[House Report 104-193]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



104th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    104-193
_______________________________________________________________________


 
          FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS REGULATORY RELIEF ACT OF 1995

 July 18, 1995.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


   Mr. Leach, from the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                     MINORITY AND ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 1858]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
  The Committee on Banking and Financial Services, to whom was 
referred the bill (H.R. 1858) to reduce paperwork and 
additional regulatory burdens for depository institutions, 
having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an 
amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Financial 
Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

            TITLE I--REDUCTIONS IN GOVERNMENT OVERREGULATION

                 Subtitle A--The Home Mortgage Process

Sec. 101. Regulatory authority over disclosures and escrow accounts 
under RESPA transferred to Federal Reserve Board.
Sec. 102. Simplification and unification of disclosures required under 
RESPA and TILA for mortgage transactions.
Sec. 103. Increased regulatory flexibility under the Truth in Lending 
Act.
Sec. 104. Reductions in RESPA regulatory burdens; clarifying 
amendments.
Sec. 105. Disclosures for adjustable rate mortgages.
Sec. 106. Certain charges.
Sec. 107. Exemptions from rescission.
Sec. 108. Tolerances; basis of disclosures.
Sec. 109. Limitation on liability.
Sec. 110. Limitation on rescission liability.
Sec. 111. Calculation of damages.
Sec. 112. Assignee liability.
Sec. 113. Rescission rights in foreclosure.
Sec. 114. Recovery of fees.
Sec. 115. Home ownership debt counseling notification.
Sec. 116. Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.
Sec. 117. Applicability.

           Subtitle B--Community Reinvestment Act Amendments

Sec. 121. Expression of congressional intent.
Sec. 122. Community Reinvestment Act exemption.
Sec. 123. Self-certification of CRA compliance.
Sec. 124. Community input and conclusive rating.
Sec. 125. Special purpose financial institutions.
Sec. 126. Increased incentives for lending to low- and moderate-income 
communities.
Sec. 127. Prohibition on additional reporting under CRA.
Sec. 128. Technical amendment.
Sec. 129. Duplicative reporting.
Sec. 130. CRA congressional oversight.
Sec. 131. Consultation among examiners.
Sec. 132. Limitation on regulations.

                  Subtitle C--Consumer Banking Reforms

Sec. 141. Truth in Savings.
Sec. 142. Information sharing.
Sec. 143. Electronic Fund Transfer Act clarification.
Sec. 144. Limit on restitution for Truth in Lending violations if 
safety and soundness of violator would be affected.

          Subtitle D--Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments

Sec. 151. Short title.
Sec. 152. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 153. Equal Credit Opportunity Act amendments.
Sec. 154. Fair Credit Reporting Act amendments.
Sec. 155. Incentives for self-testing.
Sec. 156. Credit scoring systems.
Sec. 157. Consultation by Attorney General required in nonreferral 
cases.
Sec. 158. Effective date.

              Subtitle E--Consumer Leasing Act Amendments

Sec. 161. Short title.
Sec. 162. Congressional findings and declaration of purpose.
Sec. 163. Regulations.
Sec. 164. Consumer lease advertising.
Sec. 165. Statutory penalties.

             Subtitle F--Federal Home Loan Bank Amendments

Sec. 171. Application for membership in the FHLB System.
Sec. 172. Federal home loan bank external auditors.

             TITLE II--STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

                 Subtitle A--Regulatory Approval Issues

Sec. 201. Streamlined nonbanking acquisitions by well capitalized and 
well managed banking organizations.
Sec. 202. Streamlined bank acquisitions by well capitalized and well 
managed banking organizations.
Sec. 203. Eliminate filing and approval requirements for insured 
depository institutions already controlled by the same holding company.
Sec. 204. Eliminate redundant approval requirement for Oakar 
transactions.
Sec. 205. Elimination of duplicative requirements imposed upon bank 
holding companies and other regulatory relief under the Home Owners' 
Loan Act.
Sec. 206. Eliminate requirement that approval be obtained for 
divestitures.
Sec. 207. Eliminate unnecessary branch applications.
Sec. 208. Eliminate branch applications and requirements for ATMs and 
similar facilities.
Sec. 209. Eliminate requirement for approval of investments in bank 
premises for well capitalized and well managed banks.
Sec. 210. Eliminate unnecessary filing for officer and director 
appointments.
Sec. 211. Streamlining process for determining new nonbanking 
activities.
Sec. 212. Disposition of foreclosed assets.
Sec. 213. Increase in certain credit union loan ceilings.

   Subtitle B--Streamlining of Government Regulations; Miscellaneous 
                               Provisions

Sec. 221. Eliminate the per-branch capital requirement for national 
banks and State member banks.
Sec. 222. Branch closures.
Sec. 223. Amendments to the Depository Institutions Management 
Interlocks Act.
Sec. 224. Acceleration of repayment to Treasury.
Sec. 225. Eliminate unnecessary and duplicative recordkeeping and 
reporting requirements relating to loans to executive officers and 
permit participation in employee benefit plans.
Sec. 226. Expanded regulatory discretion for small bank examinations.
Sec. 227. Cost reimbursement.
Sec. 228. Identification of foreign nonbank financial institution 
customers.
Sec. 229. Paperwork reduction review.
Sec. 230. Daily confirmations for hold-in-custody repurchase 
transactions.
Sec. 231. Required regulatory review of regulations.
Sec. 232. Country risk requirements.
Sec. 233. Audit costs.
Sec. 234. Standards for director and officer liability.
Sec. 235. Foreign bank applications.
Sec. 236. Duplicate examination of foreign banks.
Sec. 237. Second mortgages.
Sec. 238. Streamlining FDIC approval of new State bank powers.
Sec. 239. Repeal of call report attestation requirement.
Sec. 240. Authority of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Sec. 241. National bank community development insurance activities.
Sec. 242. Authorizing bank service companies to organize as limited 
liability partnerships.
Sec. 243. Bank investments in Edge Act and agreement corporations.
Sec. 244. Report on the reconciliation of differences between 
regulatory accounting principles and generally accepted accounting 
principles.
Sec. 245. Waivers authorized for residency requirement for national 
bank directors.

                      TITLE III--LENDER LIABILITY

Sec. 301. Lender liability.

    TITLE IV--ANNUAL STUDY AND REPORT ON IMPACT ON LENDING TO SMALL 
                                BUSINESS

Sec. 401. Annual study and report.
            TITLE I--REDUCTIONS IN GOVERNMENT OVERREGULATION

                 Subtitle A--The Home Mortgage Process
SEC. 101. REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER DISCLOSURES AND ESCROW ACCOUNTS 
                    UNDER RESPA TRANSFERRED TO FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD.

  (a) In General.--Sections 4, 5, 6, and 10(d) of the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) are amended 
by striking ``Secretary'' each place such term appears and inserting 
``Board''.
  (b) Clarification of Purpose.--Section 2(b)(2) of the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2601(b)(2)) is amended by 
inserting the following before the semicolon at the end: ``without--
                  ``(A) directly regulating settlement services prices; 
                or
                  ``(B) directly regulating wages to bona fide 
                employees that are not designed as a subterfuge to 
                facilitate kickbacks among affiliated companies''.
  (c) Board Defined.--Section 3 of the Real Estate Settlement 
Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2602) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (7);
          (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
          (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(9) the term `Board' means the Board of Governors of the 
        Federal Reserve System.''.
  (d) Negotiated Regulations Under Sections 8 and 9.--Section 8 of the 
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2607) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(e) Negotiated Regulations.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may not publish a proposed 
        or final regulation under this section and section 9 after the 
        date of the enactment of the Financial Institutions Regulatory 
        Relief Act of 1995 unless the Secretary has used the negotiated 
        rulemaking procedure established under subchapter III of 
        chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, to attempt to 
        negotiate and develop the rule.
          ``(2) Consistency with purpose.--Any regulation prescribed in 
        accordance with paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the 
        purposes of this title as set forth in section 2.''.
  (e) Administrative Enforcement of Prohibition Against Kickbacks and 
Unearned Fees.--Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act 
of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2607) is amended by adding after subsection (e) (as 
added by subsection (d) of this section) the following new subsection:
  ``(f) Administrative Enforcement.--
          ``(1) In general.--Compliance with the requirements of this 
        section and sections 9 and 12 shall be enforced under this 
        Act--
                  ``(A) in the case of an insured depository 
                institution (as defined in section 3 of the Federal 
                Deposit Insurance Act), by the appropriate Federal 
                banking agency (as defined in such section);
                  ``(B) in the case of an insured credit union (as 
                defined in section 101(7) of the Federal Credit Union 
                Act), by the National Credit Union Administration;
                  ``(C) in the case of a bank holding company (as 
                defined in section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 
                1956) and any affiliate of any such holding company 
                (other than an insured depository institution), by the 
                Board;
                  ``(D) in the case of a savings and loan holding 
                company (as defined in section 10 of the Home Owners' 
                Loan Act) and any affiliate of any such holding company 
                (other than an insured depository institution), by the 
                Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision; and
                  ``(E) in the case of any other person, by the 
                Secretary.
          ``(2) Special rules relating to determination of appropriate 
        regulator.--
                  ``(A) Cases of more than 1 appropriate regulator.--
                If, under paragraph (1), a company may be regulated by 
                more than 1 agency, the Board shall determine which 
                agency shall be the responsible agency, notwithstanding 
                paragraph (1).
                  ``(B) Cases involving joint ventures, partnerships, 
                and other affiliated business arrangements.--If any 
                insured depository institution is involved in a joint 
                venture, partnership, or other affiliated business 
                arrangement with any person who is not an insured 
                depository institution, the agency responsible for 
                enforcing this section and sections 9 and 12 with 
                respect to such insured depository institution shall be 
                the agency with such responsibility with respect to 
                such joint venture, partnership, or other affiliated 
                business arrangement.
          ``(3) Interagency cooperation and enforcement guidelines.--
        All the agencies referred to in any subparagraph of paragraph 
        (1) shall cooperate with each other to develop enforcement 
        guidelines and other means for achieving effective compliance 
        with this section and sections 9 and 12.
          ``(4) Preference for civil enforcement over criminal 
        enforcement.--As part of the cooperative efforts required under 
        paragraph (3), the agencies referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
        consider means for achieving compliance with this section and 
        section 9 through the exercise of administrative enforcement 
        authority under this subsection without resorting to criminal 
        enforcement actions under subsection (d) except in appropriate 
        cases.
          ``(5) Effective date.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not take 
        effect until joint interagency cooperation and enforcement 
        guidelines are adopted by all the agencies to which paragraphs 
        (1) and (2) apply and the enforcement authority of the 
        Secretary with respect to this section and sections 9 and 12 
        shall continue until such paragraphs take effect.''.
  (f) Increased Scienter Requirement for Criminal Penalty.--Section 
8(d) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 
2607(d)) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``willfully'' after 
        ``persons who''; and
          (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``was not intentional 
        and''.
  (g) Redesignation of Controlled Business Arrangements as Affiliated 
Business Arrangements.--The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 
1974 (12 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) is amended--
          (1) in section 3(7), by striking ``controlled business 
        arrangement'' and inserting ``affiliated business 
        arrangement''; and
          (2) in subsections (c)(4) and (d)(6) of section 8, by 
        striking ``controlled business arrangements'' and inserting 
        ``affiliated business arrangements''.
  (h) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
          (1) Section 4(a) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act 
        of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2603(a)) is amended by striking ``Federal 
        Home Loan Bank Board'' and inserting ``Director of the Office 
        of Thrift Supervision''.
          (2) Section 8(d)(4) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures 
        Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2607(d)(4)) is amended by inserting 
        ``any other agency described in subsection (f)(1),'' after 
        ``the Secretary,''.
          (3) Section 10(c)(1)(C) of the Real Estate Settlement 
        Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2609(c)(1)(C)) is amended by 
        striking ``Not later than the expiration of the 90-day period 
        beginning on the date of the enactment of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
        National Affordable Housing Act, the'' and inserting ``The''.
          (4) Section 16 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act 
        of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2614) is amended by striking ``Secretary,'' 
        and inserting ``Board, an agency referred to in any 
        subparagraph of section 8(f)(1),''.
          (5) Section 18 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act 
        of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2616) is amended--
                  (A) by striking ``Secretary is authorized to'' and 
                inserting ``Board and Secretary may jointly'';
                  (B) by striking ``Secretary'' each place such term 
                appears other than the 1st place and inserting ``Board 
                and Secretary''; and
                  (C) by striking ``determines that such laws'' and 
                inserting ``determine that such laws''.
          (6) Section 19(a) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures 
        Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2617(a)) is amended to read as follows:
  ``(a) Regulations.--
          ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        and the Board may prescribe such regulations, make such 
        interpretations, and grant such reasonable exemptions for 
        classes of transactions, as may be necessary to achieve the 
        purposes of this Act.
          ``(2) Application.--
                  ``(A) Board.--The authority of the Board under 
                paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to--
                          ``(i) sections 4, 5, 6, 10, and 12; and
                          ``(ii) sections 3, 7, 17, and 18 to the 
                        extent such sections are applicable with 
                        respect to the sections described in clause 
                        (i).
                  ``(B) Secretary.--The authority of the Secretary 
                under paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to--
                          ``(i) sections 8 and 9; and
                          ``(ii) sections 3, 7, 17, and 18 to the 
                        extent such sections are applicable with 
                        respect to the sections described in clause 
                        (i). ''.
          (7) Section 19(b) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures 
        Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2617(b)) is amended by inserting ``, the 
        Board,'' after ``the Secretary''.
          (8) Section 19(c) of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures 
        Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2617(c)) is amended--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by striking ``Secretary'' the 1st place 
                        such term appears and inserting ``Board, with 
                        respect to any action to enforce section 4, 5, 
                        6, or 10, and each agency referred to in any 
                        subparagraph of section 8(f)(1), with respect 
                        to any action to enforce section 8, 9, or 
                        12,''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``Secretary'' each place 
                        such term appears other than the 1st place and 
                        inserting ``Board or such other agency''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Secretary'' and 
                inserting ``Board or an agency referred to in any 
                subparagraph of section 8(f)(1)''.
          (9) The heading for section 19 of the Real Estate Settlement 
        Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2617) is amended to read as 
        follows:

