(2) CONTENTS OF REPORT- The report shall include--
(A) detailed findings of the Board of Directors with regard to the
issues described in subsection (a);
(B) a description of the plans developed by the Board of Directors for
merging the Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association Insurance
Fund, including an estimate of the amount of the cost of such merger which
would be borne by Savings Association Insurance Fund members; and
(C) such recommendations for legislative and administrative action as
the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate to
preserve the safety and soundness of the deposit insurance funds, reduce
the risks to such funds, provide for an efficient merger of such funds,
and for other purposes.
(c) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section, the following definitions
shall apply:
(1) INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION- The term `insured depository
institution' has the same meaning as in section 3(c) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act.
(2) BIF AND SAIF MEMBERS- The terms `Bank Insurance Fund member' and
`Savings Association Insurance Fund member' have the same meanings as in
section 7(l) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
SEC. 187. ELIMINATION OF SAIF AND DIF SPECIAL RESERVES.
(a) SAIF SPECIAL RESERVES- Section 11(a)(6) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(a)(6)) is amended by striking subparagraph
(L).
(b) DIF SPECIAL RESERVES- Section 2704 of the Deposit Insurance Funds Act
of 1996 (12 U.S.C. 1821 note) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b); and
(A) by striking paragraph (4);
(B) in paragraph (6)(C)(i), by striking `(6) and (7)' and inserting
`(5), (6), and (7)'; and
(C) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking clause (ii) and inserting the
following:
`(ii) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (5).'.
Subtitle K--Miscellaneous Provisions
SEC. 191. TERMINATION OF `KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER' REGULATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL- None of the proposed regulations described in subsection
(b) may be published in final form and, to the extent any such regulation has
become effective before the date of the enactment of this Act, such regulation
shall cease to be effective as of such date.
(b) PROPOSED REGULATIONS DESCRIBED- The proposed regulations referred to
in subsection (a) are as follows:
(1) The regulation proposed by the Comptroller of the Currency to amend
part 21 of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as published in the
Federal Register on December 7, 1998.
(2) The regulation proposed by the Director of the Office of Thrift
Supervision to amend part 563 of title 12 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, as published in the Federal Register on December 7, 1998.
(3) The regulation proposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System to amend parts 208, 211, and 225 of title 12 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, as published in the Federal Register on December 7,
1998.
(4) The regulation proposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
to amend part 326 of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as
published in the Federal Register on December 7, 1998.
SEC. 192. STUDY AND REPORT ON FEDERAL ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFERS.
(a) STUDY- The Secretary of the Treasury shall conduct a feasibility study
to determine--
(1) whether all electronic payments issued by Federal agencies could be
routed through the Regional Finance Centers of the Department of the
Treasury for verification and reconciliation;
(2) whether all electronic payments made by the Federal Government could
be subjected to the same level of reconciliation as United States Treasury
checks, including matching each payment issued with each corresponding
deposit at financial institutions;
(3) whether the appropriate computer security controls are in place in
order to ensure the integrity of electronic payments;
(4) the estimated costs of implementing, if so recommended, the
processes and controls described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3); and
(5) a possible timetable for implementing those processes if so
recommended.
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Not later than October 1, 2000, the Secretary of
the Treasury shall submit a report to Congress containing the results of the
study required by subsection (a).
(c) DEFINITION- For purposes of this section, the term `electronic
payment' means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated by
check, draft, or similar paper instrument, which is initiated through an
electronic terminal, telephonic instrument, or computer or magnetic tapes so
as to order, instruct, or authorize a debit or credit to a financial
account.
SEC. 193. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE STUDY OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
(a) STUDY REQUIRED- The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study analyzing the conflict of interest faced by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System between its role as a primary
regulator of the banking industry and its role as a vendor of services to the
banking and financial services industry.
(b) SPECIFIC CONFLICT REQUIRED TO BE ADDRESSED- In the course of the study
required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall address the
conflict of interest faced by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System between the role of the Board as a regulator of the payment system,
generally, and its participation in the payment system as a competitor with
private entities who are providing payment services.
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS- Before the end of the 1-year period beginning on
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a
report to the Congress containing the findings and conclusions of the
Comptroller General in connection with the study required under this section,
together with such recommendations for such legislative or administrative
actions as the Comptroller General may determine to be appropriate, including
recommendations for resolving any such conflict of interest.
SEC. 194. STUDY OF COST OF ALL FEDERAL BANKING REGULATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL- In accordance with the finding in the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System Staff Study Numbered 171 (April, 1998) that
`Further research covering more and different types of regulations and
regulatory requirements is clearly needed to make informed decisions about
regulations', the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in
consultation with the other Federal banking agencies (as defined in section 3
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) shall conduct a comprehensive study of
the total annual costs and benefits of all Federal financial regulations and
regulatory requirements applicable to banks.
(b) REPORT REQUIRED- Before the end of the 2-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System shall submit a comprehensive report to the Congress containing
the findings and conclusions of the Board in connection with the study
required under subsection (a) and such recommendations for legislative and
administrative action as the Board may determine to be appropriate.
SEC. 195. STUDY AND REPORT ON ADAPTING EXISTING LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS TO
ONLINE BANKING AND LENDING.
(a) STUDY REQUIRED- The Federal banking agencies shall conduct a study of
banking regulations regarding the delivery of financial services, including
those regulations that may assume that there will be person-to-person contact
during the course of a financial services transaction, and report their
recommendations on adapting those existing requirements to online banking and
lending.
(b) REPORT REQUIRED- Within 1 year of the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Federal banking agencies shall submit a report to the Congress on the
findings and conclusions of the agencies with respect to the study required
under subsection (a), together with such recommendations for legislative or
regulatory action as the agencies may determine to be appropriate.
(c) DEFINITION- For purposes of this section, the term `Federal banking
agencies' means each Federal banking agency (as defined in section 3(z) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act).
SEC. 196. REGULATION OF UNINSURED STATE MEMBER BANKS.
Section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 321 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(24) ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER UNINSURED STATE MEMBER BANKS- Section
3(u) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, subsections (j) and (k) of
section 7 of such Act, and subsections (b) through (n), (s), (u), and (v) of
section 8 of such Act shall apply to an uninsured State member bank in the
same manner and to the same extent such provisions apply to an insured State
member bank and any reference in any such provision to `insured depository
institution' shall be deemed to be a reference to `uninsured State member
bank' for purposes of this paragraph.'.
SEC. 197. CLARIFICATION OF SOURCE OF STRENGTH DOCTRINE.
Section 18 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (21 U.S.C. 1828) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(t) LIMITATION ON CLAIMS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law other than
paragraph (2), no person shall have any claim for monetary damages or return
of assets or other property against any Federal banking agency (including in
its capacity as conservator or receiver) relating to the transfer of money,
assets, or other property to increase the capital of an insured depository
institution by any depository institution holding company or controlling
shareholder for such depository institution, or any affiliate or subsidiary
of such depository institution, if at the time of the transfer--
`(A) the insured depository institution is subject to any direction
issued in writing by a Federal banking agency to increase its
capital;
`(B) the depository institution is undercapitalized, significantly
undercapitalized, or critically undercapitalized (as defined in section 38
of this Act); and
`(C) for that portion of the transfer that is made by an entity
covered by section 5(g) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 or section
45 of this Act, the Federal banking agency has followed the procedure set
forth in such section.
`(2) EXCEPTION- No provision of this subsection shall be construed as
limiting--
`(A) the right of an insured depository institution, a depository
institution holding company, or any other agency or person to seek direct
review of an order or directive issued by a Federal banking agency under
this Act, the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, the National Bank
Receivership Act, the Bank Conservation Act, or the Home Owners' Loan
Act;
`(B) the rights of any party to a contract pursuant to section 11(e)
of this Act; or
`(C) the rights of any party to a contract with a depository
institution holding company or a subsidiary of a depository institution
holding company (other than an insured depository institution).'.
SEC. 198. INTEREST RATES AND OTHER CHARGES AT INTERSTATE BRANCHES.
Section 44 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1831u) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
`(f) APPLICABLE RATE AND OTHER CHARGE LIMITATIONS-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided for in paragraph (3), upon the
establishment of a branch of any insured depository institution in a host
State under this section, the maximum interest rate or amount of interest,
discount points, finance charges, or other similar charges that may be
charged, taken, received, or reserved from time to time in any loan or
discount made or upon any note, bill of exchange, financing transaction, or
other evidence of debt by any insured depository institution in such State
shall be equal to not more than the greater of--
`(A) the maximum interest rate or amount of interest, discount points,
finance charges, or other similar charges that may be charged, taken,
received, or reserved in a similar transaction under the constitution,
statutory, or other lows of the home State of the insured depository
institution establishing any such branch, without reference to this
section, as such maximum interest rate or amount of interest may change
from time to time; or
`(B) the maximum rate or amount of interest, discount points, finance
charges, or other similar charges that may be charged, taken, received, or
reserved in a similar transaction by an insured depository institution
under the constitution, statutory, or other laws of the host State,
without reference to this section.
`(2) PREEMPTION- The limitations established under paragraph (1) shall
apply only in any State that has a constitutional provision that sets a
maximum lawful rate of interest on any contract at not more than 5 percent
per annum above the Federal Reserve Discount Rate or 90-day commercial paper
in effect in the Federal Reserve Bank in the Federal Reserve District in
which the State is located.
`(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- No provision of this subsection shall be
construed as superseding section 501 of the Depository Institutions
Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980.
SEC. 198A. INTERSTATE BRANCHES AND AGENCIES OF FOREIGN BANKS.
Section 5(a)(7) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C.
3103(a)(7)), is amended to read as follows:
`(7) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY FOR INTERSTATE BRANCHES AND AGENCIES OF
FOREIGN BANKS, UPGRADES OF CERTAIN FOREIGN BANK AGENCIES AND BRANCHES-
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), a foreign bank may--
`(A) with the approval of the Board and the Comptroller of the
Currency, establish and operate a Federal branch or Federal agency or,
with the approval of the Board and the appropriate State bank supervisor,
a State branch or State agency in any State outside the foreign bank's
home State if--
`(i) the establishment and operation of such branch or agency is
permitted by the State in which the branch or agency is to be
established; and
`(ii) in the case of a Federal or State branch, the branch receives
only such deposits as would be permitted for a corporation organized
under section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 611 et seq.);
or
`(B) with the approval of the Board and the relevant licensing
authority (the Comptroller in the case of a Federal branch or the
appropriate State supervisor in the case of a State branch), upgrade an
agency, or a branch of the type referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii),
located in a State outside the foreign bank's home State, into a Federal
or State branch if--
`(i) the establishment and operation of such branch is permitted by
such State; and
`(ii) such agency or branch--
`(I) was in operation in such State on the day before September
29, 1994; or
`(II) has been in operation in such State for a period of time
that meets the State's minimum age requirement permitted under section
44(a)(5) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.'.
SEC. 198B. FAIR TREATMENT OF WOMEN BY FINANCIAL ADVISERS.
(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Women's stature in society has risen considerably, as they are now
able to vote, own property, and pursue independent careers, and are granted
equal protection under the law.
(2) Women are at least as fiscally responsible as men, and more than
half of all women have sole responsibility for balancing the family
checkbook and paying the bills.
(3) Estate planners, trust officers, investment advisers, and other
financial planners and advisers still encourage the unjust and outdated
practice of leaving assets in trust for the category of wives and daughters,
along with senile parents, minors, and mentally incompetent children.
(4) Estate planners, trust officers, investment advisers, and other
financial planners and advisers still use sales themes and tactics
detrimental to women by stereotyping women as uncomfortable handling money
and needing protection from their own possible errors of judgment and
`fortune hunters'.
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS- It is the sense of the Congress that estate
planners, trust officers, investment advisers, and other financial planners
and advisers should--
(1) eliminate examples in their training materials which portray women
as incapable and foolish; and
(2) develop fairer and more balanced presentations that eliminate
outmoded and stereotypical examples which lead clients to take actions that
are financially detrimental to their wives and daughters.
Subtitle L--Effective Date of Title
SEC. 199. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except with regard to any subtitle or other provision of this title for
which a specific effective date is provided, this title and the amendments
made by this title shall take effect at the end of the 180-day period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
TITLE II--FUNCTIONAL REGULATION
Subtitle A--Brokers and Dealers
SEC. 201. DEFINITION OF BROKER.
Section 3(a)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78c(a)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `broker' means any person engaged in the
business of effecting transactions in securities for the account of
others.
`(B) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN BANK ACTIVITIES- A bank shall not be
considered to be a broker because the bank engages in any one or more of
the following activities under the conditions described:
`(i) THIRD PARTY BROKERAGE ARRANGEMENTS- The bank enters into a
contractual or other written arrangement with a broker or dealer
registered under this title under which the broker or dealer offers
brokerage services on or off the premises of the bank if--
`(I) such broker or dealer is clearly identified as the person
performing the brokerage services;
`(II) the broker or dealer performs brokerage services in an area
that is clearly marked and, to the extent practicable, physically
separate from the routine deposit-taking activities of the
bank;
`(III) any materials used by the bank to advertise or promote
generally the availability of brokerage services under the arrangement
clearly indicate that the brokerage services are being provided by the
broker or dealer and not by the bank;
`(IV) any materials used by the bank to advertise or promote
generally the availability of brokerage services under the arrangement
are in compliance with the Federal securities laws before
distribution;
`(V) bank employees (other than associated persons of a broker or
dealer who are qualified pursuant to the rules of a self-regulatory
organization) perform only clerical or ministerial functions in
connection with brokerage transactions including scheduling
appointments with the associated persons of a broker or dealer, except
that bank employees may forward customer funds or securities and may
describe in general terms the types of investment vehicles available
from the bank and the broker or dealer under the
arrangement;
`(VI) bank employees do not receive incentive compensation for any
brokerage transaction unless such employees are associated persons of
a broker or dealer and are qualified pursuant to the rules of a
self-regulatory organization, except that the bank employees may
receive compensation for the referral of any customer if the
compensation is a nominal one-time cash fee of a fixed dollar amount
and the payment of the fee is not contingent on whether the referral
results in a transaction;
`(VII) such services are provided by the broker or dealer on a
basis in which all customers which receive any services are fully
disclosed to the broker or dealer;
`(VIII) the bank does not carry a securities account of the
customer except as permitted under clause (ii) or (viii) of this
subparagraph; and
`(IX) the bank, broker, or dealer informs each customer that the
brokerage services are provided by the broker or dealer and not by the
bank and that the securities are not deposits or other obligations of
the bank, are not guaranteed by the bank, and are not insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
`(ii) TRUST ACTIVITIES- The bank effects transactions in a trustee
or fiduciary capacity in its trust department, or another department
where the trust or fiduciary activity is regularly examined by bank
examiners under the same standards and in the same way as such
activities are examined in the trust department, and--
`(I) is chiefly compensated for such transactions, consistent with
fiduciary principles and standards, on the basis of an administration
or annual fee (payable on a monthly, quarterly, or other basis), a
percentage of assets under management, or a flat or capped per order
processing fee equal to not more than the cost incurred by the bank in
connection with executing securities transactions for trustee and
fiduciary customers, or any combination of such fees;
and
`(II) does not solicit brokerage business, other than by
advertising that it effects transactions in securities in conjunction
with advertising its other trust activities.
`(iii) PERMISSIBLE SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS- The bank effects
transactions in--
`(I) commercial paper, bankers acceptances, or commercial
bills;
`(II) exempted securities;
`(III) qualified Canadian government obligations as defined in
section 5136 of the Revised Statutes, in conformity with section 15C
of this title and the rules and regulations thereunder, or obligations
of the North American Development Bank; or
`(IV) any standardized, credit enhanced debt security issued by a
foreign government pursuant to the March 1989 plan of then Secretary
of the Treasury Brady, used by such foreign government to retire
outstanding commercial bank loans.
`(iv) CERTAIN STOCK PURCHASE PLANS-
`(I) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS- The bank effects transactions, as a
registered transfer agent (including as a registrar of stocks), in the
securities of an issuer as part of any pension, retirement,
profit-sharing, bonus, thrift, savings, incentive, or other similar
benefit plan for the employees of that issuer or its affiliates (as
defined in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956),
if--
`(aa) the bank does not solicit transactions or provide investment
advice with respect to the purchase or sale of securities in connection with the
plan; and
`(bb) the bank's compensation for such plan or program consists
chiefly of administration fees, or flat or capped per order processing fees, or
both.
`(II) DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLANS- The bank effects transactions,
as a registered transfer agent (including as a registrar of stocks),
in the securities of an issuer as part of that issuer's dividend
reinvestment plan, if--
`(aa) the bank does not solicit transactions or provide investment
advice with respect to the purchase or sale of securities in connection with the
plan;
`(bb) the bank does not net shareholders' buy and sell orders, other
than for programs for odd-lot holders or plans registered with the Commission;
and
`(cc) the bank's compensation for such plan or program consists
chiefly of administration fees, or flat or capped per order processing fees, or
both.
`(III) ISSUER PLANS- The bank effects transactions, as a
registered transfer agent (including as a registrar of stocks), in the
securities of an issuer as part of that issuer's plan for the purchase
or sale of that issuer's shares, if--
`(aa) the bank does not solicit transactions or provide investment
advice with respect to the purchase or sale of securities in connection with the
plan or program;
`(bb) the bank does not net shareholders' buy and sell orders, other
than for programs for odd-lot holders or plans registered with the Commission;
and
`(cc) the bank's compensation for such plan or program consists
chiefly of administration fees, or flat or capped per order processing fees, or
both.
`(IV) PERMISSIBLE DELIVERY OF MATERIALS- The exception to being
considered a broker for a bank engaged in activities described in
subclauses (I), (II), and (III) will not be affected by a bank's
delivery of written or electronic plan materials to employees of the
issuer, shareholders of the issuer, or members of affinity groups of
the issuer, so long as such materials are--
`(aa) comparable in scope or nature to that permitted by the
Commission as of the date of the enactment of the Financial Services Act of
1999; or
`(bb) otherwise permitted by the Commission.
`(v) SWEEP ACCOUNTS- The bank effects transactions as part of a
program for the investment or reinvestment of deposit funds into any
no-load, open-end management investment company registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 that holds itself out as a money market
fund.
`(vi) AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS- The bank effects transactions for the
account of any affiliate (as defined in section 2 of the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956) of the bank other than--
`(I) a registered broker or dealer; or
`(II) an affiliate that is engaged in merchant banking, as
described in section 6(c)(3)(H) of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956.
`(vii) PRIVATE SECURITIES OFFERINGS- The bank--
`(I) effects sales as part of a primary offering of securities not
involving a public offering, pursuant to section 3(b), 4(2), or 4(6)
of the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations issued
thereunder;
`(II) at any time after the date that is 1 year after the date of
the enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999, is not affiliated
with a broker or dealer that has been registered for more than 1 year
in accordance with this Act, and engages in dealing, market making, or
underwriting activities, other than with respect to exempted
securities; and
`(III) effects transactions exclusively with qualified
investors.