     ``authority of the secretary and the federal reserve board''.

  (i) Repeal of Obsolete Provisions.--The Real Estate Settlement 
Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) is amended by striking 
sections 13, 14, and 15.

SEC. 102. SIMPLIFICATION AND UNIFICATION OF DISCLOSURES REQUIRED UNDER 
                    RESPA AND TILA FOR MORTGAGE TRANSACTIONS.

  (a) In General.--With respect to credit transactions which are 
subject to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 and the 
Truth in Lending Act, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System shall take such action as may be necessary before the end of the 
3-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act--
          (1) to simplify the disclosures applicable to such 
        transactions under such Acts, including the timing of the 
        disclosures; and
          (2) to provide a single format for such disclosures which 
        will satisfy the requirements of each such Act with respect to 
        such transactions.
  (b) Regulations.--To the extent that it is necessary to prescribe any 
regulation in order to effect any changes required to be made under 
subsection (a), the proposed regulation shall be published in the 
Federal Register before the end of the 3-month period referred to in 
subsection (a).
  (c) Recommendations for Legislation.--If the Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve System finds that legislative action may be 
necessary or appropriate in order to simplify and unify the disclosure 
requirements under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 
and the Truth in Lending Act, the Board shall submit a report 
containing recommendations to the Congress concerning such action.

SEC. 103. INCREASED REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY UNDER THE TRUTH IN LENDING 
                    ACT.
  (a) Regulatory Flexibility.--Section 104 of the Truth in Lending Act 
(15 U.S.C. 1603) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
          ``(7) Transactions for which the Board, by regulation, 
        determines that coverage under the Act is not needed to carry 
        out the purposes of the Act.''.
  (b) Exemptive Authority.--Section 105 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 
U.S.C. 1604) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as 
        subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively; and
          (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsection:
  ``(b) Exemptive Authority.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Board shall exempt from all or parts 
        of this title any class of transactions for which, in the 
        Board's judgment, coverage under all or part of this title does 
        not provide a measurable benefit to consumers in the form of 
        useful information or protection.
          ``(2) Factors to be considered.--In determining which classes 
        of transactions to exempt in whole or in part, the Board shall 
        consider, among other factors, the following:
                  ``(A) The amount of the loan or closing costs and 
                whether the disclosures, right of rescission, and other 
                provisions are necessary, particularly for small loans.
                  ``(B) Whether the requirements of this title 
                complicate, hinder, or make more expensive the credit 
                process for the class of transactions.
                  ``(C) The status of the borrower, including, the 
                borrowers' related financial arrangements, the 
                financial sophistication of the borrower relative to 
                the type of transaction, and the importance of the 
                credit and related supporting property to the 
                borrower.''.

SEC. 104. REDUCTIONS IN RESPA REGULATORY BURDENS; CLARIFYING 
                    AMENDMENTS.

  (a) Unnecessary Disclosure.--Section 6(a) of the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2605) is amended to read 
as follows:
  ``(a) Disclosure to Applicant Relating to Assignment, Sale, or 
Transfer of Loan Servicing.--
          ``(1) In general.--Each person who makes a federally related 
        mortgage loan shall disclose to each person who applies for any 
        such loan, at the time of application for the loan, whether the 
        servicing of any such loan may be assigned, sold, or 
        transferred to any other person at any time while such loan is 
        outstanding.
          ``(2) Signature of applicant.--Any disclosure of the 
        information required under paragraph (1) shall not be effective 
        for purposes of this section unless the disclosure is 
        accompanied by a written statement, in such form as the 
        Secretary shall develop before the expiration of the 180-day 
        period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Financial 
        Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995, that the applicant 
        has read and understood the disclosure and that is evidenced by 
        the signature of the applicant at the place where such 
        statement appears in the application.''.
  (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take 
effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
  (c) Second Mortgages.--Section 3(1)(A) of the Real Estate Settlement 
Procedures Act of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2602(1)(A)) is amended by striking 
``or subordinate''.
  (d) Consistency of RESPA and Truth in Lending Act Exemption of 
Business Loans.--Section 7 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act 
of 1974 (12 U.S.C. 2606) is amended--
          (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``This Act''; 
        and
          (2) by inserting at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(b) Interpretation.--In issuing regulations pursuant to section 
19(a) of this Act, the Board shall ensure that, with regard to 
subsection (a), the exemption for business credit includes all business 
credit which is exempt from the Truth in Lending Act in accordance with 
section 226.3(a) of the regulations prescribed by the Board known as 
`regulation Z' (12 C.F.R. 226.3(a)), as in effect on the date of 
enactment of the Financial Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 
1995.''.
SEC. 105. DISCLOSURES FOR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES.

  (a) In General.--Section 127A(a)(2)(G) of the Truth in Lending Act 
(15 U.S.C. 1637a(a)(2)(G)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon 
``, or a statement that the monthly payment may increase or decrease 
significantly due to increases in the annual percentage rate''.
  (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 127A(b)(3) of the 
Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1637a(b)(3)) is amended by striking 
``required under'' and inserting ``referred to in''.
  (c) Alternative to Historical Example.--Section 128(a) of the Truth 
in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(a)) is amended by inserting at the end 
the following new paragraph:
          ``(14) In any variable rate transaction secured by the 
        consumer's principal dwelling with a term greater than 1 year, 
        at the creditors' option, a statement that the monthly payment 
        may increase or decrease substantially, or a historical example 
        illustrating the effects of interest rate changes implemented 
        according to the loan program.''.
  (d) Ensuring Honoring of Lock-in Promises.--Section 128(b) of the 
Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1638(b)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph:
  ``(3) In the case of a residential mortgage transaction, the 
disclosures under subsection (a) shall include the following:
          ``(A) The note rate and points, and a statement, if 
        applicable, that these terms are subject to change.
          ``(B) A statement that the creditor must include the 
        disclosed note rate and points in the credit agreement unless, 
        in relation to either or both of those terms--
                  ``(i) the disclosure clearly and conspicuously 
                indicates that the term is subject to change, or
                  ``(ii) in the case of any term to which clause (i) 
                does not apply--
                          ``(I) the creditor has clearly and 
                        conspicuously indicated that the term is 
                        conditioned on closing the transaction within a 
                        prescribed time;
                          ``(II) the creditor has promptly and clearly 
                        communicated to the consumer the information 
                        and documentation that the consumer is required 
                        to provide to the creditor; and
                          ``(III) the consumer has failed to provide 
                        such information and documentation within a 
                        reasonable time after receiving that 
                        communication.''.

SEC. 106. CERTAIN CHARGES.

  (a) Third Party Fees.--Section 106(a) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 
U.S.C. 1605(a)) is amended by adding after the 2d sentence the 
following new sentence: ``The finance charge shall not include fees and 
amounts imposed by third party closing agents (including settlement 
agents, attorneys, and escrow and title companies) if the creditor does 
not expressly require the imposition of the charges or the services 
provided and does not retain the charges.''.
  (b) Mortgage Broker Fees.--Section 106(a) of the Truth in Lending Act 
(15 U.S.C. 1605(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
          ``(6) Mortgage broker fees.''.
  (c) Treatment of Certain Debt Cancellation and Deficiency Waiver 
Contracts.--Section 106(c) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 
1605(c)) is amended to read as follows:
  ``(c) Treatment of Certain Debt Cancellation and Deficiency Waiver 
Contracts.--Charges or premiums for any insurance or for any voluntary 
noninsurance product, written in connection with any consumer credit 
transaction, that provides protections against loss of or damage to 
property or against part or all of the debtor's liability for amounts 
in excess of the value of the collateral securing the debtor's 
obligation, or against liability arising out of the ownership or use of 
property, shall be included in the finance charge unless a clear and 
specific statement in writing is furnished by the creditor to the 
person to whom the credit is extended, setting forth the cost of the 
insurance or product if obtained from or through the creditor, and 
stating that the person to whom credit is extended may choose the 
person through which the insurance or product is to be obtained.''.
  (d) Taxes on Security Instruments or Evidences of Indebtedness.--
Section 106(d) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1605(d)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(3) Any tax levied on security instruments or on documents 
        evidencing indebtedness if the payment of such taxes is a 
        precondition for recording the instrument securing the evidence 
        of indebtedness.''.
  (e) Preparation of Loan Documents.--Section 106(e)(2) of the Truth in 
Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1605(e)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
          ``(2) Fees for preparation of loan-related documents and for 
        attending or conducting settlement.''.
  (f) Fees Relating to Pest Infestations, Inspections, and Hazards.--
Section 106(e)(5) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1605(e)(5)) is 
amended by inserting ``, including fees related to pest infestations, 
premises and structural inspections, and flood hazards'' before the 
period.
  (g) Ensuring Finance Charges Reflect Cost of Credit.--
          (1) Report.--
                  (A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Board of 
                Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall submit to 
                the Congress a report containing recommendations on any 
                regulatory or statutory changes necessary--
                          (i) to ensure that finance charges imposed in 
                        connection with consumer credit transactions 
                        more accurately reflect the cost of providing 
                        credit; and
                          (ii) to address abusive refinancing practices 
                        engaged in solely for the purpose of avoiding 
                        rescission.
                  (B) Report requirements.--In preparing the report 
                under this paragraph, the Board shall--
                          (i) consider the extent to which it is 
                        feasible to include in finance charges all 
                        charges payable directly or indirectly by the 
                        consumer to whom credit is extended, and 
                        imposed directly or indirectly by the creditor 
                        as an incident to the extension of credit 
                        (especially those charges excluded from finance 
                        charges under section 106 of the Truth in 
                        Lending Act as of the date of the enactment of 
                        this Act), excepting only those charges which 
                        are payable in a comparable cash transaction; 
                        and
                          (ii) consult with and consider the views of 
                        affected industries and consumer groups.
          (2) Regulations.--The Board of Governors of the Federal 
        Reserve System shall prescribe any appropriate regulation in 
        order to effect any change included in the report under 
        paragraph (1), and shall publish the regulation in the Federal 
        Register before the end of the 1-year period beginning on the 
        date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 107. EXEMPTIONS FROM RESCISSION.