`(viii) SAFEKEEPING AND CUSTODY ACTIVITIES-
`(I) IN GENERAL- The bank, as part of customary banking
activities--
`(aa) provides safekeeping or custody services with respect to
securities, including the exercise of warrants and other rights on behalf of
customers;
`(bb) facilitates the transfer of funds or securities, as a custodian
or a clearing agency, in connection with the clearance and settlement of its
customers' transactions in securities;
`(cc) effects securities lending or borrowing transactions with or on
behalf of customers as part of services provided to customers pursuant to
division (aa) or (bb) or invests cash collateral pledged in connection with such
transactions; or
`(dd) holds securities pledged by a customer to another person or
securities subject to purchase or resale agreements involving a customer, or
facilitates the pledging or transfer of such securities by book entry or as
otherwise provided under applicable law, if the bank maintains records
separately identifying the securities and the customer.
`(II) EXCEPTION FOR CARRYING BROKER ACTIVITIES- The exception to
being considered a broker for a bank engaged in activities described
in subclause (I) shall not apply if the bank, in connection with such
activities, acts in the United States as a carrying broker (as such
term, and different formulations thereof, are used in section 15(c)(3)
of this title and the rules and regulations thereunder) for any broker
or dealer, unless such carrying broker activities are engaged in with
respect to government securities (as defined in paragraph (42) of this
subsection).
`(ix) EXCEPTED BANKING PRODUCTS- The bank effects transactions in
excepted banking products, as defined in section 206 of the Financial
Services Act of 1999.
`(x) MUNICIPAL SECURITIES- The bank effects transactions in
municipal securities.
`(xi) DE MINIMIS EXCEPTION- The bank effects, other than in
transactions referred to in clauses (i) through (x), not more than 500
transactions in securities in any calendar year, and such transactions
are not effected by an employee of the bank who is also an employee of a
broker or dealer.
`(C) BROKER DEALER EXECUTION- The exception to being considered a
broker for a bank engaged in activities described in clauses (ii), (iv),
and (viii) of subparagraph (B) shall not apply if the activities described
in such provisions result in the trade in the United States of any
security that is a publicly traded security in the United States,
unless--
`(i) the bank directs such trade to a registered broker or dealer
for execution;
`(ii) the trade is a cross trade or other substantially similar
trade of a security that--
`(I) is made by the bank or between the bank and an affiliated
fiduciary; and
`(II) is not in contravention of fiduciary principles established
under applicable Federal or State law; or
`(iii) the trade is conducted in some other manner permitted under
rules, regulations, or orders as the Commission may prescribe or
issue.
`(D) FIDUCIARY CAPACITY- For purposes of subparagraph (B)(ii), the
term `fiduciary capacity' means--
`(i) in the capacity as trustee, executor, administrator, registrar
of stocks and bonds, transfer agent, guardian, assignee, receiver, or
custodian under a uniform gift to minor act, or as an investment adviser
if the bank receives a fee for its investment advice;
`(ii) in any capacity in which the bank possesses investment
discretion on behalf of another; or
`(iii) in any other similar capacity.
`(F) EXCEPTION FOR ENTITIES SUBJECT TO SECTION 15(e)- The term
`broker' does not include a bank that--
`(i) was, immediately prior to the enactment of the Financial
Services Act of 1999, subject to section 15(e) of this title;
and
`(ii) is subject to such restrictions and requirements as the
Commission considers appropriate.'.
SEC. 202. DEFINITION OF DEALER.
Section 3(a)(5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78c(a)(5)) is amended to read as follows:
`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `dealer' means any person engaged in the
business of buying and selling securities for such person's own account
through a broker or otherwise.
`(B) EXCEPTION FOR PERSON NOT ENGAGED IN THE BUSINESS OF DEALING- The
term `dealer' does not include a person that buys or sells securities for
such person's own account, either individually or in a fiduciary capacity,
but not as a part of a regular business.
`(C) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN BANK ACTIVITIES- A bank shall not be
considered to be a dealer because the bank engages in any of the following
activities under the conditions described:
`(i) PERMISSIBLE SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS- The bank buys or
sells--
`(I) commercial paper, bankers acceptances, or commercial
bills;
`(II) exempted securities;
`(III) qualified Canadian government obligations as defined in
section 5136 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, in
conformity with section 15C of this title and the rules and
regulations thereunder, or obligations of the North American
Development Bank; or
`(IV) any standardized, credit enhanced debt security issued by a
foreign government pursuant to the March 1989 plan of then Secretary
of the Treasury Brady, used by such foreign government to retire
outstanding commercial bank loans.
`(ii) INVESTMENT, TRUSTEE, AND FIDUCIARY TRANSACTIONS- The bank buys
or sells securities for investment purposes--
`(II) for accounts for which the bank acts as a trustee or
fiduciary.
`(iii) ASSET-BACKED TRANSACTIONS- The bank engages in the issuance
or sale to qualified investors, through a grantor trust or other
separate entity, of securities backed by or representing an interest in
notes, drafts, acceptances, loans, leases, receivables, other
obligations (other than securities of which the bank is not the issuer),
or pools of any such obligations predominantly originated
by--
`(II) an affiliate of any such bank other than a broker or dealer;
or
`(III) a syndicate of banks of which the bank is a member, if the
obligations or pool of obligations consists of mortgage obligations or
consumer-related receivables.
`(iv) EXCEPTED BANKING PRODUCTS- The bank buys or sells excepted
banking products, as defined in section 206 of the Financial Services
Act of 1999.
`(v) DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS- The bank issues, buys, or sells any
derivative instrument to which the bank is a party--
`(I) to or from a qualified investor, except that if the
instrument provides for the delivery of one or more securities (other
than a derivative instrument or government security), the transaction
shall be effected with or through a registered broker or dealer;
or
`(II) to or from other persons, except that if the derivative
instrument provides for the delivery of one or more securities (other
than a derivative instrument or government security), or is a security
(other than a government security), the transaction shall be effected
with or through a registered broker or dealer; or
`(III) to or from any person if the instrument is neither a
security nor provides for the delivery of one or more securities
(other than a derivative instrument).'.
SEC. 203. REGISTRATION FOR SALES OF PRIVATE SECURITIES OFFERINGS.
Section 15A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o-3) is
amended by inserting after subsection (i) the following new subsection:
`(j) REGISTRATION FOR SALES OF PRIVATE SECURITIES OFFERINGS- A registered
securities association shall create a limited qualification category for any
associated person of a member who effects sales as part of a primary offering
of securities not involving a public offering, pursuant to section 3(b), 4(2),
or 4(6) of the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and shall deem qualified in such limited qualification category,
without testing, any bank employee who, in the six month period preceding the
date of the enactment of this Act, engaged in effecting such sales.'.
SEC. 204. INFORMATION SHARING.
Section 18 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act is amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
`(t) RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS-
`(1) REQUIREMENTS- Each appropriate Federal banking agency, after
consultation with and consideration of the views of the Commission, shall
establish recordkeeping requirements for banks relying on exceptions
contained in paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 3(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Such recordkeeping requirements shall be sufficient to
demonstrate compliance with the terms of such exceptions and be designed to
facilitate compliance with such exceptions. Each appropriate Federal banking
agency shall make any such information available to the Commission upon
request.
`(2) DEFINITIONS- As used in this subsection the term `Commission' means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.'.
SEC. 205. TREATMENT OF NEW HYBRID PRODUCTS.
Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(i) RULEMAKING TO EXTEND REQUIREMENTS TO NEW HYBRID PRODUCTS-
`(1) LIMITATION- The Commission shall not--
`(A) require a bank to register as a broker or dealer under this
section because the bank engages in any transaction in, or buys or sells,
a new hybrid product; or
`(B) bring an action against a bank for a failure to comply with a
requirement described in subparagraph (A),
unless the Commission has imposed such requirement by rule or regulation
issued in accordance with this section.
`(2) CRITERIA FOR RULEMAKING- The Commission shall not impose a
requirement under paragraph (1) of this subsection with respect to any new
hybrid product unless the Commission determines that--
`(A) the new hybrid product is a security; and
`(B) imposing such requirement is necessary or appropriate in the
public interest and for the protection of investors, consistent with the
requirements of section 3(f).
`(3) CONSIDERATIONS- In making a determination under paragraph (2), the
Commission shall consider--
`(A) the nature of the new hybrid product; and
`(B) the history, purpose, extent, and appropriateness of the
regulation of the new hybrid product under the Federal securities laws and
under the Federal banking laws.
`(4) CONSULTATION- In promulgating rules under this subsection, the
Commission shall consult with and consider the views of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System regarding the nature of the new
hybrid product, the history, purpose, extent, and appropriateness of the
regulation of the new product under the Federal banking laws, and the impact
of the proposed rule on the banking industry.
`(5) NEW HYBRID PRODUCT- For purposes of this subsection, the term `new
hybrid product' means a product that--
`(A) was not subjected to regulation by the Commission as a security
prior to the date of the enactment of this subsection; and
`(B) is not an excepted banking product, as such term is defined in
section 206 of the Financial Services Act of 1999.'.
SEC. 206. DEFINITION OF EXCEPTED BANKING PRODUCT.
(a) DEFINITION OF EXCEPTED BANKING PRODUCT- For purposes of paragraphs (4)
and (5) of section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78c(a) (4), (5)), the term `excepted banking product' means--
(1) a deposit account, savings account, certificate of deposit, or other
deposit instrument issued by a bank;
(2) a banker's acceptance;
(3) a letter of credit issued or loan made by a bank;
(4) a debit account at a bank arising from a credit card or similar
arrangement;
(5) a participation in a loan which the bank or an affiliate of the bank
(other than a broker or dealer) funds, participates in, or owns that is
sold--
(A) to qualified investors; or
(B) to other persons that--
(i) have the opportunity to review and assess any material
information, including information regarding the borrower's
creditworthiness; and
(ii) based on such factors as financial sophistication, net worth,
and knowledge and experience in financial matters, have the capability
to evaluate the information available, as determined under generally
applicable banking standards or guidelines; or
(6) a derivative instrument that involves or relates to--
(A) currencies, except options on currencies that trade on a national
securities exchange;
(B) interest rates, except interest rate derivative instruments
that--
(i) are based on a security or a group or index of securities (other
than government securities or a group or index of government
securities);
(ii) provide for the delivery of one or more securities (other than
government securities); or
(iii) trade on a national securities exchange; or
(C) commodities, other rates, indices, or other assets, except
derivative instruments that--
(i) are securities or that are based on a group or index of
securities (other than government securities or a group or index of
government securities);
(ii) provide for the delivery of one or more securities (other than
government securities); or
(iii) trade on a national securities exchange.
(b) CLASSIFICATION LIMITED- Classification of a particular product as an
excepted banking product pursuant to this section shall not be construed as
finding or implying that such product is or is not a security for any purpose
under the securities laws, or is or is not an account, agreement, contract, or
transaction for any purpose under the Commodity Exchange Act.
(c) INCORPORATED DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section--
(1) the terms `bank', `qualified investor', and `securities laws' have
the same meanings given in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended by this Act; and
(2) the term `government securities' has the meaning given in section
3(a)(42) of such Act (as amended by this Act), and, for purposes of this
section, commercial paper, bankers acceptances, and commercial bills shall
be treated in the same manner as government securities.
SEC. 207. ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS.
Section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is amended by adding
at the end the following new paragraphs:
`(54) DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENT-
`(A) DEFINITION- The term `derivative instrument' means any
individually negotiated contract, agreement, warrant, note, or option that
is based, in whole or in part, on the value of, any interest in, or any
quantitative measure or the occurrence of any event relating to, one or
more commodities, securities, currencies, interest or other rates,
indices, or other assets, but does not include an excepted banking
product, as defined in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 206(a) of the
Financial Services Act of 1999.
`(B) CLASSIFICATION LIMITED- Classification of a particular contract
as a derivative instrument pursuant to this paragraph shall not be
construed as finding or implying that such instrument is or is not a
security for any purpose under the securities laws, or is or is not an
account, agreement, contract, or transaction for any purpose under the
Commodity Exchange Act.
`(55) QUALIFIED INVESTOR-
`(A) DEFINITION- For purposes of this title, the term `qualified
investor' means--
`(i) any investment company registered with the Commission under
section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940;
`(ii) any issuer eligible for an exclusion from the definition of
investment company pursuant to section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940;
`(iii) any bank (as defined in paragraph (6) of this subsection),
savings association (as defined in section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act), broker, dealer, insurance company (as defined in section
2(a)(13) of the Securities Act of 1933), or business development company
(as defined in section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act of
1940);
`(iv) any small business investment company licensed by the United
States Small Business Administration under section 301 (c) or (d) of the
Small Business Investment Act of 1958;
`(v) any State sponsored employee benefit plan, or any other
employee benefit plan, within the meaning of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, other than an individual retirement
account, if the investment decisions are made by a plan fiduciary, as
defined in section 3(21) of that Act, which is either a bank, savings
and loan association, insurance company, or registered investment
adviser;
`(vi) any trust whose purchases of securities are directed by a
person described in clauses (i) through (v) of this
subparagraph;
`(vii) any market intermediary exempt under section 3(c)(2) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940;
`(viii) any associated person of a broker or dealer other than a
natural person;
`(ix) any foreign bank (as defined in section 1(b)(7) of the
International Banking Act of 1978);
`(x) the government of any foreign country;
`(xi) any corporation, company, or partnership that owns and invests
on a discretionary basis, not less than $10,000,000 in
investments;
`(xii) any natural person who owns and invests on a discretionary
basis, not less than $10,000,000 in investments;
`(xiii) any government or political subdivision, agency, or
instrumentality of a government who owns and invests on a discretionary
basis not less than $50,000,000 in investments; or
`(xiv) any multinational or supranational entity or any agency or
instrumentality thereof.
`(B) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY- The Commission may, by rule or order,
define a `qualified investor' as any other person, taking into
consideration such factors as the financial sophistication of the person,
net worth, and knowledge and experience in financial matters.'.
SEC. 208. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES DEFINED.
Section 3(a)(42) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78c(a)(42)) is amended--
(1) by striking `or' at the end of subparagraph (C);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (D) and inserting
`; or'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(E) for purposes of sections 15, 15C, and 17A as applied to a bank, a
qualified Canadian government obligation as defined in section 5136 of the
Revised Statutes of the United States.'.
SEC. 209. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This subtitle shall take effect at the end of the 270-day period beginning
on the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 210. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act shall supersede, affect, or otherwise limit the scope
and applicability of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.).
Subtitle B--Bank Investment Company Activities
SEC. 211. CUSTODY OF INVESTMENT COMPANY ASSETS BY AFFILIATED BANK.
(a) MANAGEMENT COMPANIES- Section 17(f) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-17(f)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A),
(B), and (C), respectively;
(2) by striking `(f) Every registered' and inserting the
following:
`(f) CUSTODY OF SECURITIES-
(3) by redesignating the second, third, fourth, and fifth sentences of
such subsection as paragraphs (2) through (5), respectively, and indenting
the left margin of such paragraphs appropriately; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(6) The Commission may adopt rules and regulations, and issue orders,
consistent with the protection of investors, prescribing the conditions
under which a bank, or an affiliated person of a bank, either of which is an
affiliated person, promoter, organizer, or sponsor of, or principal
underwriter for, a registered management company may serve as custodian of
that registered management company.'.
(b) UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS- Section 26 of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-26) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (e) as subsections (c)
through (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new
subsection:
`(b) The Commission may adopt rules and regulations, and issue orders,
consistent with the protection of investors, prescribing the conditions under
which a bank, or an affiliated person of a bank, either of which is an
affiliated person of a principal underwriter for, or depositor of, a
registered unit investment trust, may serve as trustee or custodian under
subsection (a)(1).'.
(c) FIDUCIARY DUTY OF CUSTODIAN- Section 36(a) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-35(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking `or' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting `;
or'; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
SEC. 212. LENDING TO AN AFFILIATED INVESTMENT COMPANY.
Section 17(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-17(a))
is amended--
(1) by striking `or' at the end of paragraph (2);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting `;
or'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(4) to loan money or other property to such registered company, or to
any company controlled by such registered company, in contravention of such
rules, regulations, or orders as the Commission may prescribe or issue
consistent with the protection of investors.'.
SEC. 213. INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 2(a)(19)(A) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
(15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(19)(A)) is amended--
(1) by striking clause (v) and inserting the following new clause:
`(v) any person or any affiliated person of a person (other than a
registered investment company) that, at any time during the 6-month
period preceding the date of the determination of whether that person or
affiliated person is an interested person, has executed any portfolio
transactions for, engaged in any principal transactions with, or
distributed shares for--
`(I) the investment company;
`(II) any other investment company having the same investment
adviser as such investment company or holding itself out to investors
as a related company for purposes of investment or investor services;
or
`(III) any account over which the investment company's investment
adviser has brokerage placement discretion,';
(2) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); and
(3) by inserting after clause (v) the following new clause:
`(vi) any person or any affiliated person of a person (other than a
registered investment company) that, at any time during the 6-month
period preceding the date of the determination of whether that person or
affiliated person is an interested person, has loaned money or other
property to--
`(I) the investment company;
`(II) any other investment company having the same investment
adviser as such investment company or holding itself out to investors
as a related company for purposes of investment or investor services;
or
`(III) any account for which the investment company's investment
adviser has borrowing authority,'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 2(a)(19)(B) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-2(a)(19)(B)) is amended--
(1) by striking clause (v) and inserting the following new clause:
`(v) any person or any affiliated person of a person (other than a
registered investment company) that, at any time during the 6-month
period preceding the date of the determination of whether that person or
affiliated person is an interested person, has executed any portfolio
transactions for, engaged in any principal transactions with, or
distributed shares for--
`(I) any investment company for which the investment adviser or
principal underwriter serves as such;
`(II) any investment company holding itself out to investors, for
purposes of investment or investor services, as a company related to
any investment company for which the investment adviser or principal
underwriter serves as such; or
`(III) any account over which the investment adviser has brokerage
placement discretion,';
(2) by redesignating clause (vi) as clause (vii); and
(3) by inserting after clause (v) the following new clause:
`(vi) any person or any affiliated person of a person (other than a
registered investment company) that, at any time during the 6-month
period preceding the date of the determination of whether that person or
affiliated person is an interested person, has loaned money or other
property to--
`(I) any investment company for which the investment adviser or
principal underwriter serves as such;
`(II) any investment company holding itself out to investors, for
purposes of investment or investor services, as a company related to
any investment company for which the investment adviser or principal
underwriter serves as such; or
`(III) any account for which the investment adviser has borrowing
authority,'.
(c) AFFILIATION OF DIRECTORS- Section 10(c) of the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-10(c)) is amended by striking `bank, except' and
inserting `bank (together with its affiliates and subsidiaries) or any one
bank holding company (together with its affiliates and subsidiaries) (as such
terms are defined in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956),
except'.
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall take effect
at the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
subtitle.
SEC. 214. ADDITIONAL SEC DISCLOSURE AUTHORITY.
Section 35(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-34(a))
is amended to read as follows:
`(a) MISREPRESENTATION OF GUARANTEES-
`(1) IN GENERAL- It shall be unlawful for any person, issuing or selling
any security of which a registered investment company is the issuer, to
represent or imply in any manner whatsoever that such security or
company--
`(A) has been guaranteed, sponsored, recommended, or approved by the
United States, or any agency, instrumentality or officer of the United
States;
`(B) has been insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
or
`(C) is guaranteed by or is otherwise an obligation of any bank or
insured depository institution.
`(2) DISCLOSURES- Any person issuing or selling the securities of a
registered investment company that is advised by, or sold through, a bank
shall prominently disclose that an investment in the company is not insured
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
The Commission may adopt rules and regulations, and issue orders, consistent
with the protection of investors, prescribing the manner in which the
disclosure under this paragraph shall be provided.
`(3) DEFINITIONS- The terms `insured depository institution' and
`appropriate Federal banking agency' have the same meanings given in section
3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.'.
SEC. 215. DEFINITION OF BROKER UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF
1940.
Section 2(a)(6) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80a-2(a)(6)) is amended to read as follows:
`(6) The term `broker' has the same meaning given in section 3 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that such term does not include any
person solely by reason of the fact that such person is an underwriter for
one or more investment companies.'.
SEC. 216. DEFINITION OF DEALER UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF
1940.
Section 2(a)(11) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80a-2(a)(11)) is amended to read as follows:
`(11) The term `dealer' has the same meaning given in the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, but does not include an insurance company or
investment company.'.
SEC. 217. REMOVAL OF THE EXCLUSION FROM THE DEFINITION OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
FOR BANKS THAT ADVISE INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
(a) INVESTMENT ADVISER- Section 202(a)(11)(A) of the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-2(a)(11)(A)) is amended by striking `investment
company' and inserting `investment company, except that the term `investment
adviser' includes any bank or bank holding company to the extent that such
bank or bank holding company serves or acts as an investment adviser to a
registered investment company, but if, in the case of a bank, such services or
actions are performed through a separately identifiable department or
division, the department or division, and not the bank itself, shall be deemed
to be the investment adviser'.
(b) SEPARATELY IDENTIFIABLE DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION- Section 202(a) of the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-2(a)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
`(26) The term `separately identifiable department or division' of a
bank means a unit--
`(A) that is under the direct supervision of an officer or officers
designated by the board of directors of the bank as responsible for the
day-to-day conduct of the bank's investment adviser activities for one or
more investment companies, including the supervision of all bank employees
engaged in the performance of such activities; and
`(B) for which all of the records relating to its investment adviser
activities are separately maintained in or extractable from such unit's
own facilities or the facilities of the bank, and such records are so
maintained or otherwise accessible as to permit independent examination
and enforcement by the Commission of this Act or the Investment Company
Act of 1940 and rules and regulations promulgated under this Act or the
Investment Company Act of 1940.'.
SEC. 218. DEFINITION OF BROKER UNDER THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF
1940.
Section 202(a)(3) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80b-2(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
`(3) The term `broker' has the same meaning given in section 3 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.'.
SEC. 219. DEFINITION OF DEALER UNDER THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF
1940.
Section 202(a)(7) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80b-2(a)(7)) is amended to read as follows:
`(7) The term `dealer' has the same meaning given in section 3 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but does not include an insurance company
or investment company.'.
SEC. 220. INTERAGENCY CONSULTATION.
The Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-1 et seq.) is amended
by inserting after section 210 the following new section:
`SEC. 210A. CONSULTATION.
`(a) EXAMINATION RESULTS AND OTHER INFORMATION-
`(1) The appropriate Federal banking agency shall provide the Commission
upon request the results of any examination, reports, records, or other
information to which such agency may have access with respect to the
investment advisory activities--
`(i) bank holding company;
`(iii) separately identifiable department or division of a
bank,
that is registered under section 203 of this title; and
`(B) in the case of a bank holding company or bank that has a
subsidiary or a separately identifiable department or division registered
under that section, of such bank or bank holding company.
`(2) The Commission shall provide to the appropriate Federal banking
agency upon request the results of any examination, reports, records, or
other information with respect to the investment advisory activities of any
bank holding company, bank, or separately identifiable department or
division of a bank, which is registered under section 203 of this
title.
`(b) EFFECT ON OTHER AUTHORITY- Nothing in this section shall limit in any
respect the authority of the appropriate Federal banking agency with respect
to such bank holding company, bank, or department or division under any other
provision of law.
`(c) DEFINITION- For purposes of this section, the term `appropriate
Federal banking agency' shall have the same meaning given in section 3 of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act.'.
SEC. 221. TREATMENT OF BANK COMMON TRUST FUNDS.
(a) SECURITIES ACT OF 1933- Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933
(15 U.S.C. 77c(a)(2)) is amended by striking `or any interest or participation
in any common trust fund or similar fund maintained by a bank exclusively for
the collective investment and reinvestment of assets contributed thereto by
such bank in its capacity as trustee, executor, administrator, or guardian'
and inserting `or any interest or participation in any common trust fund or
similar fund that is excluded from the definition of the term `investment
company' under section 3(c)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940'.
(b) SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934- Section 3(a)(12)(A)(iii) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(12)(A)(iii)) is amended to
read as follows:
`(iii) any interest or participation in any common trust fund or
similar fund that is excluded from the definition of the term `investment
company' under section 3(c)(3) of the Investment Company Act of
1940;'.
(c) INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940- Section 3(c)(3) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3(c)(3)) is amended by inserting before the
period the following: `, if--
`(A) such fund is employed by the bank solely as an aid to the
administration of trusts, estates, or other accounts created and
maintained for a fiduciary purpose;
`(B) except in connection with the ordinary advertising of the bank's
fiduciary services, interests in such fund are not--
`(ii) offered for sale to the general public; and
`(C) fees and expenses charged by such fund are not in contravention
of fiduciary principles established under applicable Federal or State
law'.
SEC. 222. INVESTMENT ADVISERS PROHIBITED FROM HAVING CONTROLLING INTEREST IN
REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANY.
Section 15 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-15) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(g) CONTROLLING INTEREST IN INVESTMENT COMPANY PROHIBITED-
`(1) IN GENERAL- If an investment adviser to a registered investment
company, or an affiliated person of that investment adviser, holds a
controlling interest in that registered investment company in a trustee or
fiduciary capacity, such person shall--
`(A) if it holds the shares in a trustee or fiduciary capacity with
respect to any employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, transfer the power to vote the shares of the
investment company through to another person acting in a fiduciary
capacity with respect to the plan who is not an affiliated person of that
investment adviser or any affiliated person thereof; or
`(B) if it holds the shares in a trustee or fiduciary capacity with
respect to any person or entity other than an employee benefit plan
subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974--
`(i) transfer the power to vote the shares of the investment company
through to--
`(I) the beneficial owners of the shares;
`(II) another person acting in a fiduciary capacity who is not an
affiliated person of that investment adviser or any affiliated person
thereof; or
`(III) any person authorized to receive statements and information
with respect to the trust who is not an affiliated person of that
investment adviser or any affiliated person thereof;
`(ii) vote the shares of the investment company held by it in the
same proportion as shares held by all other shareholders of the
investment company; or
`(iii) vote the shares of the investment company as otherwise
permitted under such rules, regulations, or orders as the Commission may
prescribe or issue consistent with the protection of
investors.
`(2) EXEMPTION- Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any investment adviser
to a registered investment company, or any affiliated person of that
investment adviser, that holds shares of the investment company in a trustee
or fiduciary capacity if that registered investment company consists solely
of assets held in such capacities.
`(3) SAFE HARBOR- No investment adviser to a registered investment
company or any affiliated person of such investment adviser shall be deemed
to have acted unlawfully or to have breached a fiduciary duty under State or
Federal law solely by reason of acting in accordance with clause (i), (ii),
or (iii) of paragraph (1)(B).'.
SEC. 223. STATUTORY DISQUALIFICATION FOR BANK WRONGDOING.
Section 9(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-9(a)) is
amended in paragraphs (1) and (2) by striking `securities dealer, transfer
agent,' and inserting `securities dealer, bank, transfer agent,'.
SEC. 224. CONFORMING CHANGE IN DEFINITION.
Section 2(a)(5) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80a-2(a)(5)) is amended by striking `(A) a banking institution organized under
the laws of the United States' and inserting `(A) a depository institution (as
defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) or a branch or
agency of a foreign bank (as such terms are defined in section 1(b) of the
International Banking Act of 1978)'.
SEC. 225. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
Section 202 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80b-2) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(c) CONSIDERATION OF PROMOTION OF EFFICIENCY, COMPETITION, AND CAPITAL
FORMATION- Whenever pursuant to this title the Commission is engaged in
rulemaking and is required to consider or determine whether an action is
necessary or appropriate in the public interest, the Commission shall also
consider, in addition to the protection of investors, whether the action will
promote efficiency, competition, and capital formation.'.
SEC. 226. CHURCH PLAN EXCLUSION.
Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80a-3(c)(14)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) as
subclauses (I) and (II), respectively;
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii),
respectively;
(3) by inserting `(A)' after `(14)'; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(B) If a registered investment company would be excluded from the
definition of investment company under this subsection but for the fact that
some of the company's assets do not satisfy the condition of subparagraph
(A)(ii) of this paragraph, then any investment adviser to the company or
affiliated person of such investment adviser shall not be subject to the
requirements of section 15(g)(1)(B) with respect to shares of the investment
company.'.
SEC. 227. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This subtitle shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
Subtitle C--Securities and Exchange Commission Supervision of Investment
Bank Holding Companies
SEC. 231. SUPERVISION OF INVESTMENT BANK HOLDING COMPANIES BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
(a) AMENDMENT- Section 17 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15
U.S.C. 78q) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (k); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following new
subsection:
`(i) INVESTMENT BANK HOLDING COMPANIES-
`(1) ELECTIVE SUPERVISION OF AN INVESTMENT BANK HOLDING COMPANY NOT
HAVING A BANK OR SAVINGS ASSOCIATION AFFILIATE-
`(A) IN GENERAL- An investment bank holding company that is
not--
`(i) an affiliate of a wholesale financial institution, an insured
bank (other than an institution described in subparagraph (D), (F), or
(G) of section 2(c)(2), or held under section 4(f), of the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956), or a savings association;
`(ii) a foreign bank, foreign company, or company that is described
in section 8(a) of the International Banking Act of 1978; or
`(iii) a foreign bank that controls, directly or indirectly, a
corporation chartered under section 25A of the Federal Reserve
Act,
may elect to become supervised by filing with the Commission a notice
of intention to become supervised, pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this
paragraph. Any investment bank holding company filing such a notice shall
be supervised in accordance with this section and comply with the rules
promulgated by the Commission applicable to supervised investment bank
holding companies.
`(B) NOTIFICATION OF STATUS AS A SUPERVISED INVESTMENT BANK HOLDING
COMPANY- An investment bank holding company that elects under subparagraph
(A) to become supervised by the Commission shall file with the Commission
a written notice of intention to become supervised by the Commission in
such form and containing such information and documents concerning such
investment bank holding company as the Commission, by rule, may prescribe
as necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of this
section. Unless the Commission finds that such supervision is not
necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of this section,
such supervision shall become effective 45 days after the date of receipt
of such written notice by the Commission or within such shorter time
period as the Commission, by rule or order, may determine.
`(2) ELECTION NOT TO BE SUPERVISED BY THE COMMISSION AS AN INVESTMENT
BANK HOLDING COMPANY-
`(A) VOLUNTARY WITHDRAWAL- A supervised investment bank holding
company that is supervised pursuant to paragraph (1) may, upon such terms
and conditions as the Commission deems necessary or appropriate, elect not
to be supervised by the Commission by filing a written notice of
withdrawal from Commission supervision. Such notice shall not become
effective until 1 year after receipt by the Commission, or such shorter or
longer period as the Commission deems necessary or appropriate to ensure
effective supervision of the material risks to the supervised investment
bank holding company and to the affiliated broker or dealer, or to prevent
evasion of the purposes of this section.
`(B) DISCONTINUATION OF COMMISSION SUPERVISION- If the Commission
finds that any supervised investment bank holding company that is
supervised pursuant to paragraph (1) is no longer in existence or has
ceased to be an investment bank holding company, or if the Commission
finds that continued supervision of such a supervised investment bank
holding company is not consistent with the purposes of this section, the
Commission may discontinue the supervision pursuant to a rule or order, if
any, promulgated by the Commission under this section.
`(3) SUPERVISION OF INVESTMENT BANK HOLDING COMPANIES-
`(A) RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING-
`(i) IN GENERAL- Every supervised investment bank holding company
and each affiliate thereof shall make and keep for prescribed periods
such records, furnish copies thereof, and make such reports, as the
Commission may require by rule, in order to keep the Commission informed
as to--
`(I) the company's or affiliate's activities, financial condition,
policies, systems for monitoring and controlling financial and
operational risks, and transactions and relationships between any
broker or dealer affiliate of the supervised investment bank holding
company; and
`(II) the extent to which the company or affiliate has complied
with the provisions of this Act and regulations prescribed and orders
issued under this Act.
`(ii) FORM AND CONTENTS- Such records and reports shall be prepared
in such form and according to such specifications (including
certification by an independent public accountant), as the Commission
may require and shall be provided promptly at any time upon request by
the Commission. Such records and reports may include--
`(I) a balance sheet and income statement;
`(II) an assessment of the consolidated capital of the supervised
investment bank holding company;
`(III) an independent auditor's report attesting to the supervised
investment bank holding company's compliance with its internal risk
management and internal control objectives; and
`(IV) reports concerning the extent to which the company or
affiliate has complied with the provisions of this title and any
regulations prescribed and orders issued under this
title.
`(B) USE OF EXISTING REPORTS-
`(i) IN GENERAL- The Commission shall, to the fullest extent
possible, accept reports in fulfillment of the requirements under this
paragraph that the supervised investment bank holding company or its
affiliates have been required to provide to another appropriate
regulatory agency or self-regulatory organization.
`(ii) AVAILABILITY- A supervised investment bank holding company or
an affiliate of such company shall provide to the Commission, at the
request of the Commission, any report referred to in clause
(i).
`(C) EXAMINATION AUTHORITY-
`(i) FOCUS OF EXAMINATION AUTHORITY- The Commission may make
examinations of any supervised investment bank holding company and any
affiliate of such company in order to--
`(I) inform the Commission regarding--
`(aa) the nature of the operations and financial condition of the
supervised investment bank holding company and its affiliates;
`(bb) the financial and operational risks within the supervised
investment bank holding company that may affect any broker or dealer controlled
by such supervised investment bank holding company; and
`(cc) the systems of the supervised investment bank holding company
and its affiliates for monitoring and controlling those risks; and
`(II) monitor compliance with the provisions of this subsection,
provisions governing transactions and relationships between any broker
or dealer affiliated with the supervised investment bank holding
company and any of the company's other affiliates, and applicable
provisions of subchapter II of chapter 53, title 31, United States
Code (commonly referred to as the `Bank Secrecy Act') and regulations
thereunder.
`(ii) RESTRICTED FOCUS OF EXAMINATIONS- The Commission shall limit
the focus and scope of any examination of a supervised investment bank
holding company to--
`(II) any affiliate of the company that, because of its size,
condition, or activities, the nature or size of the transactions
between such affiliate and any affiliated broker or dealer, or the
centralization of functions within the holding company system, could,
in the discretion of the Commission, have a materially adverse effect
on the operational or financial condition of the broker or
dealer.
`(iii) DEFERENCE TO OTHER EXAMINATIONS- For purposes of this
subparagraph, the Commission shall, to the fullest extent possible, use
the reports of examination of an institution described in subparagraph
(D), (F), or (G) of section 2(c)(2), or held under section 4(f), of the
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 made by the appropriate regulatory
agency, or of a licensed insurance company made by the appropriate State
insurance regulator.
`(4) HOLDING COMPANY CAPITAL-
`(A) AUTHORITY- If the Commission finds that it is necessary to
adequately supervise investment bank holding companies and their broker or
dealer affiliates consistent with the purposes of this subsection, the
Commission may adopt capital adequacy rules for supervised investment bank
holding companies.
`(B) METHOD OF CALCULATION- In developing rules under this
paragraph:
`(i) DOUBLE LEVERAGE- The Commission shall consider the use by the
supervised investment bank holding company of debt and other liabilities
to fund capital investments in affiliates.
`(ii) NO UNWEIGHTED CAPITAL RATIO- The Commission shall not impose
under this section a capital ratio that is not based on appropriate
risk-weighting considerations.
`(iii) NO CAPITAL REQUIREMENT ON REGULATED ENTITIES- The Commission
shall not, by rule, regulation, guideline, order or otherwise, impose
any capital adequacy provision on a nonbanking affiliate (other than a
broker or dealer) that is in compliance with applicable capital
requirements of another Federal regulatory authority or State insurance
authority.
`(iv) APPROPRIATE EXCLUSIONS- The Commission shall take full account
of the applicable capital requirements of another Federal regulatory
authority or State insurance regulator.
`(C) INTERNAL RISK MANAGEMENT MODELS- The Commission may incorporate
internal risk management models into its capital adequacy rules for
supervised investment bank holding companies.
`(5) FUNCTIONAL REGULATION OF BANKING AND INSURANCE ACTIVITIES OF
SUPERVISED INVESTMENT BANK HOLDING COMPANIES- The Commission shall defer
to--
`(A) the appropriate regulatory agency with regard to all
interpretations of, and the enforcement of, applicable banking laws
relating to the activities, conduct, ownership, and operations of banks,
and institutions described in subparagraph (D), (F), and (G) of section
2(c)(2), or held under section 4(f), of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956; and
`(B) the appropriate State insurance regulators with regard to all
interpretations of, and the enforcement of, applicable State insurance
laws relating to the activities, conduct, and operations of insurance
companies and insurance agents.
`(6) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this subsection:
`(A) The term `investment bank holding company' means--
`(i) any person other than a natural person that owns or controls
one or more brokers or dealers; and
`(ii) the associated persons of the investment bank holding
company.
`(B) The term `supervised investment bank holding company' means any
investment bank holding company that is supervised by the Commission
pursuant to this subsection.
`(C) The terms `affiliate', `bank', `bank holding company', `company',
`control', `savings association', and `wholesale financial institution'
have the same meanings given in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act
of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841).
`(D) The term `insured bank' has the same meaning given in section 3
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
`(E) The term `foreign bank' has the same meaning given in section
1(b)(7) of the International Banking Act of 1978.
`(F) The terms `person associated with an investment bank holding
company' and `associated person of an investment bank holding company'
mean any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or
under common control with, an investment bank holding company.'.