  (a) Certain Refinancing.--Section 125(e) of the Truth in Lending Act 
(15 U.S.C. 1635(e)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``or'' at the end of paragraph (3);
          (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
        inserting ``; or''; and
          (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(5) a transaction, other than a mortgage referred to in 
        section 103(aa), which--
                  ``(A) is a refinancing of the principal balance then 
                due and any accrued and unpaid finance charges of a 
                residential mortgage transaction as defined in section 
                103(w), or is any subsequent refinancing of such a 
                transaction; and
                  ``(B) does not provide any new consolidation or new 
                advance.''.
  (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 125(e)(2) of the 
Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1635(e)(2)) is amended by inserting ``, 
other than a transaction described in subsection (e)(5),'' after ``a 
refinancing or consolidation (with no new advances)''.
SEC. 108. TOLERANCES; BASIS OF DISCLOSURES.

  (a) Tolerances for Accuracy.--Section 106 of the Truth in Lending Act 
(15 U.S.C. 1605) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
  ``(f) Tolerances for Accuracy.--In connection with credit 
transactions not under an open end credit plan that are secured by real 
property or a dwelling, the disclosure of the finance charge and other 
disclosures affected by any finance charge--
          ``(1) except as provided in paragraph (2), shall be treated 
        as being accurate for purposes of this title if the amount 
        disclosed as the finance charge--
                  ``(A) does not vary from the actual finance charge by 
                more than an amount equal to \1/2\ of the numerical 
                tolerance corresponding to, and generated by, the 
                tolerance provided by section 107(c) with respect to 
                the annual percentage rate, but in no case may the 
                tolerance under this paragraph be less than $25 or 
                greater than $200; or
                  ``(B) is greater than the amount required to be 
                disclosed under this title; and
          ``(2) shall be treated as being accurate for purposes of 
        section 125 if the amount disclosed as the finance charge does 
        not vary from the actual finance charge by more than an amount 
        equal to 0.5 percent of the total amount of credit extended.''.
  (b) Basis of Disclosure for Per Diem Interest.--Section 121(c) of the 
Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1631(c)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new sentence: ``In the case of any consumer credit 
transaction a portion of the interest on which is determined on a per 
diem basis and is to be collected upon the consummation of such 
transaction, any disclosure with respect to such portion of interest 
shall be deemed to be accurate for purposes of this title if the 
disclosure is based on information actually known to the creditor at 
the time that the disclosure documents are being prepared for the 
consummation of the transaction.''.
SEC. 109. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.

  (a) In General.--Chapter 2 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 
1631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:
``SEC. 139. CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY.

  ``(a) Limitations on Liability.--For any consumer credit transaction 
subject to this title that is consummated before the date of the 
enactment of the Financial Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995, 
a creditor or any assignee of a creditor shall have no civil, 
administrative, or criminal liability under this title for, and a 
consumer shall have no extended rescission rights under section 125(f) 
with respect to--
          ``(1) the creditor's treatment, for disclosure purposes, of--
                  ``(A) taxes described in section 106(d)(3);
                  ``(B) fees and amounts described in section 106(e) 
                (2) and (5);
                  ``(C) fees and amounts referred to in the 3rd 
                sentence of section 106(a); or
                  ``(D) mortgage broker fees referred to in section 
                106(a)(6);
          ``(2) the form of written notice used by the creditor to 
        inform the obligor of the rights of the obligor under section 
        125 if the creditor provided the obligor with a properly dated 
        form of written notice published and adopted by the Board or a 
        comparable written notice; or
          ``(3) any disclosure relating to the finance charge imposed 
        with respect to the transaction if the amount or percentage 
        actually disclosed--
                  ``(A) may be treated as accurate pursuant to section 
                106(f), or
                  ``(B) is greater than the amount or percentage 
                required to be disclosed under this title.
  ``(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to--
          ``(1) any individual action or counterclaim brought under 
        this title which was filed before June 1, 1995;
          ``(2) any class action brought under this title for which a 
        final order certifying a class was entered before January 1, 
        1995;
          ``(3) the named individual plaintiffs in any class action 
        brought under this title which was filed before June 1, 1995; 
        or
          ``(4) any consumer credit transaction with respect to which a 
        timely notice of rescission was sent to the creditor before 
        June 1, 1995.''.
  (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 2 of the 
Truth in Lending Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to 
section 138 the following new item:

``139. Certain limitations on liability.''.
SEC. 110. LIMITATION ON RESCISSION LIABILITY.

  Section 125 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1635) is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(h) Limitation on Rescission.--An obligor shall have no rescission 
rights arising from the form of written notice used by the creditor to 
inform the obligor of the rights of the obligor under this section, if 
the creditor provided the obligor the appropriate form of written 
notice published and adopted by the Board, or a comparable written 
notice of the rights of the obligor, that was properly completed by the 
creditor.''.
SEC. 111. CALCULATION OF DAMAGES.

  Section 130(a)(2)(A) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 
1640(a)(2)(A)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``or (ii)'' and inserting ``(ii)''; and
          (2) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the 
        following: ``, or (iii) in the case of an individual action 
        relating to a credit transaction not under an open end credit 
        plan that is secured by real property or a dwelling, not less 
        than $250 or greater than $2,500''.
SEC. 112. ASSIGNEE LIABILITY.

  (a) Violations Apparent on the Face of Transaction Documents.--
Section 131 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1641) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(e) Liability of Assignee for Consumer Credit Transactions Secured 
by Real Property.--
          ``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise specifically provided 
        in this title, any civil action against a creditor for a 
        violation of this title, and any proceeding under section 108 
        against a creditor, with respect to a consumer credit 
        transaction secured by real property may be maintained against 
        any assignee of such creditor only if--
                  ``(A) the violation for which such action or 
                proceeding is brought is apparent on the face of the 
                disclosure statement provided in connection with such 
                transaction pursuant to this title; and
                  ``(B) the assignment to the assignee was voluntary.
          ``(2) Violation apparent on the face of the disclosure 
        described.--For the purpose of this section, a violation is 
        apparent on the face of the disclosure statement if--
                  ``(A) the disclosure can be determined to be 
                incomplete or inaccurate from the face of the 
                disclosure statement, any itemization of the amount 
                financed, or any other disclosure of disbursement; or
                  ``(B) the disclosure statement does not use the terms 
                or format required to be used by this title.''.
  (b) Servicer Not Treated as Assignee.--Section 131 of the Truth in 
Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1641) is amended by inserting after subsection 
(e) (as added by subsection (a) of this section) the following new 
subsection:
  ``(f) Treatment of Servicer.--
          ``(1) In general.--A servicer of a consumer obligation 
        arising from a consumer credit transaction shall not be treated 
        as an assignee of such obligation for purposes of this section 
        unless the servicer is the owner of the obligation.
          ``(2) Servicer not treated as owner on basis of assignment 
        for administrative convenience.--A servicer of a consumer 
        obligation arising from a consumer credit transaction shall not 
        be treated as the owner of the obligation for purposes of this 
        section on the basis of an assignment of the obligation from 
        the creditor or another assignee to the servicer solely for the 
        administrative convenience of the servicer in servicing the 
        obligation. Upon written request by the obligor, the servicer 
        shall provide the obligor, to the best knowledge of the 
        servicer, with the name, address, and telephone number of the 
        owner of the obligation or the master servicer of the 
        obligation.
          ``(3) Servicer defined.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `servicer' has the same meaning as in section 6(i)(2) of 
        the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974.''.

SEC. 113. RESCISSION RIGHTS IN FORECLOSURE.

  Section 125 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1635) is amended 
by inserting after subsection (h) (as added by section 110) the 
following new subsection:
  ``(i) Rescission Rights in Foreclosure.--
          ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 139, and subject 
        to the time period provided in subsection (f), in addition to 
        any other right of rescission available under this section for 
        a transaction, upon an action of a creditor to execute 
        foreclosure on the primary dwelling of an obligor securing an 
        extension of credit, the obligor shall have a right to rescind 
        the transaction equivalent to other rescission rights provided 
        by this section, if--
                  ``(A) a mortgage brokers fee is not included in the 
                finance charge in accordance with the laws and 
                regulations in effect at the time the consumer credit 
                transaction was consummated; or
                  ``(B) the form of notice of rescission for the 
                transaction is not the appropriate form of written 
                notice published and adopted by the Board or a 
                comparable written notice, or was not properly 
                completed by the creditor.
          ``(2) Tolerance for disclosures.--Notwithstanding section 
        106(f), and subject to the time period provided in subsection 
        (f), for the purposes of exercising any rescission rights 
        following an action by a creditor to foreclose on the principal 
        dwelling of the obligor securing an extension of credit, the 
        disclosure of the finance charge and other disclosures affected 
        by any finance charge shall be treated as being accurate for 
        purposes of this section if the amount disclosed as the finance 
        charge does not vary from the actual finance charge by more 
        than $35 or is greater than the amount required to be disclosed 
        under this title.''.

SEC. 114. RECOVERY OF FEES.

  Section 125(b) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1635) is 
amended--
          (1) in the 1st sentence, by inserting ``, except any charge 
        for an appraisal report or credit report'' after ``other 
        charge''; and
          (2) in the 2d sentence, by striking ``otherwise'' and 
        inserting ``as otherwise required under this subsection''.

SEC. 115. HOME OWNERSHIP DEBT COUNSELING NOTIFICATION.

  Section 106(c) of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 
U.S.C. 1701x(c)) is amended by striking paragraph (5).

SEC. 116. HOME MORTGAGE DISCLOSURE ACT.

  (a) Section 309 of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (12 
U.S.C. 2808) is amended--
          (1) in the 2d sentence, by striking ``$10,000,000'' and 
        inserting ``$50,000,000''; and
          (2) by inserting at the end the following new sentences: 
        ``The Board may also, by regulation, exempt from the provisions 
        of this Act institutions specified in section 303(2)(A) which 
        have total assets as of their last full fiscal year of 
        $50,000,000 or greater where the burden of complying with this 
        Act on such institutions outweighs the usefulness of the 
        information required to be disclosed. The exemptions provided 
        under this section shall not be applicable to an institution 
        which the Board, by order, has found a reasonable basis to 
        believe is not fulfilling its obligations to serve the housing 
        needs of the communities and neighborhoods in which it located. 
        An institution subject to such an order shall be required to 
        comply with the requirements of this Act for loans made after 
        the time that the order is issued at such time and for such 
        period as the Board deems appropriate. The dollar amount in 
        this section shall be adjusted annually after December 31, 
        1994, by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price 
        Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers published by 
        the Bureau of Labor Statistics.''.
  (b) Section 304 of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (12 
U.S.C. 2803) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
  ``(m) Opportunity To Reduce Compliance Burden.--
          ``(1) A depository institution shall be considered to have 
        satisfied the public availability requirements of subsection 
        (a) if such institution keeps the information required under 
        that subsection at its home office and provides notice at the 
        branch locations specified in such subsection that such 
        information is available upon request from the home office of 
        the institution. A home office of the depository institution 
        receiving a request for such information pursuant to this 
        subsection shall provide the information pertinent to the 
        location of the branch in question within fifteen days of the 
        receipt of the written request.
          ``(2) In complying with paragraph (1), a depository 
        institution may provide the individual requesting such 
        information, at the institution's choice, with--
                  ``(A) a paper copy of the information requested; or
                  ``(B) if acceptable to the individual, the 
                information through a form of electronic medium, such 
                as computer disc.''.

SEC. 117. APPLICABILITY.

  (a) In General.--The amendments made by subsections (a), (d), (e), 
and (f) of section 106 and sections 108, 112, and 113 shall apply to 
all consumer credit transactions in existence or consummated on or 
after the date of enactment of this Act.
  (b) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), in the case of--
          (1) an individual action or a counterclaim referred to in 
        section 139(b)(1) of the Truth in Lending Act, as amended by 
        section 109(a) of this Act;
          (2) a class action referred to in section 139(b)(2) of that 
        Act;
          (3) a claim of an individual as a named individual plaintiff 
        in a class action referred to in section 139(b)(3) of that Act; 
        or
          (4) a claim relating to a consumer credit transaction 
        referred to in section 139(b)(4) of that Act;
the Truth in Lending Act shall apply as in effect on the date of the 
consummation of the consumer credit transaction that is the subject of 
the individual action, counterclaim, class action, or claim, 
respectively.

           Subtitle B--Community Reinvestment Act Amendments

SEC. 121. EXPRESSION OF CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.

  Subsection (b) of section 802 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 
1977 (12 U.S.C. 2901) is amended to read as follows:
  ``(b) It is the purpose of this title to require each appropriate 
Federal financial supervisory agency to use its authority, when 
examining financial institutions, to encourage such institutions to 
help meet the credit needs of the local communities in which they are 
chartered consistent with the safe and sound operation of such 
institutions. When examining financial institutions, a supervisory 
agency shall not impose additional burden, recordkeeping, or reporting 
upon such institutions.''.

SEC. 122. COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT EXEMPTION.

  The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 809. EXAMINATION EXEMPTION.

  ``(a) In General.--A regulated financial institution shall not be 
subject to the examination requirements of this title or any 
regulations issued under this section if the institution and any bank 
holding company which controls such institution have aggregate assets 
of not more than $100,000,000.
  ``(b) Annual Adjustment.--The dollar amount in subsection (a) shall 
be adjusted annually after December 31, 1994, by the annual percentage 
increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and 
Clerical Workers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.''.

SEC. 123. SELF-CERTIFICATION OF CRA COMPLIANCE.

  Section 804 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 
2903) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection (c):
  ``(c) Self-Certification of CRA Compliance.--
          ``(1) Certification.--In lieu of being evaluated under 
        section 806A and receiving a written evaluation under section 
        807, a qualifying financial institution may elect to self-
        certify to the appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency 
        that such institution is in compliance with the goals of this 
        title.
          ``(2) Qualifying institution.--
                  ``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
                term `qualifying institution' means a financial 
                institution which--
                          ``(i) has not more than $250 million in 
                        assets;
                          ``(ii) has not been found to have engaged in 
                        a pattern or practice of illegal discrimination 
                        under the Fair Housing Act or the Equal Credit 
                        Opportunity Act for the preceding 5-year 
                        calendar period; and
                          ``(iii) received rating under section 
                        807(b)(2) of `satisfactory' or `outstanding' in 
                        the most recent evaluation of such institution 
                        under this title.
                  ``(B) Annual adjustment.--The dollar amount in 
                subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted annually after 
                December 31, 1994, by the annual percentage increase in 
                the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and 
                Clerical Workers published by the Bureau of Labor 
                Statistics.
          ``(3) Public notice.--
                  ``(A) In general.--A qualifying institution shall 
                maintain in every branch a public notice stating that--
                          ``(i) the institution has self-certified that 
                        the institution is satisfactorily helping to 
                        meet the credit needs of its community;
                          ``(ii) the institution maintains--
                                  ``(I) at the main office of such 
                                institution, a public file which 
                                contains a copy of the self-
                                certification to the appropriate 
                                Federal financial supervisory agency; 
                                and
                                  ``(II) a map delineating the 
                                community served by the institution;
                          ``(iii) a list of the types of credit and 
                        services that the institution provides to the 
                        community served by the institution;
                          ``(iv) such other information that the 
                        institution believes demonstrates the 
                        institution's record of helping to meet the 
                        credit needs of its community; and
                          ``(v) every public comment or letter to the 
                        institution (and any response by the 
                        institution) received within the previous 2-
                        year period about the record of the institution 
                        of helping to meet the credit needs of its 
                        community.
                  ``(B) Public file.--A qualifying institution shall 
                maintain a public file containing the contents 
                described in this paragraph at the institution's main 
                office
          ``(4) Rating.--
                  ``(A) In general.--A qualifying institution shall be 
                deemed to have a rating of a `satisfactory record of 
                meeting community credit needs' for the purposes of 
                this section and section 806A(c).
                  ``(B) Publication.--Each Federal financial 
                supervisory agency shall publish in the Federal 
                Register once each month a list of institutions that 
                have self-certified during the previous month.
                  ``(C) Publication constitutes disclosure.--
                Publication of the name of the institution in the 
                Federal Register as having self-certified shall 
                constitute disclosure of the rating of the institution 
                to the public for purposes of sections 806A and 807.
          ``(5) Regulatory review.--
                  ``(A) Assessment.--During each examination for safety 
                and soundness, a qualifying institution's supervisory 
                agency shall, as part of the agency's review of the 
                institution's loans, assess whether the institution's 
                basis for its self-certification is reasonable based on 
                the public notice and the information contained in the 
                public file pursuant to paragraph (3).
                  ``(B) Examination if self-certification is not 
                reasonable.--If the agency determines that the 
                institution's basis for the institution's self-
                certification is not reasonable, the agency shall 
                schedule an examination of the institution for the 
                purpose of assessing the institution's record of 
                helping to meet the credit needs of its community.
                  ``(C) Revocation of self-certification.--If an 
                assessment pursuant to subparagraph (B) results in a 
                less than `satisfactory' rating, the agency shall 
                revoke the institution's self-certification and 
                substitute a written evaluation as provided under 
                section 807.
                  ``(D) Period of ineligibility for self-
                certification.--An institution whose self-certification 
                has been revoked may not self-certify pursuant to this 
                subsection during the 5 years succeeding the year in 
                which the self-certification is revoked.
                  ``(E) Subsequent eligibility.--After the end of the 
                period of ineligibility described in subparagraph (D), 
                an institution which meets the requirements for self-
                certification may elect to self-certify.
          ``(6) Prohibition on additional requirements.--No appropriate 
        Federal financial supervisory agency may impose any additional 
        requirements, whether by regulation or otherwise, relating to 
        the self-certification procedure under this subsection.''.

SEC. 124. COMMUNITY INPUT AND CONCLUSIVE RATING.
  (a) Conforming Amendment.--Section 804(a) of the Community 
Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 2903) is amended by inserting 
``conducted in accordance with section 806A,'' after ``financial 
institution,''.
  (b) Community Input and Conclusive Rating.--The Community 
Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 806 the following new section:

``SEC. 806A. COMMUNITY INPUT AND CONCLUSIVE RATING.

  ``(a) Publication of Exam Schedule and Opportunity for Comment.--
          ``(1) Publication of notice.--Each appropriate Federal 
        financial supervisory agency shall--
                  ``(A) publish in the Federal Register, 30 days before 
                the beginning of a calendar quarter, a listing of 
                institutions scheduled for evaluation for compliance 
                with this title during such calendar quarter; and
                  ``(B) provide opportunity for written comments from 
                the community on the performance, under this title, of 
                each institution scheduled for evaluation.
          ``(2) Comment period.--Written comments may not be submitted 
        to an appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency pursuant 
        to paragraph (1) after the end of the 30-day period beginning 
        on the first day of the calendar quarter.
          ``(3) Copy of comments.--The agency shall provide a copy of 
        such comments to the institution.
  ``(b) Evaluation.--The appropriate Federal financial supervisory 
agency shall--
          ``(1) evaluate the institution in accordance with the 
        standards contained in section 804; and
          ``(2) prepare and publish a written evaluation of the 
        institution as required under section 807.
  ``(c) Reconsideration of Rating.--
          ``(1) Request for reconsideration.--A reconsideration of an 
        institution's rating referred to in section 807(b)(1)(C), may 
        be requested within 30 days of the rating's disclosure to the 
        public.
          ``(2) Procedures for request.--Any such request shall be made 
        in writing and filed with the appropriate Federal financial 
        supervisory agency, and may be filed by the institution or a 
        member of the community.
          ``(3) Basis for request.--Any request for reconsideration 
        under this subsection shall be based on significant issues of a 
        substantive nature which are relevant to the delineated 
        community of the institution and, in the case of a request by a 
        member of the community, shall be limited to issues previously 
        raised in comments submitted pursuant to subsection (a).
          ``(4) Completion of review.--The appropriate Federal 
        financial supervisory agency shall complete any requested 
        reconsideration within 30 days of the filing of the request.
  ``(d) Conclusive Rating.--
          ``(1) In general.--An institution's rating shall become 
        conclusive on the later of--
                  ``(A) 30 days after the rating is disclosed to the 
                public; or
                  ``(B) the completion of any requested reconsideration 
                by the Federal financial supervisory agency.
          ``(2) Rating conclusive of meeting community credit needs.--
        An institution's rating shall be the conclusive assessment of 
        the institution's record of meeting the credit needs of its 
        community for purposes of section 804 until the institution's 
        next rating, developed pursuant to an examination, becomes 
        conclusive.
          ``(3) Safe harbor.--Institutions which have received a 
        `satisfactory' or `outstanding' rating shall be deemed to have 
        met the purposes of section 804.
          ``(4) Rule of construction.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, no provision of this section shall be 
        construed as granting a cause of action to any person.''.
  (c) Overall Evaluation of Institution.--Paragraph (2) of section 
804(a) of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 2903(a)) is 
amended to read as follows:
          ``(2) take such record into account in the overall evaluation 
        of the condition of the institution by the appropriate Federal 
        financial supervisory agency.''.

SEC. 125. SPECIAL PURPOSE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

  (a) In General.--Section 804 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 
1977 (12 U.S.C. 2903) is amended by inserting after subsection (c) (as 
added by section 123 of this title) the following new subsection:
  ``(d) Special Purpose Institutions.--
          ``(1) In general.--In conducting assessments pursuant to this 
        section at any special purpose institution, the appropriate 
        Federal financial supervisory agency shall--
                  ``(A) consider the nature of business such 
                institution is involved in; and
                  ``(B) assess and take into account the record of the 
                institution commensurate with the amount of deposits 
                (as defined in section 3(1) of the Federal Deposit 
                Insurance Act) received by such institution.
          ``(2) Standards.--Each appropriate Federal financial 
        supervisory agency shall develop standards under which special 
        purpose institutions may be deemed to have complied with the 
        requirements of this title which are consistent with the 
        specific nature of such businesses.''.
  (b) Special Purpose Institution Defined.--Section 803 of the 
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 2902) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(5) Special purpose institutions.--The term `special 
        purpose institution' means a financial institution that does 
        not generally accept deposits from the public in amounts of 
        less than $100,000, such as wholesale, credit card, and trust 
        institutions.''.
SEC. 126. INCREASED INCENTIVES FOR LENDING TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME 
                    COMMUNITIES.

  (a) In General.--Section 804(b) of the Community Reinvestment Act of 
1977 (12 U.S.C. 2903(b)) is amended to read as follows:
  ``(b) Positive Consideration of Certain Loans and Investments.--In 
assessing and taking into account the records of a regulated financial 
institution under subsection (a), the appropriate Federal financial 
supervisory agency shall--
          ``(1) consider as a positive factor, consistent with the safe 
        and sound operation of the institution, the institution's 
        investment in or loan to--
                  ``(A) any minority depository institution or women's 
                depository institution (as such terms are defined in 
                section 808(b)) or any low-income credit union;
                  ``(B) any joint venture or other entity or project 
                which promotes the public welfare in any distressed 
                community (as defined by such agency) whether or not 
                the distressed community is located in the local 
                community in which the regulated financial institution 
                is chartered to do business; and
                  ``(C) targeted low- and moderate-income communities, 
                including real property loans to such communities; and
          ``(2) consider equally with other factors capital investment, 
        loan participation, and other ventures undertaken by the 
        institution in cooperation with--
                  ``(A) minority- and women-owned financial 
                institutions and low-income credit unions to the extent 
                that these activities help meet the credit needs of the 
                local communities in which such institutions are 
                chartered; and
                  ``(B) community development corporations in extending 
                credit and other financial services principally to low- 
                and moderate-income persons and small businesses to the 
                extent that such community development corporations 
                help meet the credit needs of the local communities 
                served by the majority-owned institution.''.
  (b) Amendment to Definitions.--Section 803 of the Community 
Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 2902) is amended by inserting after 
paragraph (5) (as added by section 125(b) of this subtitle) the 
following new paragraph:
          ``(6) State bank supervisor.--The term `State bank 
        supervisor' has the same meaning as in section 3(r) of the 
        Federal Deposit Insurance Act.''.
  (c) Technical Correction.--The 1st of the 2 paragraphs designated as 
paragraph (2) of section 803 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 
(12 U.S.C. 2902) is amended to read as follows:
                  ``(D) the Director of the Office of Thrift 
                Supervision with respect to any savings association 
                (the deposits of which are insured by the Federal 
                Deposit Insurance Corporation) and any savings and loan 
                holding company (other than a company which is a bank 
                holding company);''.

SEC. 127. PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL REPORTING UNDER CRA.

  Section 806 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 
2905) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 806. REGULATIONS.

  ``(a) In General.--
          ``(1) Publication requirement.--Regulations to carry out the 
        purposes of this title shall be published by each appropriate 
        Federal financial supervisory agency.
          ``(2) Prohibition on additional recordkeeping.--Regulations 
        prescribed and policy statements, commentary, examiner 
        guidance, or other supervisory material issued under this title 
        shall not impose any additional recordkeeping on a financial 
        institution.
          ``(3) Prohibition on loan data collection.--No loan data may 
        be required to be collected and reported by a financial 
        institution and no such data may be made public by any Federal 
        financial supervisory agency under this title.''.