`(j) AUTHORITY TO LIMIT DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION- Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, the Commission shall not be compelled to disclose any
information required to be reported under subsection (h) or (i) or any
information supplied to the Commission by any domestic or foreign regulatory
agency that relates to the financial or operational condition of any
associated person of a broker or dealer, investment bank holding company, or
any affiliate of an investment bank holding company. Nothing in this
subsection shall authorize the Commission to withhold information from
Congress, or prevent the Commission from complying with a request for
information from any other Federal department or agency or any self-regulatory
organization requesting the information for purposes within the scope of its
jurisdiction, or complying with an order of a court of the United States in an
action brought by the United States or the Commission. For purposes of section
552 of title 5, United States Code, this subsection shall be considered a
statute described in subsection (b)(3)(B) of such section 552. In prescribing
regulations to carry out the requirements of this subsection, the Commission
shall designate information described in or obtained pursuant to subparagraphs
(A), (B), and (C) of subsection (i)(5) as confidential information for
purposes of section 24(b)(2) of this title.'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
(1) Section 3(a)(34) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78c(a)(34)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
`(H) When used with respect to an institution described in
subparagraph (D), (F), or (G) of section 2(c)(2), or held under section
4(f), of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956--
`(i) the Comptroller of the Currency, in the case of a national bank
or a bank in the District of Columbia examined by the Comptroller of the
Currency;
`(ii) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in the
case of a State member bank of the Federal Reserve System or any
corporation chartered under section 25A of the Federal Reserve
Act;
`(iii) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, in the case of any
other bank the deposits of which are insured in accordance with the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act; or
`(iv) the Commission in the case of all other such
institutions.'.
(2) Section 1112(e) of the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12
U.S.C. 3412(e)) is amended--
(A) by striking `this title' and inserting `law'; and
(B) by inserting `, examination reports' after `financial
records'.
Subtitle D--Disclosure of Customer Costs of Acquiring Financial
Products
SEC. 241. IMPROVED AND CONSISTENT DISCLOSURE.
(a) REVISED REGULATIONS REQUIRED- Within 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, each Federal financial regulatory authority shall
prescribe rules, or revisions to its rules, to improve the accuracy,
simplicity, and completeness, and to make more consistent, the disclosure of
information by persons subject to the jurisdiction of such regulatory
authority concerning any commissions, fees, or other costs incurred by
customers in the acquisition of financial products.
(b) CONSULTATION- In prescribing rules and revisions under subsection (a),
the Federal financial regulatory authorities shall consult with each other and
with appropriate State financial regulatory authorities.
(c) CONSIDERATION OF EXISTING DISCLOSURES- In prescribing rules and
revisions under subsection (a), the Federal financial regulatory authorities
shall consider the sufficiency and appropriateness of then existing laws and
rules applicable to persons subject to their jurisdiction, and may prescribe
exemptions from the rules and revisions required by subsection (a) to the
extent appropriate in light of the objective of this section to increase the
consistency of disclosure practices.
(d) ENFORCEMENT- Any rule prescribed by a Federal financial regulatory
authority pursuant to this section shall, for purposes of enforcement, be
treated as a rule prescribed by such regulatory authority pursuant to the
statute establishing such regulatory authority's jurisdiction over the persons
to whom such rule applies.
(e) DEFINITION- As used in this section, the term `Federal financial
regulatory authority' means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Comptroller of the
Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission, and any self-regulatory organization under the supervision
of any of the foregoing.
Subtitle E--Banks and Bank Holding Companies
SEC. 251. CONSULTATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Securities and Exchange Commission shall consult and
coordinate comments with the appropriate Federal banking agency before taking
any action or rendering any opinion with respect to the manner in which any
insured depository institution or depository institution holding company
reports loan loss reserves in its financial statement, including the amount of
any such loan loss reserve.
(b) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of subsection (a), the terms `insured
depository institution', `depository institution holding company', and
`appropriate Federal banking agency' have the same meaning as in section 3 of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
TITLE III--INSURANCE
Subtitle A--State Regulation of Insurance
SEC. 301. STATE REGULATION OF THE BUSINESS OF INSURANCE.
The Act entitled `An Act to express the intent of the Congress with
reference to the regulation of the business of insurance' and approved March
9, 1945 (15 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.), commonly referred to as the
`McCarran-Ferguson Act' remains the law of the United States.
SEC. 302. MANDATORY INSURANCE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
No person shall engage in the business of insurance in a State as
principal or agent unless such person is licensed as required by the
appropriate insurance regulator of such State in accordance with the relevant
State insurance law, subject to section 104.
SEC. 303. FUNCTIONAL REGULATION OF INSURANCE.
The insurance activities of any person (including a national bank
exercising its power to act as agent under the eleventh undesignated paragraph
of section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act) shall be functionally regulated by
the States, subject to section 104.
SEC. 304. INSURANCE UNDERWRITING IN NATIONAL BANKS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in section 305, a national bank and the
subsidiaries of a national bank may not provide insurance in a State as
principal except that this prohibition shall not apply to authorized
products.
(b) AUTHORIZED PRODUCTS- For the purposes of this section, a product is
authorized if--
(1) as of January 1, 1999, the Comptroller of the Currency had
determined in writing that national banks may provide such product as
principal, or national banks were in fact lawfully providing such product as
principal;
(2) no court of relevant jurisdiction had, by final judgment, overturned
a determination of the Comptroller of the Currency that national banks may
provide such product as principal; and
(3) the product is not title insurance, or an annuity contract the
income of which is subject to tax treatment under section 72 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.
(c) DEFINITION- For purposes of this section, the term `insurance'
means--
(1) any product regulated as insurance as of January 1, 1999, in
accordance with the relevant State insurance law, in the State in which the
product is provided;
(2) any product first offered after January 1, 1999, which--
(A) a State insurance regulator determines shall be regulated as
insurance in the State in which the product is provided because the
product insures, guarantees, or indemnifies against liability, loss of
life, loss of health, or loss through damage to or destruction of
property, including, but not limited to, surety bonds, life insurance,
health insurance, title insurance, and property and casualty insurance
(such as private passenger or commercial automobile, homeowners, mortgage,
commercial multiperil, general liability, professional liability, workers'
compensation, fire and allied lines, farm owners multiperil, aircraft,
fidelity, surety, medical malpractice, ocean marine, inland marine, and
boiler and machinery insurance); and
(B) is not a product or service of a bank that is--
(ii) a loan, discount, letter of credit, or other extension of
credit;
(iii) a trust or other fiduciary service;
(iv) a qualified financial contract (as defined in or determined
pursuant to section 11(e)(8)(D)(i) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act); or
(v) a financial guaranty, except that this subparagraph (B) shall
not apply to a product that includes an insurance component such that if
the product is offered or proposed to be offered by the bank as
principal--
(I) it would be treated as a life insurance contract under section
7702 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
(II) in the event that the product is not a letter of credit or
other similar extension of credit, a qualified financial contract, or
a financial guaranty, it would qualify for treatment for losses
incurred with respect to such product under section 832(b)(5) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, if the bank were subject to tax as an
insurance company under section 831 of that Code; or
(3) any annuity contract, the income on which is subject to tax
treatment under section 72 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
SEC. 305. TITLE INSURANCE ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL BANKS AND THEIR
AFFILIATES.
(a) GENERAL PROHIBITION- No national bank, and no subsidiary of a national
bank, may engage in any activity involving the underwriting or sale of title
insurance.
(b) NONDISCRIMINATION PARITY EXCEPTION-
(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including
section 104 of this Act), in the case of any State in which banks organized
under the laws of such State are authorized to sell title insurance as
agency, a national bank and a subsidiary of a national bank may sell title
insurance as agent in such State, but only in the same manner, to the same
extent, and under the same restrictions as such State banks are authorized
to sell title insurance as agent in such State.
(2) COORDINATION WITH `WILDCARD' PROVISION- A State law which authorizes
State banks to engage in any activities in such State in which a national
bank may engage shall not be treated as a statute which authorizes State
banks to sell title insurance as agent, for purposes of paragraph (1).
(c) GRANDFATHERING WITH CONSISTENT REGULATION-
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) and
notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a national bank, and a subsidiary
of a national bank, may conduct title insurance activities which such
national bank or subsidiary was actively and lawfully conducting before the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) INSURANCE AFFILIATE- In the case of a national bank which has an
affiliate which provides insurance as principal and is not a subsidiary of
the bank, the national bank and any subsidiary of the national bank may not
engage in the underwriting of title insurance pursuant to paragraph
(1).
(3) INSURANCE SUBSIDIARY- In the case of a national bank which has a
subsidiary which provides insurance as principal and has no affiliate other
than a subsidiary which provides insurance as principal, the national bank
may not directly engage in any activity involving the underwriting of title
insurance.
(d) `AFFILIATE' AND `SUBSIDIARY' DEFINED- For purposes of this section,
the terms `affiliate' and `subsidiary' have the same meanings as in section 2
of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.
(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- No provision of this Act or any other Federal
law shall be construed as superseding or affecting a State law which was in
effect before the date of the enactment of this Act and which prohibits title
insurance from being offered, provided, or sold in such State, or from being
underwritten with respect to real property in such State, by any person
whatsoever.
SEC. 306. EXPEDITED AND EQUALIZED DISPUTE RESOLUTION FOR FEDERAL
REGULATORS.
(a) FILING IN COURT OF APPEALS- In the case of a regulatory conflict
between a State insurance regulator and a Federal regulator as to whether any
product is or is not insurance, as defined in section 304(c) of this Act, or
whether a State statute, regulation, order, or interpretation regarding any
insurance sales or solicitation activity is properly treated as preempted
under Federal law, either regulator may seek expedited judicial review of such
determination by the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which
the State is located or in the United States Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit by filing a petition for review in such court.
(b) EXPEDITED REVIEW- The United States Court of Appeals in which a
petition for review is filed in accordance with subsection (a) shall complete
all action on such petition, including rendering a judgment, before the end of
the 60-day period beginning on the date on which such petition is filed,
unless all parties to such proceeding agree to any extension of such
period.
(c) SUPREME COURT REVIEW- Any request for certiorari to the Supreme Court
of the United States of any judgment of a United States Court of Appeals with
respect to a petition for review under this section shall be filed with the
Supreme Court of the United States as soon as practicable after such judgment
is issued.
(d) STATUTE OF LIMITATION- No petition may be filed under this section
challenging an order, ruling, determination, or other action of a Federal
regulator or State insurance regulator after the later of--
(1) the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date on which the
first public notice is made of such order, ruling, determination or other
action in its final form; or
(2) the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date on which such
order, ruling, determination, or other action takes effect.
(e) STANDARD OF REVIEW- The court shall decide a petition filed under this
section based on its review on the merits of all questions presented under
State and Federal law, including the nature of the product or activity and the
history and purpose of its regulation under State and Federal law, without
unequal deference.
SEC. 307. CONSUMER PROTECTION REGULATIONS.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 46 (as added by section 122(b) of this Act) the
following new section:
`SEC. 47. CONSUMER PROTECTION REGULATIONS.
`(a) REGULATIONS REQUIRED-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The Federal banking agencies shall prescribe and
publish in final form, before the end of the 1-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999, consumer
protection regulations (which the agencies jointly determine to be
appropriate) that--
`(A) apply to retail sales practices, solicitations, advertising, or
offers of any insurance product by any insured depository institution or
wholesale financial institution or any person who is engaged in such
activities at an office of the institution or on behalf of the
institution; and
`(B) are consistent with the requirements of this Act and provide such
additional protections for consumers to whom such sales, solicitations,
advertising, or offers are directed as the agency determines to be
appropriate.
`(2) APPLICABILITY TO SUBSIDIARIES- The regulations prescribed pursuant
to paragraph (1) shall extend such protections to any subsidiaries of an
insured depository institution, as deemed appropriate by the regulators
referred to in paragraph (3), where such extension is determined to be
necessary to ensure the consumer protections provided by this section.
`(3) CONSULTATION AND JOINT REGULATIONS- The Federal banking agencies
shall consult with each other and prescribe joint regulations pursuant to
paragraph (1), after consultation with the State insurance regulators, as
appropriate.
`(b) SALES PRACTICES- The regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection
(a) shall include anticoercion rules applicable to the sale of insurance
products which prohibit an insured depository institution from engaging in any
practice that would lead a consumer to believe an extension of credit, in
violation of section 106(b) of the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of
1970, is conditional upon--
`(1) the purchase of an insurance product from the institution or any of
its affiliates; or
`(2) an agreement by the consumer not to obtain, or a prohibition on the
consumer from obtaining, an insurance product from an unaffiliated
entity.
`(c) DISCLOSURES AND ADVERTISING- The regulations prescribed pursuant to
subsection (a) shall include the following provisions relating to disclosures
and advertising in connection with the initial purchase of an insurance
product:
`(A) IN GENERAL- Requirements that the following disclosures be made
orally and in writing before the completion of the initial sale and, in
the case of clause (iii), at the time of application for an extension of
credit:
`(i) UNINSURED STATUS- As appropriate, the product is not insured by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the United States Government,
or the insured depository institution.
`(ii) INVESTMENT RISK- In the case of a variable annuity or other
insurance product which involves an investment risk, that there is an
investment risk associated with the product, including possible loss of
value.
`(iii) COERCION- The approval of an extension of credit may not be
conditioned on--
`(I) the purchase of an insurance product from the institution in
which the application for credit is pending or any of its affiliates
or subsidiaries; or
`(II) an agreement by the consumer not to obtain, or a prohibition
on the consumer from obtaining, an insurance product from an
unaffiliated entity.
`(B) MAKING DISCLOSURE READILY UNDERSTANDABLE- Regulations prescribed
under subparagraph (A) shall encourage the use of disclosure that is
conspicuous, simple, direct, and readily understandable, such as the
following:
`(i) `NOT FDIC--INSURED'.
`(ii) `NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK'.
`(iii) `MAY GO DOWN IN VALUE'.
`(iv) `NOT INSURED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY'.
`(C) ADJUSTMENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF PURCHASE- In prescribing
the requirements under subparagraphs (A) and (D), necessary adjustments
shall be made for purchase in person, by telephone, or by electronic media
to provide for the most appropriate and complete form of disclosure and
acknowledgments.
`(D) CONSUMER ACKNOWLEDGMENT- A requirement that an insured depository
institution shall require any person selling an insurance product at any
office of, or on behalf of, the institution to obtain, at the time a
consumer receives the disclosures required under this paragraph or at the
time of the initial purchase by the consumer of such product, an
acknowledgment by such consumer of the receipt of the disclosure required
under this subsection with respect to such product.
`(2) PROHIBITION ON MISREPRESENTATIONS- A prohibition on any practice,
or any advertising, at any office of, or on behalf of, the insured
depository institution, or any subsidiary as appropriate, which could
mislead any person or otherwise cause a reasonable person to reach an
erroneous belief with respect to--
`(A) the uninsured nature of any insurance product sold, or offered
for sale, by the institution or any subsidiary of the
institution;
`(B) in the case of a variable annuity or other insurance product that
involves an investment risk, the investment risk associated with any such
product; or
`(C) in the case of an institution or subsidiary at which insurance
products are sold or offered for sale, the fact that--
`(i) the approval of an extension of credit to a customer by the
institution or subsidiary may not be conditioned on the purchase of an
insurance product by such customer from the institution or subsidiary;
and
`(ii) the customer is free to purchase the insurance product from
another source.'.
`(d) SEPARATION OF BANKING AND NONBANKING ACTIVITIES-
`(1) REGULATIONS REQUIRED- The regulations prescribed pursuant to
subsection (a) shall include such provisions as the Federal banking agencies
consider appropriate to ensure that the routine acceptance of deposits is
kept, to the extent practicable, physically segregated from insurance
product activity.
`(2) REQUIREMENTS- Regulations prescribed pursuant to paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
`(A) SEPARATE SETTING- A clear delineation of the setting in which,
and the circumstances under which, transactions involving insurance
products should be conducted in a location physically segregated from an
area where retail deposits are routinely accepted.
`(B) REFERRALS- Standards which permit any person accepting deposits
from the public in an area where such transactions are routinely conducted
in an insured depository institution to refer a customer who seeks to
purchase any insurance product to a qualified person who sells such
product, only if the person making the referral receives no more than a
one-time nominal fee of a fixed dollar amount for each referral that does
not depend on whether the referral results in a transaction.
`(C) QUALIFICATION AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS- Standards prohibiting
any insured depository institution from permitting any person to sell or
offer for sale any insurance product in any part of any office of the
institution, or on behalf of the institution, unless such person is
appropriately qualified and licensed.
`(e) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITION-
`(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of an applicant for, or an insured under,
any insurance product described in paragraph (2), the status of the
applicant or insured as a victim of domestic violence, or as a provider of
services to victims of domestic violence, shall not be considered as a
criterion in any decision with regard to insurance underwriting, pricing,
renewal, or scope of coverage of insurance policies, or payment of insurance
claims, except as required or expressly permitted under State law.
`(2) SCOPE OF APPLICATION- The prohibition contained in paragraph (1)
shall apply to any insurance product which is sold or offered for sale, as
principal, agent, or broker, by any insured depository institution or
wholesale financial institution or any person who is engaged in such
activities at an office of the institution or on behalf of the
institution.
`(3) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS- It is the sense of the Congress that, by the
end of the 30-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act, the States should enact prohibitions against discrimination with
respect to insurance products that are at least as strict as the
prohibitions contained in paragraph (1).
`(4) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEFINED- For purposes of this subsection, the
term `domestic violence' means the occurrence of one or more of the
following acts by a current or former family member, household member,
intimate partner, or caretaker:
`(A) Attempting to cause or causing or threatening another person
physical harm, severe emotional distress, psychological trauma, rape, or
sexual assault.
`(B) Engaging in a course of conduct or repeatedly committing acts
toward another person, including following the person without proper
authority, under circumstances that place the person in reasonable fear of
bodily injury or physical harm.
`(C) Subjecting another person to false imprisonment.
`(D) Attempting to cause or cause damage to property so as to
intimidate or attempt to control the behavior of another person.
`(f) CONSUMER GRIEVANCE PROCESS- The Federal banking agencies shall
jointly establish a consumer complaint mechanism, for receiving and
expeditiously addressing consumer complaints alleging a violation of
regulations issued under the section, which shall--
`(1) establish a group within each regulatory agency to receive such
complaints;
`(2) develop procedures for investigating such complaints;
`(3) develop procedures for informing consumers of rights they may have
in connection with such complaints; and
`(4) develop procedures for addressing concerns raised by such
complaints, as appropriate, including procedures for the recovery of losses
to the extent appropriate.
`(g) EFFECT ON OTHER AUTHORITY-
`(1) IN GENERAL- No provision of this section shall be construed as
granting, limiting, or otherwise affecting--
`(A) any authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any
self-regulatory organization, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board,
or the Secretary of the Treasury under any Federal securities law;
or
`(B) except as provided in paragraph (2), any authority of any State
insurance commissioner or other State authority under any State
law.