SEC. 128. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

  Section 807(b)(1)(B) of the Community Reinvestment Act (12 U.S.C. 
2906) is amended by striking ``The information'' and inserting ``In the 
case of a regulated financial institution that maintains domestic 
branches in 2 or more States, the information''.

SEC. 129. DUPLICATIVE REPORTING.
  Section 10(g) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1430(g)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph (3):
          ``(3) Special rule.--This subsection shall not apply to 
        members receiving a grade of `outstanding' or `satisfactory' 
        under section 807 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.''.
SEC. 130. CRA CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.

  (a) Sense of Congress Relating to Aggressive Oversight.--It is the 
sense of the Congress that the appropriate committees of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate should exercise aggressive oversight of 
the adoption and implementation of any regulation by any appropriate 
Federal financial supervisory agency under the Community Reinvestment 
Act of 1977 after the date of the enactment of this Act.
  (b) Agency Reports Required.--
          (1) In general.--Each appropriate Federal financial 
        supervisory agency shall submit a report to the Congress by 
        December 31, 1996, and by December 31, 1997, on the 
        implementation of all regulations prescribed by such agency 
        under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.
          (2) Requirements relating to preparation of reports.--In 
        preparing each report required under paragraph (1), each 
        appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency shall--
                  (A) solicit and include comments from regulated 
                financial institutions with respect to the regulations 
                which are the subject of the report; and
                  (B) include quantifiable measures of the cost savings 
                achieved under the regulations which are the subject of 
                the report and the effectiveness of such regulations in 
                achieving the purposes of the Community Reinvestment 
                Act of 1977.
          (3) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms 
        ``appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency'' and 
        ``regulated financial institution'' have the same meanings as 
        in section 803 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.
SEC. 131. CONSULTATION AMONG EXAMINERS.

  Section 10 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1820) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(j) Consultation Among Examiners.--
          ``(1) In general.--Each appropriate Federal banking agency 
        shall take such action as may be necessary to ensure that 
        examiners employed by the agency--
                  ``(A) consult on examination activities with respect 
                to any depository institution; and
                  ``(B) achieve an agreement and resolve any 
                inconsistencies on the recommendations to be given to 
                such institution as a consequence of any examinations.
          ``(2) Examiner-in-charge.--Each agency shall consider 
        appointing an examiner-in-charge with respect to a depository 
        institution to ensure consultation on examination activities 
        among all of the agency's examiners involved in examinations of 
        such institution.''.
SEC. 132. LIMITATION ON REGULATIONS.

  Section 806 of the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (12 U.S.C. 
2905) (as amended by section 127) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsections:
  ``(b) Limitation on Regulations.--No regulation may be prescribed 
under this title by any Federal agency which would--
          ``(1) require any regulated financial institution to--
                  ``(A) make any loan or enter into any other agreement 
                on the basis of any discriminatory criteria prohibited 
                under any law of the United States; or
                  ``(B) make any loan to, or enter into any other 
                agreement with, any uncreditworthy person that would 
                jeopardize the safety and soundness of such 
                institution; or
          ``(2) prevent or hinder in any way a financial institution's 
        full responsibility to provide credit to all segments of the 
        community.
  ``(c) Encourage Loans to Creditworthy Borrowers.--Regulations 
prescribed under this title shall encourage regulated financial 
institutions to make loans and extend credit to all creditworthy 
persons, consistent with safety and soundness.''.

                  Subtitle C--Consumer Banking Reforms

SEC. 141. TRUTH IN SAVINGS.

  (a) Purpose.--Section 262 of the Truth in Savings Act (12 U.S.C. 
4301) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 262. PURPOSE.

  ``It is the purpose of this subtitle to ensure that consumers can 
make a meaningful comparison between the competing claims of depository 
institutions with regard to deposit accounts by requiring that 
institutions offering interest-bearing accounts pay interest on the 
full amount of principal each day in a consumer deposit account at the 
rate agreed to be paid by the institution.''.
  (b) Prohibition on Misleading or Inaccurate Advertisements and 
Disclosures.--Section 263 is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 263. PROHIBITION ON MISLEADING OR INACCURATE ADVERTISEMENTS AND 
                    DISCLOSURES.

  ``No depository institution or deposit broker shall make any 
advertisement, announcement, solicitation or disclosure relating to a 
deposit account that is inaccurate or misleading, including any 
inaccurate or misleading description of a free or no-cost account, or 
that misrepresents its deposit contracts.''.
  (c) Account Information Upon Opening an Account.--Section 264 of the 
Truth in Savings Act (12 U.S.C. 4304) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 264. ACCOUNT INFORMATION.

  ``(a) In General.--Each depository institution shall disclose fees, 
charges, penalties, and interest rates applicable to each class of 
accounts offered by the institution in accordance with this section.
  ``(b) Information on Fees and Charges.--Each depository institution 
shall disclose the following information with respect to any account to 
a consumer at the time the account is opened, or at such earlier time 
as a consumer may request (and no additional information may be 
required to be disclosed under this subtitle by regulation or otherwise 
with respect to such account):
          ``(1) A description of all fees, periodic service charges, 
        penalties, and interest rates which may be charged or assessed 
        against the account (or against the account holders in 
        connection with such account), the amount of any such fees, 
        charges, or penalties (or the method by which such amount will 
        be calculated), and the conditions under which any such amount 
        will be assessed.
          ``(2) All minimum balance requirements that affect fees, 
        charges, and penalties, including a clear description of how 
        each such minimum balance is calculated.
          ``(3) Any minimum amount required with respect to the initial 
        deposit in order to open the account.
  ``(c) Information on Interest Rates.--The disclosures required under 
subsections (a) and (b) with respect to any account shall include the 
following information:
          ``(1) Any annual rate of simple interest.
          ``(2) The frequency with which interest will be compounded 
        and credited.
  ``(d) No Regulations Authorized.--No regulations may be prescribed 
with respect to this section by the Board or any agency referred to in 
this title, including any regulation to define any terms used in this 
section.''.
  (d) Disclosure of Change in Terms.--Section 265 of the Truth in 
Savings Act (12 U.S.C. 4304) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 265. DISCLOSURE OF CHANGE IN TERMS.

  ``If any change is made in any item required to be disclosed under 
section 264, all account holders who may be affected by such change 
shall be notified by mail and provided with a description of such 
change at least 30 days before the effective date of the change.''.
  (e) Repeal of Sections.--Sections 266, 268, 271, and 273 of the Truth 
in Savings Act (12 U.S.C. 4304, 4305, 4307, 4310, and 4312, 
respectively) are hereby repealed.
  (f) Redesignation of Sections.--Section 267, 270, 272 of the Truth in 
Savings Act (12 U.S.C. 4306, 4309, and 4311) are redesignated as 
sections 266, 268, and 269, respectively.
  (g) Redesignation and Amendment of Section 269.--Section 269 of the 
Truth in Savings Act (12 U.S.C. 4308) (as determined before the 
redesignation made by subsection (f) of this section) is amended to 
read as follows:
``SEC. 267. REGULATIONS.

  ``(a) In General.--The Board, after consultation with each agency 
referred to in section 268(a) and public notice and opportunity for 
comment, shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose and 
provisions of this subtitle.
  ``(b) Effective Date of Regulations.--The provisions of this subtitle 
shall not apply with respect to any depository institution before the 
effective date of regulations prescribed by the Board under this 
subsection.''
  (h) Redesignation and Amendment of Section 274.--Section 274 of the 
Truth in Savings Act (12 U.S.C. 4313) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 270. DEFINITIONS.

  ``For the purposes of this subtitle, the following definitions shall 
apply:
          ``(1) Accounts.--The term `account' means any account 
        intended for use by and generally used by a consumer primarily 
        for personal, family, or household purposes that is offered by 
        a depository institution.
          ``(2) Deposit broker.--The term `deposit broker'--
                  ``(A) has the meaning given to such term in section 
                29(f)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; and
                  ``(B) includes any person who solicits any amount 
                from any other person for deposit in an insured 
                depository institution.
          ``(3) Depository institution.--The term `depository 
        institution'--
                  ``(A) means an institution described in clause (i), 
                (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of section 19(b)(1)(A) 
                of the Federal Reserve Act; and
                  ``(B) does not include nonautomated credit unions 
                which were not required to comply with the requirements 
                of this title as of the date of the enactment of the 
                Financial Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995 
                pursuant to the determination of the National Credit 
                Union Administration Board.
          ``(4) Interest.--The term `interest' includes dividends paid 
        with respect to share accounts which are accounts within the 
        meaning of paragraph (1).
          ``(5) Board.--The term `Board' means the Board of Governors 
        of the Federal Reserve System.''.
  (i) Effective Date.--
          (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on the effective date of regulations prescribed by 
        the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to 
        implement such amendments.
          (2) Authority to issue regulations.--Notwithstanding 
        paragraph (1), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
        System shall prescribe regulations in accordance with the 
        amendment made by subsection (g).
          (3) Continued applicability of provisions until effective 
        date of new regulations.--The Truth in Savings Act, as in 
        effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, 
        shall continue to apply on and after such date until the 
        effective date of the amendments to such Act under this 
        section.

SEC. 142. INFORMATION SHARING.

  Section 18 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(s) Customer Access to Products.--
          ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, any depository institution, or any affiliate or subsidiary 
        of any depository institution, may share or exchange 
        information or otherwise transfer information between or among 
        themselves without any restriction or limitation if it is 
        clearly and conspicuously disclosed that the information may be 
        communicated among such persons and the consumer is given the 
        opportunity, before the time that the information is initially 
        communicated, to direct that such information not be 
        communicated among such persons.
          ``(2) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the term 
        `information' means any and all data, records, or other 
        information and material obtained or maintained by any 
        depository institution or any affiliate or subsidiary thereof 
        in the ordinary course of its business that relates in any way 
        to a person (as such term is defined in section 603(b) of the 
        Fair Credit Reporting Act) who applies for, maintains, or has 
        maintained an account or credit relationship with or applied 
        for, purchased or obtained other products or services from any 
        depository institution or any affiliate or subsidiary of any 
        depository institution, regardless of the source or manner in 
        which the information is obtained or furnished.
          ``(3) Rule of construction.--Any depository institution, or 
        any affiliate or subsidiary of any depository institution, 
        relying on this subsection shall not be deemed to be a consumer 
        reporting agency, user, or third party, and the information 
        itself shall not constitute a consumer report, within the 
        meaning of the Fair Credit Reporting Act or other similar 
        law.''.
SEC. 143. ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER ACT CLARIFICATION.

  (a) Definition of Accepted Card or Other Means of Access.--Section 
903(1) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693a(1)) is 
amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ``, 
but such term does not include a card, device, or computer that a 
person may use to pay for transactions through use of value stored on, 
or assigned to, the card, device, or computer itself, except for those 
transactions where such card, device, or computer is actually used to 
access an account to effect such transaction''.
  (b) Definition of Account.--Section 903(2) of the Electronic Fund 
Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 1693a(2)) is amended by inserting before the 
semicolon at the end the following: ``and does not include any value 
which is stored on, or assigned to, a card, device, or computer itself 
that enables a person to pay for transactions through use of that 
stored value''.
SEC. 144. LIMIT ON RESTITUTION FOR TRUTH IN LENDING VIOLATIONS IF 
                    SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS OF VIOLATOR WOULD BE AFFECTED.

  Section 108(e)(3)(A) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 
1607(e)(3)(A)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``in any such case, the agency may require'' 
        and inserting ``in any such case, the agency may (i) require'';
          (2) by striking ``, except that with respect to any 
        transaction consummated after the effective date of section 608 
        of the Truth in Lending Simplification and Reform Act, the 
        agency shall'' and inserting ``; or (ii)''; and
          (3) by striking ``reasonable,'' and inserting ``reasonable 
        if, in the case of an agency referred to in paragraph (1), (2), 
        or (3) of subsection (a), the agency determines that a partial 
        adjustment or the making of partial payments over an extended 
        period is necessary to avoid causing the creditor to become 
        undercapitalized (as determined in accordance with regulations 
        prescribed by such agency under section 38 of the Federal 
        Deposit Insurance Act);''.

          Subtitle D--Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments

SEC. 151. SHORT TITLE.

  This subtitle may be cited as the ``Equal Credit Opportunity Act 
Amendments of 1995''.

SEC. 152. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

  (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that both the Equal Credit 
Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691, et seq.) and the Fair Credit Reporting 
Act (15 U.S.C. 1681, et seq.) contain requirements that applicants for 
consumer credit be given certain information in the event that adverse 
action is taken on the application. These requirements differ in both 
scope and content and for that reason are confusing to both the 
consumer who receives the information and the party required to furnish 
the information.
  (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subtitle to combine and 
simplify the adverse action notification requirements of the Equal 
Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act regarding 
applications for consumer credit and to make the information that is 
required to be furnished more understandable.

SEC. 153. EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT AMENDMENTS.

  (a) Notice of Adverse Action.--Section 701(d)(2)(B) of the Equal 
Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691(d)(2)(B)) is amended to read as 
follows:
                  ``(B) giving written notification of adverse action 
                which discloses--
                          ``(i) the applicant's right to a statement of 
                        reasons within 30 days after receipt by the 
                        creditor of a request made within 60 days after 
                        such notification;
                          ``(ii) if credit is denied or the charge for 
                        such credit is increased either wholly or 
                        partly because of information contained in a 
                        consumer report from a consumer reporting 
                        agency--
                                  ``(I) that fact and the name, 
                                address, and telephone number of the 
                                consumer reporting agency making the 
                                report;
                                  ``(II) the consumer's right to 
                                obtain, under section 612, a free copy 
                                of a consumer report on the consumer, 
                                from the consumer reporting agency 
                                referred to in subclause (I) within the 
                                30-day period provided under such 
                                section; and
                                  ``(III) the consumer's right to 
                                dispute, under section 611, with a 
                                consumer reporting agency the accuracy 
                                or completeness of any information in a 
                                consumer report furnished by the 
                                agency.
                          ``(iii) if credit is denied or the charge for 
                        credit is increased either wholly or partly 
                        because of information obtained from a person 
                        other than a consumer reporting agency bearing 
                        upon the consumer's credit worthiness, credit 
                        standing, credit capacity, character, general 
                        reputation, personal characteristics or mode of 
                        living, that fact and the right to receive 
                        disclosure of the nature of the information so 
                        received, within a reasonable period of time, 
                        upon the consumer's written request for 
                        information within 60 days after learning of 
                        such adverse action; and
                          ``(v) the identity of the person or office 
                        from which such notification may be obtained.
                Such statement of reasons may be given orally if the 
                written notification advises the applicant of his right 
                to have the statement of reasons confirmed in writing 
                on written request.''.
  (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 701(d)(3) of the 
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691(d)(3)) is amended by 
striking the period at the end and adding the following: ``and, to the 
extent applicable, the name, address, and telephone number of the 
consumer reporting agency identified in accordance with the 
requirements of subsection (d)(3)(ii) and a statement of the right to 
obtain disclosure of the nature of the information upon which adverse 
action was taken as required by such subsection.''.
  (c) Reasonable Procedures to Assure Compliance.--Section 706 of the 
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691e) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
  ``(l) Reasonable Procedures To Assure Compliance.--No person shall be 
held liable for any violation of subsection 701(d) if such person shows 
by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the alleged 
violation the person maintained reasonable procedures to assure 
compliance with the provisions of the subsection.''.

SEC. 154. FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT AMENDMENTS.

  (a) Section 615(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 
1681m(a)) is amended by striking ``credit or'' each place such term 
appears.
  (b) Section 615 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681m) is 
amended by striking subsection (b) and redesignating subsection (c) as 
subsection (b).
  (c) Section 615(b) (as redesignated by this section) of the Fair 
Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681m(b)) is amended by striking 
``subsections (a) and (b)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)''.
SEC. 155. INCENTIVES FOR SELF-TESTING.

  (a) Equal Credit Opportunity.--
          (1) In general.--The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 
        1691 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 704 the 
        following new section:

``SEC. 704A. INCENTIVES FOR SELF-TESTING AND SELF-CORRECTION.

  ``(a) In General.--If a creditor--
          ``(1) conducts, or authorizes an independent third party to 
        conduct, a self-test of the creditor's lending or any part of 
        the creditor's lending operations in order to determine the 
        level or effectiveness of compliance with this title by the 
        creditor; and
          ``(2) has identified discriminatory practices and has taken 
        or is taking appropriate corrective actions to address the 
        discrimination,
any report or results of such a self-test may not be obtained or used 
by any applicant, department, or agency in any proceeding or civil 
action brought under this title.
  ``(b) Results of Self-Testing.--No provision of this section shall be 
construed as preventing an applicant, department, or agency from 
obtaining and using the results of any self-testing in any proceeding 
or civil action brought under this title if--
          ``(1) the creditor or any other entity conducted such 
        activity at the request of a department or agency;
          ``(2) the creditor or any other entity, or any person acting 
        on behalf of the creditor or other entity--
                  ``(A) voluntarily releases or discloses all, or any 
                part of, such results; or
                  ``(B) refers to or describes such results as a 
                defense to charges of unlawful discrimination against 
                such creditor, person, or entity; or
          ``(3) the results are sought by the applicant, department, or 
        agency by means of a discovery request for the purposes of 
        determining an appropriate penalty or remedy for a violation of 
        this title.
  ``(c) Regulations.--The appropriate Federal department or agency 
shall prescribe regulations, after notice and opportunity for comment, 
which determine what types of `self-tests' are sufficiently extensive 
so as to constitute a determination of the level or effectiveness of a 
creditor's compliance with this title.''.
          (2) Referrals to the attorney general.--Section 706(g) of the 
        Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691e(g)) is amended--
                  (A) by striking ``(g) The agencies'' and inserting 
                ``(g) Referrals to the Attorney General.--
          ``(1) In general.--The agencies''; and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
          ``(2) Limitation on referrals of self-testing results.--
                  ``(A) In general.--No agency shall be required to 
                refer any report or results of a self-test relating to 
                any creditor to the Attorney General if the creditor--
                          ``(i) has already identified discriminatory 
                        practices as the result of self-testing 
                        instituted by the creditor to determine 
                        compliance with this title; and
                          ``(ii) has taken or is taking appropriate 
                        corrective actions to address the 
                        discrimination.
          ``(3) Enforcement under other laws.--No provision of this 
        section shall be construed as limiting the authority of the 
        agency to enforce the provisions of this title under any other 
        provision of law.''.
          (3) Referrals to hud.--Section 706(k) of the Equal Credit 
        Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691e(k)) is amended by adding at 
        the end the following: ``No such agency shall be required to 
        notify the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the 
        applicant that the agency has reason to believe that a 
        violation of this title or the Fair Housing Act occurred if the 
        reason is based on a result of self-testing instituted by the 
        creditor to determine compliance with this title, and the 
        creditor has already identified the possible violation and has 
        taken or is taking appropriate corrective actions to address 
        the possible violation. No provisions of this section shall be 
        construed as limiting the authority of the agency to enforce 
        the provisions of this title under any other provision of 
        law.''.
          (4) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for title VII 
        of the Consumer Credit Protection Act is amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 704 the following new item:

``704A. Incentives for self-testing and self-correction.''.

  (b) Fair Housing.--The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 814 the following new section:

``SEC. 814A. SELF-TESTING ENHANCEMENT.

  ``(a) In General.--If any person--
          ``(1) conducts, or authorizes an independent third party to 
        conduct, a self-test of that person's residential real estate 
        related lending activities, or any part of such activities, in 
        order to determine the level or effectiveness of compliance 
        with this title by the person; and
          ``(2) has identified discriminatory practices and has taken 
        or is taking appropriate corrective actions to address the 
        discrimination,
any report or results of such a self-test may not be obtained or used 
by any aggrieved person, complainant, department, or agency in any 
proceeding or civil action brought under this title.
  ``(b) Results of Self-Testing.--No provision of this section shall be 
construed as preventing an aggrieved person, complainant, department, 
or agency from obtaining and using the results of any self-testing as 
described in subsection (a) in any proceeding or civil action brought 
under this title if--
          ``(1) the creditor or any other entity conducted such 
        activity at the request of a department or agency;
          ``(2) the creditor or any other entity, or any person acting 
        on behalf of the creditor or other entity--
                  ``(A) voluntarily releases or discloses all, or any 
                part of, such results; or
                  ``(B) refers to or describes such results as a 
                defense to charges of unlawful discrimination against 
                such creditor, person, or entity; or
          ``(3) the results are sought by the aggrieved person, 
        complainant, department, or agency by means of a discovery 
        request for the purposes of determining an appropriate penalty 
        or remedy for a violation of this title.
  ``(c) Regulations.--The appropriate Federal department or agency 
shall prescribe regulations, after notice and opportunity for comment, 
which determine what types of `self-tests' are sufficiently extensive 
so as to constitute a determination of the level or effectiveness of a 
creditor's compliance with this title.''.

SEC. 156. CREDIT SCORING SYSTEMS.

  Section 701 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(f) Credit Scoring System.--
          ``(1) In general.--A creditor shall be deemed to be in 
        compliance with subsection (a) with respect to any credit 
        decision made by the creditor which is based solely on the use 
        of an empirically derived, demonstrably and statistically 
        sound, credit scoring system (as defined by the Board in 
        regulations prescribed under this title) if such system--
                  ``(A) does not utilize any category protected under 
                subsection (a);
                  ``(B) does not use as a factor in such system any 
                criterion which is so directly associated with such a 
                category as to be the functional equivalent of such a 
                category; and
                  ``(C) does not use as a factor in such system any 
                criterion that has a disparate impact on a category 
                protected under subsection (a) unless use of the 
                criterion is justified by business necessity and there 
                is no less discriminatory alternative available.
          ``(2) Age as a factor.--No provision of this subsection shall 
        be construed as precluding a creditor from using age as a 
        factor in a credit scoring system under paragraph (1) to the 
        extent otherwise permitted under this title.''.
SEC. 157. CONSULTATION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL REQUIRED IN NONREFERRAL 
                    CASES.

  (a) Equal Credit Opportunity.--Section 706(h) of the Equal Credit 
Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691e(h)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new sentence: ``Before bringing a civil action against 
any creditor described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 704(a), 
the Attorney General shall consult with the appropriate agency under 
such paragraph.''.
  (b) Fair Housing Act.--Section 814(a) of the Fair Housing Act (42 
U.S.C. 3614(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
sentence: ``Before bringing a civil action under the preceding sentence 
against any person or group of persons described in paragraph (1), (2), 
or (3) of section 704(a) of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act with 
respect to a violation of 805(a) of this title, the Attorney General 
shall consult with the appropriate agency under such paragraph.''.

SEC. 158. EFFECTIVE DATE.
  (a) In General.--Except with respect to the requirements of 
subsection (b), this Act shall take effect at the end of the 270-day 
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
  (b) Implementing Regulations.--The Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System shall prescribe regulations to implement this Act and 
such regulations shall be published in final form before the end of the 
180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

              Subtitle E--Consumer Leasing Act Amendments

SEC. 161. SHORT TITLE.

  This subtitle may be cited as the ``Consumer Leasing Act Amendments 
of 1995''.

SEC. 162. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE.

  (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
          (1) Competition among the various financial institutions and 
        other firms engaged in the business of consumer leasing is 
        greatest when there is informed use of leasing. The informed 
        use of leasing results from an awareness of the cost of leasing 
        by consumers.
          (2) There has been a continued trend toward leasing 
        automobiles and other durable goods for consumer use as an 
        alternative to installment credit sales and that leasing 
        product advances have occurred such that lessors have been 
        unable to provide consistent industry-wide disclosures to fully 
        account for the competitive progress that has occurred.
  (b) Purposes.--
          (1) It is the purpose of this subtitle to assure a simple, 
        meaningful disclosure of leasing terms so that the consumer 
        will be able to compare more readily the various leasing terms 
        available to the consumer and avoid the uninformed use of 
        leasing, and to protect the consumer against inaccurate and 
        unfair leasing practices.
          (2) To provide for adequate cost disclosures that reflect the 
        marketplace without impairing competition and the development 
        of new leasing products, it is the purpose of this subtitle to 
        provide the Board with the regulatory authority to assure a 
        simplified, meaningful definition and disclosure of the terms 
        of certain leases of personal property for personal, family, or 
        household purposes so as to enable the lessee to compare more 
        readily the various lease terms available to the lessee, enable 
        comparison of lease terms with credit terms where appropriate 
        and to assure meaningful and accurate disclosures of lease 
        terms in advertisements.