`(2) COORDINATION WITH STATE LAW-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subparagraph (B), regulations
prescribed by a Federal banking agency under this section shall not apply
to retail sales, solicitations, advertising, or offers of any insurance
product by any insured depository institution or wholesale financial
institution or to any person who is engaged in such activities at an
office of such institution or on behalf of the institution, in a State
where the State has in effect statutes, regulations, orders, or
interpretations, that are inconsistent with or contrary to the regulations
prescribed by the Federal banking agencies.
`(B) PREEMPTION- If, with respect to any provision of the regulations
prescribed under this section, the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Board of
Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation determine jointly
that the protection afforded by such provision for consumers is greater
than the protection provided by a comparable provision of the statutes,
regulations, orders, or interpretations referred to in subparagraph (A) of
any State, such provision of the regulations prescribed under this section
shall supersede the comparable provision of such State statute,
regulation, order, or interpretation.
`(h) INSURANCE PRODUCT DEFINED- For purposes of this section, the term
`insurance product' includes an annuity contract the income of which is
subject to tax treatment under section 72 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.'.
SEC. 308. CERTAIN STATE AFFILIATION LAWS PREEMPTED FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES
AND AFFILIATES.
Except as provided in section 104(a)(2), no State may, by law, regulation,
order, interpretation, or otherwise--
(1) prevent or significantly interfere with the ability of any insurer,
or any affiliate of an insurer (whether such affiliate is organized as a
stock company, mutual holding company, or otherwise), to become a financial
holding company or to acquire control of an insured depository
institution;
(2) limit the amount of an insurer's assets that may be invested in the
voting securities of an insured depository institution (or any company which
controls such institution), except that the laws of an insurer's State of
domicile may limit the amount of such investment to an amount that is not
less than 5 percent of the insurer's admitted assets; or
(3) prevent, significantly interfere with, or have the authority to
review, approve, or disapprove a plan of reorganization by which an insurer
proposes to reorganize from mutual form to become a stock insurer (whether
as a direct or indirect subsidiary of a mutual holding company or otherwise)
unless such State is the State of domicile of the insurer.
SEC. 309. INTERAGENCY CONSULTATION.
(a) PURPOSE- It is the intention of the Congress that the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the umbrella supervisor for
financial holding companies, and the State insurance regulators, as the
functional regulators of companies engaged in insurance activities, coordinate
efforts to supervise companies that control both a depository institution and
a company engaged in insurance activities regulated under State law. In
particular, Congress believes that the Board and the State insurance
regulators should share, on a confidential basis, information relevant to the
supervision of companies that control both a depository institution and a
company engaged in insurance activities, including information regarding the
financial health of the consolidated organization and information regarding
transactions and relationships between insurance companies and affiliated
depository institutions. The appropriate Federal banking agencies for
depository institutions should also share, on a confidential basis,
information with the relevant State insurance regulators regarding
transactions and relationships between depository institutions and affiliated
companies engaged in insurance activities. The purpose of this section is to
encourage this coordination and confidential sharing of information, and to
thereby improve both the efficiency and the quality of the supervision of
financial holding companies and their affiliated depository institutions and
companies engaged in insurance activities.
(b) EXAMINATION RESULTS AND OTHER INFORMATION-
(1) INFORMATION OF THE BOARD- Upon the request of the appropriate
insurance regulator of any State, the Board may provide any information of
the Board regarding the financial condition, risk management policies, and
operations of any financial holding company that controls a company that is
engaged in insurance activities and is regulated by such State insurance
regulator, and regarding any transaction or relationship between such an
insurance company and any affiliated depository institution. The Board may
provide any other information to the appropriate State insurance regulator
that the Board believes is necessary or appropriate to permit the State
insurance regulator to administer and enforce applicable State insurance
laws.
(2) BANKING AGENCY INFORMATION- Upon the request of the appropriate
insurance regulator of any State, the appropriate Federal banking agency may
provide any information of the agency regarding any transaction or
relationship between a depository institution supervised by such Federal
banking agency and any affiliated company that is engaged in insurance
activities regulated by such State insurance regulator. The appropriate
Federal banking agency may provide any other information to the appropriate
State insurance regulator that the agency believes is necessary or
appropriate to permit the State insurance regulator to administer and
enforce applicable State insurance laws.
(3) STATE INSURANCE REGULATOR INFORMATION- Upon the request of the Board
or the appropriate Federal banking agency, a State insurance regulator may
provide any examination or other reports, records, or other information to
which such insurance regulator may have access with respect to a company
which--
(A) is engaged in insurance activities and regulated by such insurance
regulator; and
(B) is an affiliate of an insured depository institution, wholesale
financial institution, or financial holding company.
(c) CONSULTATION- Before making any determination relating to the initial
affiliation of, or the continuing affiliation of, an insured depository
institution, wholesale financial institution, or financial holding company
with a company engaged in insurance activities, the appropriate Federal
banking agency shall consult with the appropriate State insurance regulator of
such company and take the views of such insurance regulator into account in
making such determination.
(d) EFFECT ON OTHER AUTHORITY- Nothing in this section shall limit in any
respect the authority of the appropriate Federal banking agency with respect
to an insured depository institution, wholesale financial institution, or bank
holding company or any affiliate thereof under any provision of law.
(e) CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVILEGE-
(1) CONFIDENTIALITY- The appropriate Federal banking agency shall not
provide any information or material that is entitled to confidential
treatment under applicable Federal banking agency regulations, or other
applicable law, to a State insurance regulator unless such regulator agrees
to maintain the information or material in confidence and to take all
reasonable steps to oppose any effort to secure disclosure of the
information or material by the regulator. The appropriate Federal banking
agency shall treat as confidential any information or material obtained from
a State insurance regulator that is entitled to confidential treatment under
applicable State regulations, or other applicable law, and take all
reasonable steps to oppose any effort to secure disclosure of the
information or material by the Federal banking agency.
(2) PRIVILEGE- The provision pursuant to this section of information or
material by a Federal banking agency or State insurance regulator shall not
constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect, any privilege to which the
information or material is otherwise subject.
(f) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this section, the following definitions
shall apply:
(1) APPROPRIATE FEDERAL BANKING AGENCY; INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION-
The terms `appropriate Federal banking agency' and `insured depository
institution' have the same meanings as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act.
(2) BOARD; FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANY; AND WHOLESALE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION- The terms `Board', `financial holding company', and `wholesale
financial institution' have the same meanings as in section 2 of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956.
SEC. 310. DEFINITION OF STATE.
For purposes of this subtitle, the term `State' means any State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, any territory of the United States,
Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands,
the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Subtitle B--Redomestication of Mutual Insurers
SEC. 311. GENERAL APPLICATION.
This subtitle shall only apply to a mutual insurance company in a State
which has not enacted a law which expressly establishes reasonable terms and
conditions for a mutual insurance company domiciled in such State to
reorganize into a mutual holding company.
SEC. 312. REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS.
(a) REDOMESTICATION- A mutual insurer organized under the laws of any
State may transfer its domicile to a transferee domicile as a step in a
reorganization in which, pursuant to the laws of the transferee domicile and
consistent with the standards in subsection (f), the mutual insurer becomes a
stock insurer that is a direct or indirect subsidiary of a mutual holding
company.
(b) RESULTING DOMICILE- Upon complying with the applicable law of the
transferee domicile governing transfers of domicile and completion of a
transfer pursuant to this section, the mutual insurer shall cease to be a
domestic insurer in the transferor domicile and, as a continuation of its
corporate existence, shall be a domestic insurer of the transferee
domicile.
(c) LICENSES PRESERVED- The certificate of authority, agents' appointments
and licenses, rates, approvals and other items that a licensed State allows
and that are in existence immediately prior to the date that a redomesticating
insurer transfers its domicile pursuant to this subtitle shall continue in
full force and effect upon transfer, if the insurer remains duly qualified to
transact the business of insurance in such licensed State.
(d) EFFECTIVENESS OF OUTSTANDING POLICIES AND CONTRACTS-
(1) IN GENERAL- All outstanding insurance policies and annuities
contracts of a redomesticating insurer shall remain in full force and effect
and need not be endorsed as to the new domicile of the insurer, unless so
ordered by the State insurance regulator of a licensed State, and then only
in the case of outstanding policies and contracts whose owners reside in
such licensed State.
(A) Applicable State law may require a redomesticating insurer to file
new policy forms with the State insurance regulator of a licensed State on
or before the effective date of the transfer.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a redomesticating insurer may
use existing policy forms with appropriate endorsements to reflect the new
domicile of the redomesticating insurer until the new policy forms are
approved for use by the State insurance regulator of such licensed
State.
(e) NOTICE- A redomesticating insurer shall give notice of the proposed
transfer to the State insurance regulator of each licensed State and shall
file promptly any resulting amendments to corporate documents required to be
filed by a foreign licensed mutual insurer with the insurance regulator of
each such licensed State.
(f) PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS- No mutual insurer may redomesticate to
another State and reorganize into a mutual holding company pursuant to this
section unless the State insurance regulator of the transferee domicile
determines that the plan of reorganization of the insurer includes the
following requirements:
(1) APPROVAL BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND POLICYHOLDERS- The reorganization
is approved by at least a majority of the board of directors of the mutual
insurer and at least a majority of the policyholders who vote after notice,
disclosure of the reorganization and the effects of the transaction on
policyholder contractual rights, and reasonable opportunity to vote, in
accordance with such notice, disclosure, and voting procedures as are
approved by the State insurance regulator of the transferee domicile.
(2) CONTINUED VOTING CONTROL BY POLICYHOLDERS; REVIEW OF PUBLIC STOCK
OFFERING- After the consummation of a reorganization, the policyholders of
the reorganized insurer shall have the same voting rights with respect to
the mutual holding company as they had before the reorganization with
respect to the mutual insurer. With respect to an initial public offering of
stock, the offering shall be conducted in compliance with applicable
securities laws and in a manner approved by the State insurance regulator of
the transferee domicile.
(3) AWARD OF STOCK OR GRANT OF OPTIONS TO OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS- For a
period of 6 months after completion of an initial public offering, neither a
stock holding company nor the converted insurer shall award any stock
options or stock grants to persons who are elected officers or directors of
the mutual holding company, the stock holding company, or the converted
insurer, except with respect to any such awards or options to which a person
is entitled as a policyholder and as approved by the State insurance
regulator of the transferee domicile.
(4) CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS- Upon reorganization into a mutual holding
company, the contractual rights of the policyholders are preserved.
(5) FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF POLICYHOLDERS- The reorganization is
approved as fair and equitable to the policyholders by the insurance
regulator of the transferee domicile.
SEC. 313. EFFECT ON STATE LAWS RESTRICTING REDOMESTICATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- Unless otherwise permitted by this subtitle, State laws of
any transferor domicile that conflict with the purposes and intent of this
subtitle are preempted, including but not limited to--
(1) any law that has the purpose or effect of impeding the activities
of, taking any action against, or applying any provision of law or
regulation to, any insurer or an affiliate of such insurer because that
insurer or any affiliate plans to redomesticate, or has redomesticated,
pursuant to this subtitle;
(2) any law that has the purpose or effect of impeding the activities
of, taking action against, or applying any provision of law or regulation
to, any insured or any insurance licensee or other intermediary because such
person has procured insurance from or placed insurance with any insurer or
affiliate of such insurer that plans to redomesticate, or has
redomesticated, pursuant to this subtitle, but only to the extent that such
law would treat such insured licensee or other intermediary differently than
if the person procured insurance from, or placed insurance with, an insured
licensee or other intermediary which had not redomesticated;
(3) any law that has the purpose or effect of terminating, because of
the redomestication of a mutual insurer pursuant to this subtitle, any
certificate of authority, agent appointment or license, rate approval, or
other approval, of any State insurance regulator or other State authority in
existence immediately prior to the redomestication in any State other than
the transferee domicile.
(b) DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT PROHIBITED- No State law, regulation,
interpretation, or functional equivalent thereof, of a State other than a
transferee domicile may treat a redomesticating or redomesticated insurer or
any affiliate thereof any differently than an insurer operating in that State
that is not a redomesticating or redomesticated insurer.
(c) LAWS PROHIBITING OPERATIONS- If any licensed State fails to issue,
delays the issuance of, or seeks to revoke an original or renewal certificate
of authority of a redomesticated insurer immediately following
redomestication, except on grounds and in a manner consistent with its past
practices regarding the issuance of certificates of authority to foreign
insurers that are not redomesticating, then the redomesticating insurer shall
be exempt from any State law of the licensed State to the extent that such
State law or the operation of such State law would make unlawful, or regulate,
directly or indirectly, the operation of the redomesticated insurer, except
that such licensed State may require the redomesticated insurer to--
(1) comply with the unfair claim settlement practices law of the
licensed State;
(2) pay, on a nondiscriminatory basis, applicable premium and other
taxes which are levied on licensed insurers or policyholders under the laws
of the licensed State;
(3) register with and designate the State insurance regulator as its
agent solely for the purpose of receiving service of legal documents or
process;
(4) submit to an examination by the State insurance regulator in any
licensed state in which the redomesticated insurer is doing business to
determine the insurer's financial condition, if--
(A) the State insurance regulator of the transferee domicile has not
begun an examination of the redomesticated insurer and has not scheduled
such an examination to begin before the end of the 1-year period beginning
on the date of the redomestication; and
(B) any such examination is coordinated to avoid unjustified
duplication and repetition;
(5) comply with a lawful order issued in--
(A) a delinquency proceeding commenced by the State insurance
regulator of any licensed State if there has been a judicial finding of
financial impairment under paragraph (7); or
(B) a voluntary dissolution proceeding;
(6) comply with any State law regarding deceptive, false, or fraudulent
acts or practices, except that if the licensed State seeks an injunction
regarding the conduct described in this paragraph, such injunction must be
obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction as provided in section
314(a);
(7) comply with an injunction issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction, upon a petition by the State insurance regulator alleging that
the redomesticating insurer is in hazardous financial condition or is
financially impaired;
(8) participate in any insurance insolvency guaranty association on the
same basis as any other insurer licensed in the licensed State; and
(9) require a person acting, or offering to act, as an insurance
licensee for a redomesticated insurer in the licensed State to obtain a
license from that State, except that such State may not impose any
qualification or requirement that discriminates against a nonresident
insurance licensee.
SEC. 314. OTHER PROVISIONS.
(a) JUDICIAL REVIEW- The appropriate United States district court shall
have exclusive jurisdiction over litigation arising under this section
involving any redomesticating or redomesticated insurer.
(b) SEVERABILITY- If any provision of this section, or the application
thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the
section, and the application of such provision to other persons or
circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.
SEC. 315. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this subtitle, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION- The term `court of competent
jurisdiction' means a court authorized pursuant to section 314(a) to
adjudicate litigation arising under this subtitle.
(2) DOMICILE- The term `domicile' means the State in which an insurer is
incorporated, chartered, or organized.
(3) INSURANCE LICENSEE- The term `insurance licensee' means any person
holding a license under State law to act as insurance agent, subagent,
broker, or consultant.
(4) INSTITUTION- The term `institution' means a corporation, joint stock
company, limited liability company, limited liability partnership,
association, trust, partnership, or any similar entity.
(5) LICENSED STATE- The term `licensed State' means any State, the
District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the United
States Virgin Islands in which the redomesticating insurer has a certificate
of authority in effect immediately prior to the redomestication.
(6) MUTUAL INSURER- The term `mutual insurer' means a mutual insurer
organized under the laws of any State.
(7) PERSON- The term `person' means an individual, institution,
government or governmental agency, State or political subdivision of a
State, public corporation, board, association, estate, trustee, or
fiduciary, or other similar entity.
(8) POLICYHOLDER- The term `policyholder' means the owner of a policy
issued by a mutual insurer, except that, with respect to voting rights, the
term means a member of a mutual insurer or mutual holding company granted
the right to vote, as determined under applicable State law.
(9) REDOMESTICATED INSURER- The term `redomesticated insurer' means a
mutual insurer that has redomesticated pursuant to this subtitle.
(10) REDOMESTICATING INSURER- The term `redomesticating insurer' means a
mutual insurer that is redomesticating pursuant to this subtitle.
(11) REDOMESTICATION OR TRANSFER- The terms `redomestication' and
`transfer' mean the transfer of the domicile of a mutual insurer from one
State to another State pursuant to this subtitle.
(12) STATE INSURANCE REGULATOR- The term `State insurance regulator'
means the principal insurance regulatory authority of a State, the District
of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the United States Virgin
Islands.
(13) STATE LAW- The term `State law' means the statutes of any State,
the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the United
States Virgin Islands and any regulation, order, or requirement prescribed
pursuant to any such statute.
(14) TRANSFEREE DOMICILE- The term `transferee domicile' means the State
to which a mutual insurer is redomesticating pursuant to this
subtitle.
(15) TRANSFEROR DOMICILE- The term `transferor domicile' means the State
from which a mutual insurer is redomesticating pursuant to this
subtitle.
SEC. 316. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This subtitle shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this
Act.
Subtitle C--National Association of Registered Agents and
Brokers
SEC. 321. STATE FLEXIBILITY IN MULTISTATE LICENSING REFORMS.
(a) IN GENERAL- The provisions of this subtitle shall take effect unless,
not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, at least a
majority of the States--
(1) have enacted uniform laws and regulations governing the licensure of
individuals and entities authorized to sell and solicit the purchase of
insurance within the State; or
(2) have enacted reciprocity laws and regulations governing the
licensure of nonresident individuals and entities authorized to sell and
solicit insurance within those States.
(b) UNIFORMITY REQUIRED- States shall be deemed to have established the
uniformity necessary to satisfy subsection (a)(1) if the States--
(1) establish uniform criteria regarding the integrity, personal
qualifications, education, training, and experience of licensed insurance
producers, including the qualification and training of sales personnel in
ascertaining the appropriateness of a particular insurance product for a
prospective customer;
(2) establish uniform continuing education requirements for licensed
insurance producers;
(3) establish uniform ethics course requirements for licensed insurance
producers in conjunction with the continuing education requirements under
paragraph (2);
(4) establish uniform criteria to ensure that an insurance product,
including any annuity contract, sold to a consumer is suitable and
appropriate for the consumer based on financial information disclosed by the
consumer; and
(5) do not impose any requirement upon any insurance producer to be
licensed or otherwise qualified to do business as a nonresident that has the
effect of limiting or conditioning that producer's activities because of its
residence or place of operations, except that counter-signature requirements
imposed on nonresident producers shall not be deemed to have the effect of
limiting or conditioning a producer's activities because of its residence or
place of operations under this section.
(c) RECIPROCITY REQUIRED- States shall be deemed to have established the
reciprocity required to satisfy subsection (a)(2) if the following conditions
are met:
(1) ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSING PROCEDURES- At least a majority of the
States permit a producer that has a resident license for selling or
soliciting the purchase of insurance in its home State to receive a license
to sell or solicit the purchase of insurance in such majority of States as a
nonresident to the same extent that such producer is permitted to sell or
solicit the purchase of insurance in its State, if the producer's home State
also awards such licenses on such a reciprocal basis, without satisfying any
additional requirements other than submitting--
(A) a request for licensure;
(B) the application for licensure that the producer submitted to its
home State;
(C) proof that the producer is licensed and in good standing in its
home State; and
(D) the payment of any requisite fee to the appropriate
authority.
(2) CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS- A majority of the States accept
an insurance producer's satisfaction of its home State's continuing
education requirements for licensed insurance producers to satisfy the
States' own continuing education requirements if the producer's home State
also recognizes the satisfaction of continuing education requirements on
such a reciprocal basis.
(3) NO LIMITING NONRESIDENT REQUIREMENTS- A majority of the States do
not impose any requirement upon any insurance producer to be licensed or
otherwise qualified to do business as a nonresident that has the effect of
limiting or conditioning that producer's activities because of its residence
or place of operations, except that countersignature requirements imposed on
nonresident producers shall not be deemed to have the effect of limiting or
conditioning a producer's activities because of its residence or place of
operations under this section.
(4) RECIPROCAL RECIPROCITY- Each of the States that satisfies paragraphs
(1), (2), and (3) grants reciprocity to residents of all of the other States
that satisfy such paragraphs.
(1) NAIC DETERMINATION- At the end of the 3-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners shall determine, in consultation with the insurance
commissioners or chief insurance regulatory officials of the States, whether
the uniformity or reciprocity required by subsections (b) and (c) has been
achieved.
(2) JUDICIAL REVIEW- The appropriate United States district court shall
have exclusive jurisdiction over any challenge to the National Association
of Insurance Commissioners' determination under this section and such court
shall apply the standards set forth in section 706 of title 5, United States
Code, when reviewing any such challenge.
(e) CONTINUED APPLICATION- If, at any time, the uniformity or reciprocity
required by subsections (b) and (c) no longer exists, the provisions of this
subtitle shall take effect 2 years after the date on which such uniformity or
reciprocity ceases to exist, unless the uniformity or reciprocity required by
those provisions is satisfied before the expiration of that 2-year period.
(f) SAVINGS PROVISION- No provision of this section shall be construed as
requiring that any law, regulation, provision, or action of any State which
purports to regulate insurance producers, including any such law, regulation,
provision, or action which purports to regulate unfair trade practices or
establish consumer protections, including countersignature laws, be altered or
amended in order to satisfy the uniformity or reciprocity required by
subsections (b) and (c), unless any such law, regulation, provision, or action
is inconsistent with a specific requirement of any such subsection and then
only to the extent of such inconsistency.
(g) UNIFORM LICENSING- Nothing in this section shall be construed to
require any State to adopt new or additional licensing requirements to achieve
the uniformity necessary to satisfy subsection (a)(1).
SEC. 322. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND BROKERS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established the National Association of
Registered Agents and Brokers (hereafter in this subtitle referred to as the
`Association').
(b) STATUS- The Association shall--
(1) be a nonprofit corporation;
(2) have succession until dissolved by an Act of Congress;
(3) not be an agent or instrumentality of the United States Government;
and
(4) except as otherwise provided in this Act, be subject to, and have
all the powers conferred upon a nonprofit corporation by the District of
Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act (D.C. Code, sec. 29y-1001 et seq.).
SEC. 323. PURPOSE.
The purpose of the Association shall be to provide a mechanism through
which uniform licensing, appointment, continuing education, and other
insurance producer sales qualification requirements and conditions can be
adopted and applied on a multistate basis, while preserving the right of
States to license, supervise, and discipline insurance producers and to
prescribe and enforce laws and regulations with regard to insurance-related
consumer protection and unfair trade practices.
SEC. 324. RELATIONSHIP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
The Association shall be subject to the supervision and oversight of the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (hereafter in this subtitle
referred to as the `NAIC').
SEC. 325. MEMBERSHIP.
(1) IN GENERAL- Any State-licensed insurance producer shall be eligible
to become a member in the Association.
(2) INELIGIBILITY FOR SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE-
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a State-licensed insurance producer shall not
be eligible to become a member if a State insurance regulator has suspended
or revoked such producer's license in that State during the 3-year period
preceding the date on which such producer applies for membership.
(3) RESUMPTION OF ELIGIBILITY- Paragraph (2) shall cease to apply to any
insurance producer if--
(A) the State insurance regulator renews the license of such producer
in the State in which the license was suspended or revoked; or
(B) the suspension or revocation is subsequently overturned.
(b) AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA- The Association shall have
the authority to establish membership criteria that--
(1) bear a reasonable relationship to the purposes for which the
Association was established; and
(2) do not unfairly limit the access of smaller agencies to the
Association membership.
(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF CLASSES AND CATEGORIES-
(1) CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP- The Association may establish separate
classes of membership, with separate criteria, if the Association reasonably
determines that performance of different duties requires different levels of
education, training, or experience.
(2) CATEGORIES- The Association may establish separate categories of
membership for individuals and for other persons. The establishment of any
such categories of membership shall be based either on the types of
licensing categories that exist under State laws or on the aggregate amount
of business handled by an insurance producer. No special categories of
membership, and no distinct membership criteria, shall be established for
members which are insured depository institutions or wholesale financial
institutions or for their employees, agents, or affiliates.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Association may establish criteria for membership
which shall include standards for integrity, personal qualifications,
education, training, and experience.
(2) MINIMUM STANDARD- In establishing criteria under paragraph (1), the
Association shall consider the highest levels of insurance producer
qualifications established under the licensing laws of the States.
(e) EFFECT OF MEMBERSHIP- Membership in the Association shall entitle the
member to licensure in each State for which the member pays the requisite
fees, including licensing fees and, where applicable, bonding requirements,
set by such State.
(f) ANNUAL RENEWAL- Membership in the Association shall be renewed on an
annual basis.
(g) CONTINUING EDUCATION- The Association shall establish, as a condition
of membership, continuing education requirements which shall be comparable to
or greater than the continuing education requirements under the licensing laws
of a majority of the States.
(h) SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION- The Association may--
(1) inspect and examine the records and offices of the members of the
Association to determine compliance with the criteria for membership
established by the Association; and
(2) suspend or revoke the membership of an insurance producer if--
(A) the producer fails to meet the applicable membership criteria of
the Association; or
(B) the producer has been subject to disciplinary action pursuant to a
final adjudicatory proceeding under the jurisdiction of a State insurance
regulator, and the Association concludes that retention of membership in
the Association would not be in the public interest.
(i) OFFICE OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Association shall establish an office of consumer
complaints that shall--
(A) receive and investigate complaints from both consumers and State
insurance regulators related to members of the Association; and
(B) recommend to the Association any disciplinary actions that the
office considers appropriate, to the extent that any such recommendation
is not inconsistent with State law.
(2) RECORDS AND REFERRALS- The office of consumer complaints of the
Association shall--
(A) maintain records of all complaints received in accordance with
paragraph (1) and make such records available to the NAIC and to each
State insurance regulator for the State of residence of the consumer who
filed the complaint; and
(B) refer, when appropriate, any such complaint to any appropriate
State insurance regulator.
(3) TELEPHONE AND OTHER ACCESS- The office of consumer complaints shall
maintain a toll-free telephone number for the purpose of this subsection
and, as practicable, other alternative means of communication with
consumers, such as an Internet home page.
SEC. 326. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established the board of directors of the
Association (hereafter in this subtitle referred to as the `Board') for the
purpose of governing and supervising the activities of the Association and the
members of the Association.
(b) POWERS- The Board shall have such powers and authority as may be
specified in the bylaws of the Association.
(1) MEMBERS- The Board shall be composed of seven members appointed by
the NAIC.
(2) REQUIREMENT- At least four of the members of the Board shall have
significant experience with the regulation of commercial lines of insurance
in at least 1 of the 20 States in which the greatest total dollar amount of
commercial-lines insurance is placed in the United States.
(3) INITIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP-
(A) IN GENERAL- If, by the end of the 2-year period beginning on the
date of the enactment of this Act, the NAIC has not appointed the initial
seven members of the Board of the Association, the initial Board shall
consist of the seven State insurance regulators of the seven States with
the greatest total dollar amount of commercial-lines insurance in place as
of the end of such period.
(B) ALTERNATE COMPOSITION- If any of the State insurance regulators
described in subparagraph (A) declines to serve on the Board, the State
insurance regulator with the next greatest total dollar amount of
commercial-lines insurance in place, as determined by the NAIC as of the
end of such period, shall serve as a member of the Board.
(C) INOPERABILITY- If fewer than seven State insurance regulators
accept appointment to the Board, the Association shall be established
without NAIC oversight pursuant to section 332.
(d) TERMS- The term of each director shall, after the initial appointment
of the members of the Board, be for 3 years, with one-third of the directors
to be appointed each year.
(e) BOARD VACANCIES- A vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment of the initial Board for the remainder of
the term of the vacating member.
(f) MEETINGS- The Board shall meet at the call of the chairperson, or as
otherwise provided by the bylaws of the Association.
SEC. 327. OFFICERS.
(1) POSITIONS- The officers of the Association shall consist of a
chairperson and a vice chairperson of the Board, a president, secretary, and
treasurer of the Association, and such other officers and assistant officers
as may be deemed necessary.
(2) MANNER OF SELECTION- Each officer of the Board and the Association
shall be elected or appointed at such time and in such manner and for such
terms not exceeding 3 years as may be prescribed in the bylaws of the
Association.
(b) CRITERIA FOR CHAIRPERSON- Only individuals who are members of the NAIC
shall be eligible to serve as the chairperson of the board of directors.
SEC. 328. BYLAWS, RULES, AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
(a) ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS-
(1) COPY REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE NAIC- The board of directors of
the Association shall file with the NAIC a copy of the proposed bylaws or
any proposed amendment to the bylaws, accompanied by a concise general
statement of the basis and purpose of such proposal.
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- Except as provided in paragraph (3), any proposed
bylaw or proposed amendment shall take effect--
(A) thirty days after the date of the filing of a copy with the
NAIC;
(B) upon such later date as the Association may designate; or
(C) upon such earlier date as the NAIC may determine.
(3) DISAPPROVAL BY THE NAIC- Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a proposed
bylaw or amendment shall not take effect if, after public notice and
opportunity to participate in a public hearing--
(A) the NAIC disapproves such proposal as being contrary to the public
interest or contrary to the purposes of this subtitle and provides notice
to the Association setting forth the reasons for such disapproval;
or
(B) the NAIC finds that such proposal involves a matter of such
significant public interest that public comment should be obtained, in
which case it may, after notifying the Association in writing of such
finding, require that the procedures set forth in subsection (b) be
followed with respect to such proposal, in the same manner as if such
proposed bylaw change were a proposed rule change within the meaning of
such subsection.
(b) ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF RULES-
(1) FILING PROPOSED REGULATIONS WITH THE NAIC-
(A) IN GENERAL- The board of directors of the Association shall file
with the NAIC a copy of any proposed rule or any proposed amendment to a
rule of the Association which shall be accompanied by a concise general
statement of the basis and purpose of such proposal.
(B) OTHER RULES AND AMENDMENTS INEFFECTIVE- No proposed rule or
amendment shall take effect unless approved by the NAIC or otherwise
permitted in accordance with this paragraph.
(2) INITIAL CONSIDERATION BY THE NAIC- Not later than 35 days after the
date of publication of notice of filing of a proposal, or before the end of
such longer period not to exceed 90 days as the NAIC may designate after
such date, if the NAIC finds such longer period to be appropriate and sets
forth its reasons for so finding, or as to which the Association consents,
the NAIC shall--
(A) by order approve such proposed rule or amendment; or
(B) institute proceedings to determine whether such proposed rule or
amendment should be modified or disapproved.
(A) IN GENERAL- Proceedings instituted by the NAIC with respect to a
proposed rule or amendment pursuant to paragraph (2) shall--
(i) include notice of the grounds for disapproval under
consideration;
(ii) provide opportunity for hearing; and
(iii) be concluded not later than 180 days after the date of the
Association's filing of such proposed rule or amendment.
(B) DISPOSITION OF PROPOSAL- At the conclusion of any proceeding under
subparagraph (A), the NAIC shall, by order, approve or disapprove the
proposed rule or amendment.
(C) EXTENSION OF TIME FOR CONSIDERATION- The NAIC may extend the time
for concluding any proceeding under subparagraph (A) for--
(i) not more than 60 days if the NAIC finds good cause for such
extension and sets forth its reasons for so finding; or
(ii) for such longer period as to which the Association
consents.
(4) STANDARDS FOR REVIEW-
(A) GROUNDS FOR APPROVAL- The NAIC shall approve a proposed rule or
amendment if the NAIC finds that the rule or amendment is in the public
interest and is consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(B) APPROVAL BEFORE END OF NOTICE PERIOD- The NAIC shall not approve
any proposed rule before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the
date on which the Association files proposed rules or amendments in
accordance with paragraph (1), unless the NAIC finds good cause for so
doing and sets forth the reasons for so finding.
(A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection other
than subparagraph (B), a proposed rule or amendment relating to the
administration or organization of the Association shall take
effect--
(i) upon the date of filing with the NAIC, if such proposed rule or
amendment is designated by the Association as relating solely to matters
which the NAIC, consistent with the public interest and the purposes of
this subsection, determines by rule do not require the procedures set
forth in this paragraph; or
(ii) upon such date as the NAIC shall for good cause
determine.
(B) ABROGATION BY THE NAIC-
(i) IN GENERAL- At any time within 60 days after the date of filing
of any proposed rule or amendment under subparagraph (A)(i) or clause
(ii) of this subparagraph, the NAIC may repeal such rule or amendment
and require that the rule or amendment be refiled and reviewed in
accordance with this paragraph, if the NAIC finds that such action is
necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of
insurance producers or policyholders, or otherwise in furtherance of the
purposes of this subtitle.
(ii) EFFECT OF RECONSIDERATION BY THE NAIC- Any action of the NAIC
pursuant to clause (i) shall--
(I) not affect the validity or force of a rule change during the
period such rule or amendment was in effect; and
(II) not be considered to be a final action.
(c) ACTION REQUIRED BY THE NAIC- The NAIC may, in accordance with such
rules as the NAIC determines to be necessary or appropriate to the public
interest or to carry out the purposes of this subtitle, require the
Association to adopt, amend, or repeal any bylaw, rule or amendment of the
Association, whenever adopted.
(d) DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY THE ASSOCIATION-
(1) SPECIFICATION OF CHARGES- In any proceeding to determine whether
membership shall be denied, suspended, revoked, or not renewed (hereafter in
this section referred to as a `disciplinary action'), the Association shall
bring specific charges, notify such member of such charges, give the member
an opportunity to defend against the charges, and keep a record.
(2) SUPPORTING STATEMENT- A determination to take disciplinary action
shall be supported by a statement setting forth--
(A) any act or practice in which such member has been found to have
been engaged;
(B) the specific provision of this subtitle, the rules or regulations
under this subtitle, or the rules of the Association which any such act or
practice is deemed to violate; and
(C) the sanction imposed and the reason for such sanction.
(e) NAIC REVIEW OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION-
(1) NOTICE TO THE NAIC- If the Association orders any disciplinary
action, the Association shall promptly notify the NAIC of such action.
(2) REVIEW BY THE NAIC- Any disciplinary action taken by the Association
shall be subject to review by the NAIC--
(A) on the NAIC's own motion; or
(B) upon application by any person aggrieved by such action if such
application is filed with the NAIC not more than 30 days after the later
of--
(i) the date the notice was filed with the NAIC pursuant to
paragraph (1); or
(ii) the date the notice of the disciplinary action was received by
such aggrieved person.
(f) EFFECT OF REVIEW- The filing of an application to the NAIC for review
of a disciplinary action, or the institution of review by the NAIC on the
NAIC's own motion, shall not operate as a stay of disciplinary action unless
the NAIC otherwise orders.
(1) IN GENERAL- In any proceeding to review such action, after notice
and the opportunity for hearing, the NAIC shall--
(A) determine whether the action should be taken;
(B) affirm, modify, or rescind the disciplinary sanction; or
(C) remand to the Association for further proceedings.
(2) DISMISSAL OF REVIEW- The NAIC may dismiss a proceeding to review
disciplinary action if the NAIC finds that--
(A) the specific grounds on which the action is based exist in
fact;
(B) the action is in accordance with applicable rules and regulations;
and
(C) such rules and regulations are, and were, applied in a manner
consistent with the purposes of this subtitle.
SEC. 329. ASSESSMENTS.
(a) INSURANCE PRODUCERS SUBJECT TO ASSESSMENT- The Association may
establish such application and membership fees as the Association finds
necessary to cover the costs of its operations, including fees made
reimbursable to the NAIC under subsection (b), except that, in setting such
fees, the Association may not discriminate against smaller insurance
producers.
(b) NAIC ASSESSMENTS- The NAIC may assess the Association for any costs
that the NAIC incurs under this subtitle.
SEC. 330. FUNCTIONS OF THE NAIC.
(a) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE- Determinations of the NAIC, for purposes of
making rules pursuant to section 328, shall be made after appropriate notice
and opportunity for a hearing and for submission of views of interested
persons.
(b) EXAMINATIONS AND REPORTS-
(1) EXAMINATIONS- The NAIC may make such examinations and inspections of
the Association and require the Association to furnish to the NAIC such
reports and records or copies thereof as the NAIC may consider necessary or
appropriate in the public interest or to effectuate the purposes of this
subtitle.
(2) REPORT BY ASSOCIATION- As soon as practicable after the close of
each fiscal year, the Association shall submit to the NAIC a written report
regarding the conduct of its business, and the exercise of the other rights
and powers granted by this subtitle, during such fiscal year. Such report
shall include financial statements setting forth the financial position of
the Association at the end of such fiscal year and the results of its
operations (including the source and application of its funds) for such
fiscal year. The NAIC shall transmit such report to the President and the
Congress with such comment thereon as the NAIC determines to be
appropriate.
SEC. 331. LIABILITY OF THE ASSOCIATION AND THE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND
EMPLOYEES OF THE ASSOCIATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Association shall not be deemed to be an insurer or
insurance producer within the meaning of any State law, rule, regulation, or
order regulating or taxing insurers, insurance producers, or other entities
engaged in the business of insurance, including provisions imposing premium
taxes, regulating insurer solvency or financial condition, establishing
guaranty funds and levying assessments, or requiring claims settlement
practices.
(b) LIABILITY OF THE ASSOCIATION, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES-
Neither the Association nor any of its directors, officers, or employees shall
have any liability to any person for any action taken or omitted in good faith
under or in connection with any matter subject to this subtitle.