SEC. 163. REGULATIONS.

  (a) In General.--Chapter 5 of title I of the Consumer Credit 
Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section:

``SEC. 187. REGULATIONS.

  ``(a) Regulations Authorized.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Board shall write regulations or staff 
        commentary, if appropriate, to update and clarify the 
        requirements and definitions for lease disclosures, contracts, 
        and any other specific issues related to consumer leasing which 
        would carry out the purposes of this chapter, to prevent any 
        circumvention of the chapter, and to facilitate compliance with 
        the requirements of the chapter.
          ``(2) Classifications, adjustments.--The regulations 
        prescribed under paragraph (1) may contain classifications and 
        differentiations and may provide for adjustments and exceptions 
        for any class of transaction.
  ``(b) Model Disclosures.--The Board shall publish model disclosure 
forms and clauses to facilitate compliance with the disclosure 
requirements and to aid the consumer in understanding the transaction. 
In designing forms, the Board shall consider the use by lessors of data 
processing or similar automated equipment. Use of the models shall be 
optional. A lessor who properly uses the material aspects of the models 
shall be deemed to be in compliance with the disclosure requirements.
  ``(c) Effective Dates.--
          ``(1) In general.--Any regulation of the Board, or any 
        amendment or interpretation of any regulation of the Board, 
        that requires a disclosure different from the disclosures 
        previously required shall have an effective date of the October 
        1 that follows the date of promulgation by at least 6 months.
          ``(2) Longer period.--The Board may, in the Board's 
        discretion, lengthen the period of time referred to in 
        paragraph (1) to permit lessors to adjust their forms to 
        accommodate new requirements.
          ``(3) Shorter period.--The Board may also shorten the period 
        of time referred to in paragraph (1) if the Board makes a 
        specific finding that such action is necessary to comply with 
        the findings of a court or to prevent unfair or deceptive 
        practices.
          ``(4) Compliance before effective date.--Lessors may comply 
        with any newly promulgated disclosure requirement before the 
        effective date of such requirement.''.
  (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 5 of title 
I of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 186 the 
following new item:

``187. Regulations.''.
SEC. 164. CONSUMER LEASE ADVERTISING.

  Section 184 of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1667c) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 184. CONSUMER LEASE ADVERTISING.

  ``(a) In General.--If an advertisement for a consumer lease states 
the amount of any payment or states that any or no initial payment is 
required, the advertisement must also clearly and conspicuously state 
the following terms, as applicable:
          ``(1) That the transaction advertised is a lease.
          ``(2) The total of initial payments required at or before 
        consummation of the lease or delivery of the property, 
        whichever is later.
          ``(3) That a security deposit is required.
          ``(4) The number, amounts, and timing of scheduled payments.
          ``(5) For a lease in which the consumer's liability at the 
        end of the lease term is based on the anticipated residual 
        value of the property, that an extra charge may be imposed at 
        the end of the lease term.
  ``(b) Advertising Medium Not Liable.--Any owner or personnel of any 
medium in which an advertisement appears or through which it is 
disseminated shall not be liable under this section.''.
SEC. 165. STATUTORY PENALTIES.

  Section 185(a) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 
1667d(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
``Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a creditor shall only have 
liability determined under section 130(a)(2) for failing to comply with 
the requirements of paragraph (2), (8), (9), or (10) of section 182 or 
for failing to comply with disclosure requirements under State law for 
any term which the Board has determined to be substantially the same in 
meaning under section 186 as any of the terms referred to in section 
182.''.

             Subtitle F--Federal Home Loan Bank Amendments

SEC. 171. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE FHLB SYSTEM.

  Section 4(b) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1424) is 
amended to read as follows:
  ``(b) Membership Based on Conveniency.--An institution eligible to 
become a member of a Federal home loan bank under this section may 
become a member by submitting the institution's application for 
membership to the bank in the district where the applicant's principal 
place of business is located. An application for membership shall be 
approved by the bank if, in the judgment of the bank, the applicant 
meets the criteria for eligibility contained in this section. An 
institution eligible to become a member under this section may apply 
for membership in an adjoining district, if appropriate for the 
convenience of the institution and then only with the approval of the 
Board.''.

SEC. 172. FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK EXTERNAL AUDITORS.

  Section 11(j) of the Federal Home Loan Bank Act (12 U.S.C. 1431(j)) 
is amended to read as follows:
  ``(j) Audits.--
          ``(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, audits by 
        the Comptroller General of the United States of the financial 
        transactions of a Federal home loan bank shall not be limited 
        to periods during which Government capital has been invested in 
        the bank. The provisions of section 9107(c)(2) and 9108(d)(1) 
        of title 31, of such Code, shall not apply to any Federal home 
        loan bank.
          ``(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Board 
        shall not participate in the hiring of an external auditor by 
        the banks; except, that the Board may establish requirements 
        for external audit contracts and, that all 12 banks shall 
        contract for an annual audit with a single provider.''.

             TITLE II--STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

                 Subtitle A--Regulatory Approval Issues

SEC. 201. STREAMLINED NONBANKING ACQUISITIONS BY WELL CAPITALIZED AND 
                    WELL MANAGED BANKING ORGANIZATIONS.

  (a) Notice Requirements.--Section 4(j) of the Bank Holding Company 
Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(j) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``No'' and inserting 
        ``Except as provided in paragraph (3), no''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
          ``(3) No notice required for certain transactions.--No notice 
        under paragraph (1) or subsections (c)(8) or (a)(2)(B) is 
        required for a proposal by a bank holding company to engage in 
        any activity or acquire the shares or assets of any company if 
        the proposal qualifies under paragraph (4).
          ``(4) Criteria for statutory approval.--A proposal qualifies 
        under this paragraph if all of the following criteria are met:
                  ``(A) Financial criteria.--Both before and 
                immediately after the proposed transaction--
                          ``(i) the acquiring bank holding company is 
                        well capitalized;
                          ``(ii) the lead insured depository 
                        institution of such holding company is well 
                        capitalized;
                          ``(iii) well capitalized insured depository 
                        institutions control at least 80 percent of the 
                        aggregate total risk-weighted assets of insured 
                        depository institutions controlled by such 
                        holding company; and
                          ``(iv) no insured depository institution 
                        controlled by such holding company is 
                        undercapitalized.
                  ``(B) Managerial criteria.--
                          ``(i) Well managed.--At the time of the 
                        transaction, the acquiring bank holding 
                        company, its lead insured depository 
                        institution, and insured depository 
                        institutions that control at least 90 percent 
                        of the aggregate total risk-weighted assets of 
                        insured depository institutions controlled by 
                        such holding company are well managed.
                          ``(ii) Limitation on poorly managed 
                        institutions.--Except with respect to insured 
                        depository institutions described in paragraph 
                        (6), no insured depository institution 
                        controlled by the acquiring bank holding 
                        company has received 1 of the 2 lowest 
                        composite ratings at the later of the 
                        institution's most recent examination or 
                        subsequent review.
                  ``(C) Activities permissible.--Following consummation 
                of the proposal, the bank holding company engages 
                directly or through a subsidiary solely in--
                          ``(i) activities that are permissible under 
                        subsection (c)(8), as determined by the Board 
                        by regulation or order thereunder, subject to 
                        all of the restrictions, terms and conditions 
                        of such subsection and such regulation or 
                        order; and
                          ``(ii) such other activities as are otherwise 
                        permissible under this section, subject to the 
                        restrictions, terms and conditions, including 
                        any prior notice or approval requirements, 
                        provided in this section.
                  ``(D) Size of acquisition.--
                          ``(i) Asset size.--The book value of the 
                        total assets to be acquired does not exceed 10 
                        percent of the consolidated total risk-weighted 
                        assets of the acquiring bank holding company; 
                        and
                          ``(ii) Consideration.--The gross 
                        consideration to be paid for the securities or 
                        assets does not exceed 15 percent of the 
                        consolidated Tier 1 capital of the acquiring 
                        bank holding company.
                  ``(E) Notice not otherwise warranted.--For proposals 
                described in paragraph (5)(B), the Board has not, 
                before the conclusion of the period provided in 
                paragraph (5)(B), advised the bank holding company that 
                a notice under paragraph (1) is required.
                  ``(F) Compliance criterion.--During the 12-month 
                period ending on the date on which the bank holding 
                company proposes to commence an activity or 
                acquisition, no administrative enforcement action has 
                been commenced, and no cease and desist order has been 
                issued pursuant to section 8 of the Federal Deposit 
                Insurance Act, against the bank holding company or any 
                depository institution subsidiary of the holding 
                company and no such enforcement action, order, or other 
                administrative enforcement proceeding is pending as of 
                such date.
          ``(5) Notification.--
                  ``(A) Commencement of activities approved by rule.--A 
                bank holding company that qualifies under paragraph (4) 
                and that proposes to engage de novo, directly or 
                through a subsidiary, in any activity that is 
                permissible under subsection (c)(8), as determined by 
                the Board by regulation, may commence that activity 
                without prior notice to the Board and must provide 
                written notification to the Board no later than ten 
                business days after commencing the activity.
                  ``(B) Activities permitted by order and 
                acquisitions.--
                          ``(i) In general.--At least 12 business days 
                        before commencing any activity pursuant to 
                        paragraph (3) (other than an activity described 
                        in subparagraph (A)) or acquiring shares or 
                        assets of any company pursuant to paragraph 
                        (3), the bank holding company shall provide 
                        written notice of the proposal to the Board, 
                        unless the Board determines that no notice or a 
                        shorter notice period is appropriate.
                          ``(ii) Description of activities and terms.--
                        A notification under this subparagraph shall 
                        include a description of the proposed 
                        activities and the terms of any proposed 
                        acquisition.
          ``(6) Recently acquired institutions.--Insured depository 
        institutions which have been acquired by a bank holding company 
        during the 12-month period preceding the date on which the 
        company proposes to commence an activity or acquisition 
        pursuant to paragraph (3) may be excluded for purposes of 
        paragraph (4)(B)(ii) if--
                  ``(A) the bank holding company has developed a plan 
                for the institution to restore the capital and 
                management of the institution which is acceptable to 
                the appropriate Federal banking agency; and
                  ``(B) all such insured depository institutions 
                represent, in the aggregate, less than 10 percent of 
                the aggregate total risk-weighted assets of all insured 
                depository institutions controlled by the bank holding 
                company.
          ``(7) Adjustment of percentages.--The Board may, by 
        regulation, adjust the percentages and the manner in which the 
        percentages of insured depository institutions are calculated 
        under paragraph (4)(B)(i), (4)(D), or paragraph (6)(B) if the 
        Board determines that any such adjustment is consistent with 
        safety and soundness and the purposes of this Act.''.
  (b) Definitions.--Section 2(o) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 
1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841(o)) is amended--
          (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following new 
        paragraph:
          ``(1) Capital terms.--
                  ``(A) Insured depository institutions.--With respect 
                to insured depository institutions, the terms `well-
                capitalized', `adequately capitalized', and 
                `uncapitalized' have the meaning given those terms in 
                section 38(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
                  ``(B) Bank holding company.--
                          ``(i) Adequately capitalized.--The term 
                        `adequately capitalized' means a level of 
                        capitalization which meets or exceeds all 
                        applicable Federal regulatory capital 
                        standards.
                          ``(ii) Well capitalized.--A bank holding 
                        company is `well capitalized' if it meets the 
                        required capital levels for well capitalized 
                        bank holding companies established by the 
                        Board.
                  ``(C) Other capital terms.--The terms `Tier 1' and 
                `risk-weighted assets' have the meaning given those 
                terms in the capital guidelines or regulations 
                established by the Board for bank holding companies.''; 
                and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
          ``(8) Lead insured depository institutions.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The term `lead insured depository 
                institution' means the largest insured depository 
                institution controlled by the bank holding company at 
                any time, based on a comparison of the average total 
                risk-weighted assets controlled by each insured 
                depository institution during the previous 12-month 
                period.
                  ``(B) Branch or agency.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph and section 4(j)(4), the term `insured 
                depository institution' shall also include any branch 
                or agency operated in the United States by a foreign 
                bank.
          ``(9) Well managed.--The term `well managed' means--
                  ``(A) in the case of any company or depository 
                institution which receives examinations, the 
                achievement of--
                          ``(i) a CAMEL composite rating of 1 or 2 (or 
                        an equivalent rating under an equivalent rating 
                        system) in connection with the most recent 
                        examination or subsequent review of such 
                        company or institution; and
                          ``(ii) at least a satisfactory rating for 
                        management, if such rating is given; or
                  ``(B) in the case of a company or depository 
                institution that has not received an examination 
                rating, the existence and use of managerial resources 
                which the Board determines are satisfactory.''.