SEC. 332. ELIMINATION OF NAIC OVERSIGHT.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Association shall be established without NAIC
oversight and the provisions set forth in section 324, subsections (a), (b),
(c), and (e) of section 328, and sections 329(b) and 330 of this subtitle
shall cease to be effective if, at the end of the 2-year period beginning on
the date on which the provisions of this subtitle take effect pursuant to
section 321--
(1) at least a majority of the States representing at least 50 percent
of the total United States commercial-lines insurance premiums have not
satisfied the uniformity or reciprocity requirements of subsections (a),
(b), and (c) of section 321; and
(2) the NAIC has not approved the Association's bylaws as required by
section 328 or is unable to operate or supervise the Association, or the
Association is not conducting its activities as required under this
Act.
(b) BOARD APPOINTMENTS- If the repeals required by subsection (a) are
implemented, the following shall apply:
(1) GENERAL APPOINTMENT POWER- The President, with the advice and
consent of the Senate, shall appoint the members of the Association's Board
established under section 326 from lists of candidates recommended to the
President by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
(2) PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE
COMMISSIONERS APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS-
(A) INITIAL DETERMINATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS- After the date on which
the provisions of subsection (a) take effect, the NAIC shall, not later
than 60 days thereafter, provide a list of recommended candidates to the
President. If the NAIC fails to provide a list by that date, or if any
list that is provided does not include at least 14 recommended candidates
or comply with the requirements of section 326(c), the President shall,
with the advice and consent of the Senate, make the requisite appointments
without considering the views of the NAIC.
(B) SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS- After the initial appointments, the NAIC
shall provide a list of at least six recommended candidates for the Board
to the President by January 15 of each subsequent year. If the NAIC fails
to provide a list by that date, or if any list that is provided does not
include at least six recommended candidates or comply with the
requirements of section 326(c), the President, with the advice and consent
of the Senate, shall make the requisite appointments without considering
the views of the NAIC.
(C) PRESIDENTIAL OVERSIGHT-
(i) REMOVAL- If the President determines that the Association is not
acting in the interests of the public, the President may remove the
entire existing Board for the remainder of the term to which the members
of the Board were appointed and appoint, with the advice and consent of
the Senate, new members to fill the vacancies on the Board for the
remainder of such terms.
(ii) SUSPENSION OF RULES OR ACTIONS- The President, or a person
designated by the President for such purpose, may suspend the
effectiveness of any rule, or prohibit any action, of the Association
which the President or the designee determines is contrary to the public
interest.
(c) ANNUAL REPORT- As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal
year, the Association shall submit to the President and to the Congress a
written report relative to the conduct of its business, and the exercise of
the other rights and powers granted by this subtitle, during such fiscal year.
Such report shall include financial statements setting forth the financial
position of the Association at the end of such fiscal year and the results of
its operations (including the source and application of its funds) for such
fiscal year.
SEC. 333. RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAW.
(a) PREEMPTION OF STATE LAWS- State laws, regulations, provisions, or
other actions purporting to regulate insurance producers shall be preempted as
provided in subsection (b).
(b) PROHIBITED ACTIONS- No State shall--
(1) impede the activities of, take any action against, or apply any
provision of law or regulation to, any insurance producer because that
insurance producer or any affiliate plans to become, has applied to become,
or is a member of the Association;
(2) impose any requirement upon a member of the Association that it pay
different fees to be licensed or otherwise qualified to do business in that
State, including bonding requirements, based on its residency;
(3) impose any licensing, appointment, integrity, personal or corporate
qualifications, education, training, experience, residency, or continuing
education requirement upon a member of the Association that is different
from the criteria for membership in the Association or renewal of such
membership, except that counter-signature requirements imposed on
nonresident producers shall not be deemed to have the effect of limiting or
conditioning a producer's activities because of its residence or place of
operations under this section; or
(4) implement the procedures of such State's system of licensing or
renewing the licenses of insurance producers in a manner different from the
authority of the Association under section 325.
(c) SAVINGS PROVISION- Except as provided in subsections (a) and (b), no
provision of this section shall be construed as altering or affecting the
continuing effectiveness of any law, regulation, provision, or other action of
any State which purports to regulate insurance producers, including any such
law, regulation, provision, or action which purports to regulate unfair trade
practices or establish consumer protections, including countersignature
laws.
SEC. 334. COORDINATION WITH OTHER REGULATORS.
(a) COORDINATION WITH STATE INSURANCE REGULATORS- The Association shall
have the authority to--
(1) issue uniform insurance producer applications and renewal
applications that may be used to apply for the issuance or removal of State
licenses, while preserving the ability of each State to impose such
conditions on the issuance or renewal of a license as are consistent with
section 333;
(2) establish a central clearinghouse through which members of the
Association may apply for the issuance or renewal of licenses in multiple
States; and
(3) establish or utilize a national database for the collection of
regulatory information concerning the activities of insurance
producers.
(b) COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS- The
Association shall coordinate with the National Association of Securities
Dealers in order to ease any administrative burdens that fall on persons that
are members of both associations, consistent with the purposes of this
subtitle and the Federal securities laws.
SEC. 335. JUDICIAL REVIEW.
(a) JURISDICTION- The appropriate United States district court shall have
exclusive jurisdiction over litigation involving the Association, including
disputes between the Association and its members that arise under this
subtitle. Suits brought in State court involving the Association shall be
deemed to have arisen under Federal law and therefore be subject to
jurisdiction in the appropriate United States district court.
(b) EXHAUSTION OF REMEDIES- An aggrieved person shall be required to
exhaust all available administrative remedies before the Association and the
NAIC before it may seek judicial review of an Association decision.
(c) STANDARDS OF REVIEW- The standards set forth in section 553 of title
5, United States Code, shall be applied whenever a rule or bylaw of the
Association is under judicial review, and the standards set forth in section
554 of title 5, United States Code, shall be applied whenever a disciplinary
action of the Association is judicially reviewed.
SEC. 336. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this subtitle, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) HOME STATE- The term `home State' means the State in which the
insurance producer maintains its principal place of residence and is
licensed to act as an insurance producer.
(2) INSURANCE- The term `insurance' means any product, other than title
insurance, defined or regulated as insurance by the appropriate State
insurance regulatory authority.
(3) INSURANCE PRODUCER- The term `insurance producer' means any
insurance agent or broker, surplus lines broker, insurance consultant,
limited insurance representative, and any other person that solicits,
negotiates, effects, procures, delivers, renews, continues or binds policies
of insurance or offers advice, counsel, opinions or services related to
insurance.
(4) STATE- The term `State' includes any State, the District of
Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin
Islands.
(5) STATE LAW- The term `State law' includes all laws, decisions, rules,
regulations, or other State action having the effect of law, of any State. A
law of the United States applicable only to the District of Columbia shall
be treated as a State law rather than a law of the United States.
Subtitle D--Rental Car Agency Insurance Activities
SEC. 341. STANDARD OF REGULATION FOR MOTOR VEHICLE RENTALS.
(a) PROTECTION AGAINST RETROACTIVE APPLICATION OF REGULATORY AND LEGAL
ACTION- Except as provided in subsection (b), during the 3-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, it shall be a presumption
that no State law imposes any licensing, appointment, or education
requirements on any person who solicits the purchase of or sells insurance
connected with, and incidental to, the lease or rental of a motor vehicle.
(b) PREEMINENCE OF STATE INSURANCE LAW- No provision of this section shall
be construed as altering the validity, interpretation, construction, or effect
of--
(2) the prospective application of any court judgment interpreting or
applying any State statute; or
(3) the prospective application of any final State regulation, order,
bulletin, or other statutorily authorized interpretation or action,
which, by its specific terms, expressly regulates or exempts from
regulation any person who solicits the purchase of or sells insurance
connected with, and incidental to, the short-term lease or rental of a motor
vehicle.
(c) SCOPE OF APPLICATION- This section shall apply with respect to--
(1) the lease or rental of a motor vehicle for a total period of 90
consecutive days or less; and
(2) insurance which is provided in connection with, and incidentally to,
such lease or rental for a period of consecutive days not exceeding the
lease or rental period.
(d) MOTOR VEHICLE DEFINED- For purposes of this section, the term `motor
vehicle' has the meaning given to such term in section 13102 of title 49,
United States Code.
Subtitle E--Confidentiality
SEC. 351. CONFIDENTIALITY OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL INFORMATION.
(a) IN GENERAL- A company which underwrites or sells annuities contracts
or contracts insuring, guaranteeing, or indemnifying against loss, harm,
damage, illness, disability, or death (other than credit-related insurance)
and any subsidiary or affiliate thereof shall maintain a practice of
protecting the confidentiality of individually identifiable customer health
and medical and genetic information and may disclose such information
only--
(1) with the consent, or at the direction, of the customer;
(2) for insurance underwriting and reinsuring policies, account
administration, reporting, investigating, or preventing fraud or material
misrepresentation, processing premium payments, processing insurance claims,
administering insurance benefits (including utilization review activities),
providing information to the customer's physician or other health care
provider, participating in research projects, enabling the purchase,
transfer, merger, or sale of any insurance-related business, or as otherwise
required or specifically permitted by Federal or State law; or
(A) the authorization, settlement, billing, processing, clearing,
transferring, reconciling, or collection of amounts charged, debited, or
otherwise paid using a debit, credit, or other payment card or account
number, or by other payment means;
(B) the transfer of receivables, accounts, or interest
therein;
(C) the audit of the debit, credit, or other payment
information;
(D) compliance with Federal, State, or local law;
(E) compliance with a properly authorized civil, criminal, or
regulatory investigation by Federal, State, or local authorities as
governed by the requirements of this section; or
(F) fraud protection, risk control, resolving customer disputes or
inquiries, communicating with the person to whom the information relates,
or reporting to consumer reporting agencies.
(b) STATE ACTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS- In addition to such other remedies as
are provided under State law, if the chief law enforcement officer of a State,
State insurance regulator, or an official or agency designated by a State, has
reason to believe that any person has violated or is violating this title, the
State may bring an action to enjoin such violation in any appropriate United
States district court or in any other court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE; SUNSET-
(1) EFFECTIVE DATE- Except as provided in paragraph (2), subsection (a)
shall take effect on February 1, 2000.
(2) SUNSET- Subsection (a) shall not take effect if, or shall cease to
be effective on and after the date on which, legislation is enacted that
satisfies the requirements in section 264(c)(1) of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191; 110 Stat.
2033).
(d) CONSULTATION- While subsection (a) is in effect, State insurance
regulatory authorities, through the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners, shall consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services
in connection with the administration of such subsection.
TITLE IV--UNITARY SAVINGS AND LOAN HOLDING COMPANIES
SEC. 401. PROHIBITION ON NEW UNITARY SAVINGS AND LOAN HOLDING
COMPANIES.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 10(c) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C.
1467a(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(9) TERMINATION OF EXPANDED POWERS FOR NEW UNITARY HOLDING
COMPANY-
`(A) IN GENERAL- Subject to subparagraph (B) and notwithstanding
paragraph (3), no company may directly or indirectly, including through
any merger, consolidation, or other type of business combination, acquire
control of a savings association after March 4, 1999, unless the company
is engaged, directly or indirectly (including through a subsidiary other
than a savings association), only in activities that are
permitted--
`(i) under paragraph (1)(C) or (2); or
`(ii) for financial holding companies under section 6(c) of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956.
`(B) EXISTING UNITARY HOLDING COMPANIES AND THE SUCCESSORS TO SUCH
COMPANIES- Subparagraph (A) shall not apply, and paragraph (3) shall
continue to apply, to a company (or any subsidiary of such company)
that--
`(I) acquired one or more savings associations described in
paragraph (3) pursuant to applications at least one of which was filed
on or before March 4, 1999; or
`(II) subject to subparagraph (C), became a savings and loan
holding company by acquiring control of the company described in
subclause (I); and
`(ii) continues to control the savings association referred to in
clause (i)(II) or the successor to any such savings
association.
`(C) NOTICE PROCESS FOR NONFINANCIAL ACTIVITIES BY A SUCCESSOR UNITARY
HOLDING COMPANY-
`(i) NOTICE REQUIRED- Subparagraph (B) shall not apply to any
company described in subparagraph (B)(i)(II) which engages, directly or
indirectly, in any activity other than activities described in clauses
(i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), unless--
`(I) in addition to an application to the Director under this
section to become a savings and loan holding company, the company
submits a notice to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System of such nonfinancial activities in the same manner as a notice
of nonbanking activities is filed with the Board under section 4(j) of
the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956; and
`(II) before the end of the applicable period under such section
4(j), the Board either approves or does not disapprove of the
continuation of such activities by such company, directly or
indirectly, after becoming a savings and loan holding
company.
`(ii) PROCEDURE- Section 4(j) of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956, including the standards for review, shall apply to any notice
filed with the Board under this subparagraph in the same manner as it
applies to notices filed under such section.'.
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 10(c)(3) of the Home
Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a(c)(3)) is amended by striking
`Notwithstanding' and inserting `Except as provided in paragraph (9) and
notwithstanding'.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 10(o)(5) of the Home Owners' Loan Act
(12 U.S.C. 1467a(o)(5)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking `, except subparagraph (B)';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(F) In the case of a mutual holding company which is a savings and
loan holding company described in subsection (c)(3), engaging in the
activities permitted for financial holding companies under section 6(c) of
the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.'.
SEC. 402. RETENTION OF `FEDERAL' IN NAME OF CONVERTED FEDERAL SAVINGS
ASSOCIATION.
Section 2 of the Act entitled `An Act to enable national banking
associations to increase their capital stock and to change their names or
locations', approved May 1, 1886 (12 U.S.C. 30), is amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:
`(d) RETENTION OF `FEDERAL' IN NAME OF CONVERTED FEDERAL SAVINGS
ASSOCIATION-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding subsection (a) or any other provision
of law, any depository institution the charter of which is converted from
that of a Federal savings association to a national bank or a State bank
after the date of the enactment of the Financial Services Act of 1999 may
retain the term `Federal' in the name of such institution if such depository
institution remains an insured depository institution.
`(2) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this subsection, the terms `depository
institution', `insured depository institution', `national bank', and `State
bank' have the same meanings as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act.'.
TITLE V--PRIVACY
Subtitle A--Disclosure of Nonpublic Personal Information
SEC. 501. PROTECTION OF NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION.
(a) PRIVACY OBLIGATION POLICY- It is the policy of the Congress that each
financial institution has an affirmative and continuing obligation to respect
the privacy of its customers and to protect the security and confidentiality
of those customers' nonpublic personal information.
(b) FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SAFEGUARDS- In furtherance of the policy in
subsection (a), each agency or authority described in section 505(a) shall
establish appropriate standards for the financial institutions subject to
their jurisdiction relating to administrative, technical, and physical
safeguards--
(1) to insure the security and confidentiality of customer records and
information;
(2) to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the
security or integrity of such records; and
(3) to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such records or
information which could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any
customer.
SEC. 502. OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO DISCLOSURES OF PERSONAL
INFORMATION.
(a) NOTICE REQUIREMENTS- Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a
financial institution may not, directly or through any affiliate, disclose to
a nonaffiliated third party any nonpublic personal information, unless such
financial institution provides or has provided to the consumer a notice that
complies with section 503(b).
(1) IN GENERAL- A financial institution may not disclose nonpublic
personal information to nonaffiliated third parties unless--
(A) such financial institution clearly and conspicuously discloses to
the consumer, in writing or in electronic form (or other form permitted by
the regulations prescribed under section 504), that such information may
be disclosed to such third parties;
(B) the consumer is given the opportunity, before the time that such
information is initially disclosed, to direct that such information not be
disclosed to such third parties; and
(C) the consumer is given an explanation of how the consumer can
exercise that nondisclosure option.
(2) EXCEPTION- This subsection shall not prevent a financial institution
from providing nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party
to perform services or functions on behalf of the financial institution,
including marketing of the financial institution's own products or services
or financial products or services offered pursuant to joint agreements
between two or more financial institutions that comply with the requirements
imposed by the regulations prescribed under section 504, if the financial
institution fully discloses the providing of such information and enters
into a contractual agreement with the third party that requires the third
party to maintain the confidentiality of such information.
(c) LIMITS ON REUSE OF INFORMATION- Except as otherwise provided in this
subtitle, a nonaffiliated third party that receives from a financial
institution nonpublic personal information under this section shall not,
directly or through an affiliate of such receiving third party, disclose such
information to any other person that is a nonaffiliated third party of both
the financial institution and such receiving third party, unless such
disclosure would be lawful if made directly to such other person by the
financial institution.
(d) LIMITATIONS ON THE SHARING OF ACCOUNT NUMBER INFORMATION FOR MARKETING
PURPOSES- A financial institution shall not disclose an account number or
similar form of access number or access code for a credit card account,
deposit account, or transaction account of a consumer to any nonaffiliated
third party for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing, or other
marketing through electronic mail to the consumer.
(e) GENERAL EXCEPTIONS- Subsections (a) and (b) shall not prohibit the
disclosure of nonpublic personal information--
(1) as necessary to effect, administer, or enforce a transaction
requested or authorized by the consumer, or in connection with--
(A) servicing or processing a financial product or service requested
or authorized by the consumer;
(B) maintaining or servicing the consumer's account with the financial
institution; or
(C) a proposed or actual securitization, secondary market sale
(including sales of servicing rights), or similar transaction related to a
transaction of the consumer;
(2) with the consent or at the direction of the consumer;
(3) to protect the confidentiality or security of its records pertaining
to the consumer, the service or product, or the transaction therein, or to
protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud, unauthorized
transactions, claims, or other liability, for required institutional risk
control, or for resolving customer disputes or inquiries, or to persons
holding a beneficial interest relating to the consumer, or to persons acting
in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the consumer;
(4) to provide information to insurance rate advisory organizations,
guaranty funds or agencies, applicable rating agencies of the financial
institution, persons assessing the institution's compliance with industry
standards, and the institution's attorneys, accountants, and auditors;
(5) to the extent specifically permitted or required under other
provisions of law and in accordance with the Right to Financial Privacy Act
of 1978, to law enforcement agencies (including a Federal functional
regulator, a State insurance authority, or the Federal Trade Commission),
self-regulatory organizations, or for an investigation on a matter related
to public safety;
(6) to a consumer reporting agency in accordance with the Fair Credit
Reporting Act, or in accordance with interpretations of such Act by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Trade
Commission, including interpretations published as commentary (16 CFR
601-622);
(7) in connection with a proposed or actual sale, merger, transfer, or
exchange of all or a portion of a business or operating unit if the
disclosure of nonpublic personal information concerns solely consumers of
such business or unit; or
(8) to comply with Federal, State, or local laws, rules, and other
applicable legal requirements; to comply with a properly authorized civil,
criminal, or regulatory investigation or subpoena by Federal, State, or
local authorities; or to respond to judicial process or government
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the financial institution
for examination, compliance, or other purposes as authorized by law.
SEC. 503. DISCLOSURE OF INSTITUTION PRIVACY POLICY.
(a) DISCLOSURE REQUIRED- A financial institution shall clearly and
conspicuously disclose to each consumer, at the time of establishing the
customer relationship with the consumer and not less than annually, in writing
or in electronic form (or other form permitted by the regulations prescribed
under section 504), its policies and practices with respect to protecting the
nonpublic personal information of consumers in accordance with the rules
prescribed under section 504.
(b) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED- The disclosure required by subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) the policy and practices of the institution with respect to
disclosing nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated third parties,
other than agents of the institution, consistent with section 502 of this
subtitle, and including--
(A) the categories of persons to whom the information is or may be
disclosed, other than the persons to whom the information may be provided
pursuant to section 502(e); and
(B) the practices and policies of the institution with respect to
disclosing of nonpublic personal information of persons who have ceased to
be customers of the financial institution;
(2) the categories of nonpublic personal information that are collected
by the financial institution;
(3) the policies that the institution maintains to protect the
confidentiality and security of nonpublic personal information in accordance
with section 501; and
(4) the disclosures required, if any, under section 603(d)(2)(A)(iii) of
the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
SEC. 504. RULEMAKING.
(a) REGULATORY AUTHORITY- The Federal banking agencies, the National
Credit Union Association, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Securities
and Exchange Commission, shall jointly prescribe, after consultation with the
Federal Trade Commission, and representatives of State insurance authorities
designated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, such
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.
Such regulations shall be prescribed in accordance with applicable
requirements of the title 5, United States Code, and shall be issued in final
form within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) AUTHORITY TO GRANT EXCEPTIONS- The regulations prescribed under
subsection (a) may include such additional exceptions to subsections (a) and
(b) of section 502 as are deemed consistent with the purposes of this
subtitle.
SEC. 505. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL- This subtitle and the rules prescribed thereunder shall be
enforced by the Federal functional regulators, the State insurance
authorities, and the Federal Trade Commission with respect to financial
institutions subject to their jurisdiction under applicable law, as
follows:
(1) Under section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, in the case
of--
(A) national banks, Federal branches and Federal agencies of foreign
banks, and any subsidiaries of such entities, by the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency;
(B) member banks of the Federal Reserve System (other than national
banks), branches and agencies of foreign banks (other than Federal
branches, Federal agencies, and insured State branches of foreign banks),
commercial lending companies owned or controlled by foreign banks,
organizations operating under section 25 or 25A of the Federal Reserve
Act, bank holding companies and their nonbank subsidiaries or affiliates
(except broker-dealers, affiliates providing insurance, investment
companies, and investment advisers), by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System;
(C) banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (other
than members of the Federal Reserve System), insured State branches of
foreign banks, and any subsidiaries of such entities, by the Board of
Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and
(D) savings association the deposits of which are insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and any subsidiaries of such a
savings association, by the Director of the Office of Thrift
Supervision.
(2) Under the Federal Credit Union Act, by the Administrator of the
National Credit Union Administration with respect to any Federal or state
chartered credit union, and any subsidiaries of such an entity.
(3) Under the Farm Credit Act of 1971, by the Farm Credit Administration
with respect to the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, any Federal
land bank, Federal land bank association, Federal intermediate credit bank,
or production credit association.
(4) Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, by the Securities and
Exchange Commission with respect to any broker-dealer.
(5) Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, by the Securities and
Exchange Commission with respect to investment companies.
(6) Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, by the Securities and
Exchange Commission with respect to investment advisers registered with the
Commission under such Act.
(7) Under Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act
of 1992 (12 U. S. C. 4501 et seq.), by the Office of Federal Housing
Enterprise Oversight with respect to the Federal National Mortgage
Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.
(8) Under the Federal Home Loan Bank Act, by the Federal Housing Finance
Board with respect to Federal home loan banks.
(9) Under State insurance law, in the case of any person engaged in
providing insurance, by the State insurance authority of the State in which
the person is domiciled, subject to section 104 of this Act.
(10) Under the Federal Trade Commission Act, by the Federal Trade
Commission for any other financial institution that is not subject to the
jurisdiction of any agency or authority under paragraphs (1) through (9) of
this subsection.
(b) ENFORCEMENT OF SECTION 501-
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in paragraph (2), the agencies and
authorities described in subsection (a) shall implement the standards
prescribed under section 501(b) in the same manner, to the extent
practicable, as standards prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) of section
39 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act are implemented pursuant to such
section.
(2) EXCEPTION- The agencies and authorities described in paragraphs (4),
(5), (6), (9), and (10) of subsection (a) shall implement the standards
prescribed under section 501(b) by rule with respect to the financial
institutions subject to their respective jurisdictions under subsection
(a).
(c) DEFINITIONS- The terms used in subsection (a)(1) that are not defined
in this subtitle or otherwise defined in section 3(s) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act shall have the meaning given to them in section 1(b) of the
International Banking Act of 1978.
SEC. 506. FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT AMENDMENT.
(a) AMENDMENT- Section 621 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C.
1681s) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d), by striking everything following the end of the
second sentence; and
(2) by striking subsection `(e)' and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:
`(e) REGULATORY AUTHORITY-
`(1) The Federal banking agencies referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2)
of subsection (b) shall jointly prescribe such regulations as necessary to
carry out the purposes of this Act with respect to any persons identified
under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b), or to the holding companies
and affiliates of such persons.
`(2) The Administrator of the National Credit Union Administration shall
prescribe such regulations as necessary to carry out the purposes of this
Act with respect to any persons identified under paragraph (3) of subsection
(b).'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 621(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
(15 U.S.C. 1681s(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (4).
SEC. 507. RELATION TO OTHER PROVISIONS.
This subtitle shall not apply to any information to which subtitle D of
title III applies.
SEC. 508. STUDY OF INFORMATION SHARING AMONG FINANCIAL AFFILIATES.
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of the Treasury, in conjunction with the
Federal functional regulators and the Federal Trade Commission, shall conduct
a study of information sharing practices among financial institutions and
their affiliates. Such study shall include--
(1) the purposes for the sharing of confidential customer information
with affiliates or with nonaffiliated third parties;
(2) the extent and adequacy of security protections for such
information;
(3) the potential risks for customer privacy of such sharing of
information;
(4) the potential benefits for financial institutions and affiliates of
such sharing of information;
(5) the potential benefits for customers of such sharing of
information;
(6) the adequacy of existing laws to protect customer privacy;
(7) the adequacy of financial institution privacy policy and privacy
rights disclosure under existing law;
(8) the feasibility of different approaches, including opt-out and
opt-in, to permit customers to direct that confidential information not be
shared with affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties; and
(9) the feasibility of restricting sharing of information for specific
uses or of permitting customers to direct the uses for which information may
be shared.
(b) CONSULTATION- The Secretary shall consult with representatives of
State insurance authorities designated by the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners, and also with financial services industry, consumer
organizations and privacy groups, and other representatives of the general
public, in formulating and conducting the study required by subsection (a).
(c) REPORT- Before the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress
containing the findings and conclusions of the study required under subsection
(a), together with such recommendations for legislative or administrative
action as may be appropriate.
SEC. 509. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this subtitle:
(1) FEDERAL BANKING AGENCY- The term `Federal banking agency' has the
meanings given to such terms in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act.
(2) FEDERAL FUNCTIONAL REGULATOR- The term `Federal functional
regulator' means--
(A) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
(B) the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency;
(C) the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation;
(D) the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision;
(E) the National Credit Union Administration Board;
(F) the Farm Credit Administration; and
(G) the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(3) FINANCIAL INSTITUTION- The term `financial institution' means any
institution the business of which is engaging in financial activities or
activities that are incidental to financial activities, as described in
section 6(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.
(4) NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION-
(A) The term `nonpublic personal information' means personally
identifiable financial information--
(i) provided by a consumer to a financial institution;
(ii) resulting from any transaction with the consumer or the service
performed for the consumer; or
(iii) otherwise obtained by the financial institution.
(B) Such term does not include publicly available information, as such
term is defined by the regulations prescribed under section 504.
(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), such term shall include any
list, description, or other grouping of consumers (and publicly available
information pertaining to them) that is derived using any personally
identifiable information other than publicly available
information.
(5) NONAFFILIATED THIRD PARTIES- The term `nonaffiliated third parties'
means any entity that is not an affiliate of, or related by common ownership
or affiliated by corporate control with, the financial institution, but does
not include a joint employee of such institution.
(6) AFFILIATE- The term `affiliate' means any company that controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with another company.
(7) NECESSARY TO EFFECT, ADMINISTER, OR ENFORCE- The term `as necessary
to effect, administer or enforce the transaction' means--
(A) the disclosure is required, or is a usual, appropriate or
acceptable method, to carry out the transaction or the product or service
business of which the transaction is a part, and record or service or
maintain the consumer's account in the ordinary course of providing the
financial service or financial product, or to administer or service
benefits or claims relating to the transaction or the product or service
business of which it is a part, and includes--
(i) providing the consumer or the consumer's agent or broker with a
confirmation, statement, or other record of the transaction, or
information on the status or value of the financial service or financial
product; and
(ii) the accrual or recognition of incentives or bonuses associated
with the transaction that are provided by the financial institution or
any other party;
(B) the disclosure is required, or is one of the lawful or appropriate
methods, to enforce the rights of the financial institution or of other
persons engaged in carrying out the financial transaction, or providing
the product or service;
(C) the disclosure is required, or is a usual, appropriate, or
acceptable method, for insurance underwriting at the consumer's request or
for reinsurance purposes, or for any of the following purposes as they
relate to a consumer's insurance: account administration, reporting,
investigating, or preventing fraud or material misrepresentation,
processing premium payments, processing insurance claims, administering
insurance benefits (including utilization review activities),
participating in research projects, or as otherwise required or
specifically permitted by Federal or State law; or
(D) the disclosure is required, or is a usual, appropriate or
acceptable method, in connection with--
(i) the authorization, settlement, billing, processing, clearing,
transferring, reconciling, or collection of amounts charged, debited, or
otherwise paid using a debit, credit or other payment card, check, or
account number, or by other payment means;
(ii) the transfer of receivables, accounts or interests therein;
or
(iii) the audit of debit, credit or other payment
information.
(8) STATE INSURANCE AUTHORITY- The term `State insurance authority'
means, in the case of any person engaged in providing insurance, the State
insurance authority of the State in which the person is domiciled.
(9) CONSUMER- The term `consumer' means an individual who obtains, from
a financial institution, financial products or services which are to be used
primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, and also means the
legal representative of such an individual.
(10) JOINT AGREEMENT- The term `joint agreement' means a formal written
contract pursuant to which two or more financial institutions jointly offer,
endorse, or sponsor a financial product or service, and any payments between
the parties are based on business or profit generated.
SEC. 510. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This subtitle shall take effect 6 months after the date on which the rules
under section 503 are promulgated, except--
(1) to the extent that a later date is specified in such rules;
and
(2) that section 506 shall be effective upon enactment.
Subtitle B--Fraudulent Access to Financial Information
SEC. 521. PRIVACY PROTECTION FOR CUSTOMER INFORMATION OF FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS.
(a) PROHIBITION ON OBTAINING CUSTOMER INFORMATION BY FALSE PRETENSES- It
shall be a violation of this subtitle for any person to obtain or attempt to
obtain, or cause to be disclosed or attempt to cause to be disclosed to any
person, customer information of a financial institution relating to another
person--
(1) by making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or
representation to an officer, employee, or agent of a financial
institution;
(2) by making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or
representation to a customer of a financial institution; or
(3) by providing any document to an officer, employee, or agent of a
financial institution, knowing that the document is forged, counterfeit,
lost, or stolen, was fraudulently obtained, or contains a false, fictitious,
or fraudulent statement or representation.
(b) PROHIBITION ON SOLICITATION OF A PERSON TO OBTAIN CUSTOMER INFORMATION
FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTION UNDER FALSE PRETENSES- It shall be a violation of
this subtitle to request a person to obtain customer information of a
financial institution, knowing that the person will obtain, or attempt to
obtain, the information from the institution in any manner described in
subsection (a).
(c) NONAPPLICABILITY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES- No provision of this
section shall be construed so as to prevent any action by a law enforcement
agency, or any officer, employee, or agent of such agency, to obtain customer
information of a financial institution in connection with the performance of
the official duties of the agency.
(d) NONAPPLICABILITY TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN CERTAIN CASES- No
provision of this section shall be construed so as to prevent any financial
institution, or any officer, employee, or agent of a financial institution,
from obtaining customer information of such financial institution in the
course of--
(1) testing the security procedures or systems of such institution for
maintaining the confidentiality of customer information;
(2) investigating allegations of misconduct or negligence on the part of
any officer, employee, or agent of the financial institution; or
(3) recovering customer information of the financial institution which
was obtained or received by another person in any manner described in
subsection (a) or (b).
(e) NONAPPLICABILITY TO INSURANCE INSTITUTIONS FOR INVESTIGATION OF
INSURANCE FRAUD- No provision of this section shall be construed so as to
prevent any insurance institution, or any officer, employee, or agency of an
insurance institution, from obtaining information as part of an insurance
investigation into criminal activity, fraud, material misrepresentation, or
material nondisclosure that is authorized for such institution under State
law, regulation, interpretation, or order.
(f) NONAPPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN TYPES OF CUSTOMER INFORMATION OF FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS- No provision of this section shall be construed so as to prevent
any person from obtaining customer information of a financial institution that
otherwise is available as a public record filed pursuant to the securities
laws (as defined in section 3(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934).
(g) NONAPPLICABILITY TO COLLECTION OF CHILD SUPPORT JUDGMENTS- No
provision of this section shall be construed to prevent any State-licensed
private investigator, or any officer, employee, or agent of such private
investigator, from obtaining customer information of a financial institution,
to the extent reasonably necessary to collect child support from a person
adjudged to have been delinquent in his or her obligations by a Federal or
State court, and to the extent that such action by a State-licensed private
investigator is not unlawful under any other Federal or State law or
regulation, and has been authorized by an order or judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction.
SEC. 522. ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT.
(a) ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION- Compliance with this subtitle
shall be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission in the same manner and with
the same power and authority as the Commission has under the title VIII, the
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, to enforce compliance with such title.
(b) NOTICE OF ACTIONS- The Federal Trade Commission shall--
(1) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission whenever the Federal
Trade Commission initiates an investigation with respect to a financial
institution subject to regulation by the Securities and Exchange
Commission;
(2) notify the Federal banking agency (as defined in section 3(z) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act) whenever the Commission initiates an
investigation with respect to a financial institution subject to regulation
by such Federal banking agency; and
(3) notify the appropriate State insurance regulator whenever the
Commission initiates an investigation with respect to a financial
institution subject to regulation by such regulator.
SEC. 523. CRIMINAL PENALTY.
(a) IN GENERAL- Whoever knowingly and intentionally violates, or knowingly
and intentionally attempts to violate, section 521 shall be fined in
accordance with title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than
5 years, or both.
(b) ENHANCED PENALTY FOR AGGRAVATED CASES- Whoever violates, or attempts
to violate, section 521 while violating another law of the United States or as
part of a pattern of any illegal activity involving more than $100,000 in a
12-month period shall be fined twice the amount provided in subsection (b)(3)
or (c)(3) (as the case may be) of section 3571 of title 18, United States
Code, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.
SEC. 524. RELATION TO STATE LAWS.
(a) IN GENERAL- This subtitle shall not be construed as superseding,
altering, or affecting the statutes, regulations, orders, or interpretations
in effect in any State, except to the extent that such statutes, regulations,
orders, or interpretations are inconsistent with the provisions of this
subtitle, and then only to the extent of the inconsistency.
(b) GREATER PROTECTION UNDER STATE LAW- For purposes of this section, a
State statute, regulation, order, or interpretation is not inconsistent with
the provisions of this subtitle if the protection such statute, regulation,
order, or interpretation affords any person is greater than the protection
provided under this subtitle as determined by the Commission, on its own
motion or upon the petition of any interested party.
SEC. 525. AGENCY GUIDANCE.
In furtherance of the objectives of this subtitle, each Federal banking
agency (as defined in section 3(z) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) and
the Securities and Exchange Commission or self-regulatory organizations, as
appropriate, shall review regulations and guidelines applicable to financial
institutions under their respective jurisdictions and shall prescribe such
revisions to such regulations and guidelines as may be necessary to ensure
that such financial institutions have policies, procedures, and controls in
place to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of customer financial information
and to deter and detect activities proscribed under section 521.
SEC. 526. REPORTS.
(a) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS- Before the end of the 18-month period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General,
in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission, Federal banking agencies,
the Securities and Exchange Commission, appropriate Federal law enforcement
agencies, and appropriate State insurance regulators, shall submit to the
Congress a report on the following:
(1) The efficacy and adequacy of the remedies provided in this subtitle
in addressing attempts to obtain financial information by fraudulent means
or by false pretenses.
(2) Any recommendations for additional legislative or regulatory action
to address threats to the privacy of financial information created by
attempts to obtain information by fraudulent means or false pretenses.
(b) ANNUAL REPORT BY ADMINISTERING AGENCIES- The Federal Trade Commission
and the Attorney General shall submit to Congress an annual report on number
and disposition of all enforcement actions taken pursuant to this subtitle.
SEC. 527. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this subtitle, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) CUSTOMER- The term `customer' means, with respect to a financial
institution, any person (or authorized representative of a person) to whom
the financial institution provides a product or service, including that of
acting as a fiduciary.
(2) CUSTOMER INFORMATION OF A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION- The term `customer
information of a financial institution' means any information maintained by
or for a financial institution which is derived from the relationship
between the financial institution and a customer of the financial
institution and is identified with the customer.
(3) DOCUMENT- The term `document' means any information in any
form.
(4) FINANCIAL INSTITUTION-
(A) IN GENERAL- The term `financial institution' means any institution
engaged in the business of providing financial services to customers who
maintain a credit, deposit, trust, or other financial account or
relationship with the institution.
(B) CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED- The term
`financial institution' includes any depository institution (as defined in
section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act), any broker or dealer, any
investment adviser or investment company, any insurance company, any loan
or finance company, any credit card issuer or operator of a credit card
system, and any consumer reporting agency that compiles and maintains
files on consumers on a nationwide basis (as defined in section
603(p)).
(C) SECURITIES INSTITUTIONS- For purposes of subparagraph
(B)--
(i) the terms `broker' and `dealer' have the meanings provided in
section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C.
78c);
(ii) the term `investment adviser' has the meaning provided in
section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80b-2(a)); and
(iii) the term `investment company' has the meaning provided in
section 3 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.
80a-3).
(D) FURTHER DEFINITION BY REGULATION- The Federal Trade Commission,
after consultation with Federal banking agencies and the Securities and
Exchange Commission, may prescribe regulations clarifying or describing
the types of institutions which shall be treated as financial institutions
for purposes of this subtitle.
Passed the House of Representatives July 1, 1999.
Attest:
Clerk.
END