SEC. 202. STREAMLINED BANK ACQUISITIONS BY WELL CAPITALIZED AND WELL 
                    MANAGED BANKING ORGANIZATIONS.

  Section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1842) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(h) No Approval Required for Certain Transactions.--
          ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (3) or (5) of 
        subsection (a) and subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), an 
        acquisition of shares by a registered bank holding company, or 
        a merger or consolidation between registered bank holding 
        companies, shall be deemed approved at the conclusion of the 
        period specified in subparagraph (G) if all of the following 
        conditions have been met:
                  ``(A) Financial and managerial criteria.--
                          ``(i) Well capitalized bank holding 
                        company.--Both at the time of and immediately 
                        after the proposed transaction, the acquiring 
                        bank holding company is well capitalized.
                          ``(ii) Well capitalized lead insured 
                        depository institution.--Both at the time of 
                        and immediately after the proposed transaction, 
                        the lead insured depository institution of the 
                        acquiring bank holding company is well 
                        capitalized.
                          ``(iii) Capital of other insured depository 
                        institutions.--At the time of the transaction, 
                        well capitalized insured depository 
                        institutions control at least 80 percent of the 
                        aggregate total risk-weighted assets of insured 
                        depository institutions controlled by the 
                        acquiring bank holding company.
                          ``(iv) No undercapitalized insured depository 
                        institutions.--At the time of the transaction, 
                        no insured depository institution controlled by 
                        the acquiring bank holding company is 
                        undercapitalized.
                          ``(v) Well managed.--
                                  ``(I) In general.--At the time of the 
                                transaction, the acquiring bank holding 
                                company, its lead insured depository 
                                institution, and insured depository 
                                institutions that control at least 90 
                                percent of the aggregate total risk-
                                weighted assets of insured depository 
                                institutions controlled by such holding 
                                company are well managed.
                                  ``(II) No poorly managed 
                                institutions.--Except with respect to 
                                insured depository institutions 
                                described in paragraph (2), no insured 
                                depository institution controlled by 
                                the acquiring bank holding company has 
                                received 1 of the 2 lowest composite 
                                ratings at the later of the 
                                institution's most recent examination 
                                or subsequent review.
                  ``(B) No unsatisfactory cra ratings.--Except with 
                respect to insured depository institutions described in 
                paragraph (3), no insured depository institution 
                controlled by the acquiring bank holding company has 
                received a `needs to improve' or `substantial 
                noncompliance' composite rating as a result of the 
                institution's most recent examination under the 
                Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.
                  ``(C) Competitive criteria.--Consummation of the 
                proposal complies with guidelines established by the 
                Board by regulation, after consultation with the 
                Attorney General, that identify proposals that are not 
                likely to have a significantly adverse effect on 
                competition in any relevant market.
                  ``(D) Size of acquisition.--
                          ``(i) Asset size.--The book value of the 
                        total assets to be acquired does not exceed 10 
                        percent of the consolidated total risk weighted 
                        assets of the acquiring bank holding company.
                          ``(ii) Consideration.--The gross 
                        consideration to be paid for the securities or 
                        assets does not exceed 15 percent of the 
                        consolidated Tier 1 capital of the acquiring 
                        bank holding company.
                  ``(E) Interstate acquisitions.--Board approval of the 
                transaction is not prohibited under subsection (d).
                  ``(F) Compliance criterion.--During the 12-month 
                period ending on the date of the transaction, no 
                administrative enforcement action has been commenced, 
                and no cease and desist order has been issued pursuant 
                to section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 
                against any bank holding company involved in the 
                transaction or any depository institution subsidiary of 
                any such holding company and no such enforcement 
                action, order, or other administrative enforcement 
                proceeding is pending as of such date.
                  ``(G) Other considerations.--Board approval of the 
                transaction is not prohibited under subsection (c)(3).
                  ``(H) Notification.--The acquiring bank holding 
                company provides written notice of the transaction, 
                including a description of the terms of the 
                transaction, to the Board and the Attorney General, 
                simultaneously, at least 15 business days (or such 
                shorter period as permitted by the Board) before the 
                transaction is consummated.
                  ``(I) No board disapproval.--Before the end of the 
                15-day period (or the shorter period) referred to in 
                subparagraph (H), the Board has not required an 
                application under subsection (a).
          ``(2) Special rule relating to the requirement for well 
        managed institutions.--Insured depository institutions which 
        have been acquired by a bank holding company during the 12-
        month period preceding the date of the transaction may be 
        excluded for purposes of paragraph (1)(A)(v)(II) if--
                  ``(A) the bank holding company has developed a plan 
                for the institution to restore the capital and 
                management of the institution which is acceptable to 
                the appropriate Federal banking agency; and
                  ``(B) all such insured depository institutions 
                represent, in the aggregate, less than 10 percent of 
                the aggregate total risk-weighted assets of all insured 
                depository institutions controlled by the holding 
                company.
          ``(3) Special rule relating to the requirement for community 
        investment.--Insured depository institutions acquired during 
        the 12-month period preceding the date of the transaction may 
        be excluded for purposes of paragraph (1)(B) if the bank 
        holding company has developed a plan to restore the performance 
        of the institution to at least a `satisfactory' rating under 
        the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 which is acceptable to 
        the appropriate Federal banking agency.
          ``(4) Adjustment of percentages.--The Board may by regulation 
        adjust the percentages and the manner in which the percentages 
        of insured depository institutions are calculated under 
        subparagraph (A)(v)(I) or (D) of paragraph (1) or paragraph 
        (2)(B) if the Board determines that such adjustment is 
        consistent with safety and soundness and the purposes of this 
        Act.
          ``(5) Advice of attorney general.--The Attorney General shall 
        advise the Board during the period referred to in paragraph 
        (1)(H) in writing if any competitive concerns exist with 
        respect to the transaction.
          ``(6) Waiver of postapproval waiting period.--If the Attorney 
        General advises the Board that no competitive concerns exist 
        with respect to the transaction, the provisions of section 
        11(b) relating to a postapproval waiting shall not apply with 
        respect to such transaction.''.

SEC. 203. ELIMINATE FILING AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INSURED 
                    DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS ALREADY CONTROLLED BY THE 
                    SAME HOLDING COMPANY.

  (a) Bank Merger 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) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to 
        any merger, consolidation, acquisition of assets or assumption 
        of liabilities involving only insured depository institutions 
        that are subsidiaries of the same depository institution 
        holding company if--
                  ``(A) the responsible agency would not be prohibited 
                from approving the transaction under section 44, if 
                applicable;
                  ``(B) the acquiring, assuming, or resulting 
                institution complies with all applicable provisions of 
                section 44, if any, as if the merger, consolidation, or 
                acquisition were approved under this subsection;
                  ``(C) the acquiring, assuming, or resulting 
                institution provides written notification of the 
                transaction to the appropriate Federal banking agency 
                for the institution at least 10 days prior to 
                consummation of the transaction; and
                  ``(D) after receiving such notice, the agency does 
                not require the institution to submit an application 
                with respect to such transaction and so notifies the 
                institution.''.
  (b) National Bank Consolidation and Merger Act.--
          (1) Consolidations.--Section 2 of the National Bank 
        Consolidation and Merger Act (12 U.S.C. 215) is amended--
                  (A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
                following new sentence:
``No approval by the Comptroller of the Currency is required under this 
subsection for a transaction which involves the consolidation of banks 
that, at the time of the consolidation, are all subsidiaries (as 
defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) of the same 
company.''; and
                  (B) in subsection (b)--
                          (i) by striking ``, and thereafter the 
                        consolidation shall be approved by the 
                        Comptroller''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``when such consolidation is 
                        approved by the Comptroller''.
          (2) Mergers.--Section 3 of the National Bank Consolidation 
        and Merger Act (12 U.S.C. 215a) is amended--
                  (A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
                following new sentence:
``No approval by the Comptroller of the Currency is required under this 
subsection for a transaction which involves the merger of banks that, 
at the time of the merger, are all subsidiaries (as defined in section 
3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) of the same company.''; and
                  (B) in subsection (b)--
                          (i) by striking ``, and thereafter the merger 
                        shall be approved by the Comptroller''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``when such merger shall be 
                        approved by the Comptroller''.

SEC. 204. ELIMINATE REDUNDANT APPROVAL REQUIREMENT FOR OAKAR 
                    TRANSACTIONS.

  (a) In General.--Section 5(d)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act 
(12 U.S.C. 1815(d)(3)) is amended--
          (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``with the prior written 
        approval of the responsible agency under section 18(c)(2)'';
          (2) in subparagraph (E)--
                  (A) by striking clause (iv) and inserting the 
                following new clause:
                          ``(iv) A transaction shall not be authorized 
                        under this paragraph unless the acquiring, 
                        assuming, or resulting depository institution 
                        will meet all applicable capital requirements 
                        upon consummation of the transaction.'';
                  (B) by striking clauses (i) and (ii); and
                  (C) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) (as 
                amended by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph) as 
                clauses (i) and (ii), respectively; and
          (3) by striking subparagraph (G) and redesignating the 
        subsequent subparagraphs accordingly.
  (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 5156A(b)(1) of the 
Revised Statutes of the United States (12 U.S.C. 215c(b)(1)) is amended 
by striking ``section 5(d)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act 
or''.
  (c) Clerical Amendment.--The heading for section 5(d)(3)(E) of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1815(d)(3)(E)) is amended by 
striking ``for approval, generally''.
SEC. 205. ELIMINATION OF DUPLICATIVE REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED UPON BANK 
                    HOLDING COMPANIES AND OTHER REGULATORY RELIEF UNDER 
                    THE HOME OWNERS' LOAN ACT.

  (a) Exemption for Bank Holding Companies.--Section 10 of the Home 
Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
  ``(t) Exemption for Bank Holding Companies.--This section shall not 
apply to a bank holding company that is subject to the Bank Holding 
Company Act of 1956 or any company controlled by such bank holding 
company (other than a savings association).''.
  (b) Definition of Savings and Loan Holding Company.--Section 
10(a)(1)(D) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1467a(a)(1)(D)) is 
amended to read as follows:
                  ``(D) Savings and loan holding company.--
                          ``(i) In general.--Except as provided in 
                        clause (ii), the term `savings and loan holding 
                        company' means any company which directly or 
                        indirectly controls a savings association or 
                        controls any other company which is a savings 
                        and loan holding company.
                          ``(ii) Exception for bank holding company.--
                        The term `savings and loan holding company' 
                        does not include any company which is 
                        registered under, and subject to, the 
                        provisions of the Bank Holding Company Act of 
                        1956, or any company directly or indirectly 
                        controlled by such company.''.
  (c) Amendments to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.--Section 4(i) 
of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(i)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
          ``(4) Solicitation of views.--
                  ``(A) Notice to director.--Upon receiving any 
                application or notice by a bank holding company to 
                acquire directly or indirectly a savings association 
                under subsection (c)(8), the Board shall solicit the 
                Director's comments and recommendations with respect to 
                such acquisition.
                  ``(B) Comment period.--The comments and views of the 
                Director under subparagraph (A) with respect to any 
                acquisition subject to such subparagraph shall be 
                transmitted to the Board within 30 days of the receipt 
                by the Director of the notice relating to such 
                acquisition (or such shorter period as the Board may 
                specify if the Board advises the Director that an 
                emergency exists which requires expeditious action).
          ``(5) Examination.--
                  ``(A) Scope.--The Board shall consult with the 
                Director, as appropriate, in establishing the scope of 
                an examination by the Board of a bank holding company 
                that controls directly or indirectly a savings 
                association.
                  ``(B) Access to inspection reports.--Upon the request 
                of the Director, the Board shall furnish the Director 
                with a copy of any inspection report, additional 
                examination materials, or supervisory information 
                relating to any bank holding company which directly or 
                indirectly controls a savings association.
          ``(6)  Coordination of enforcement efforts.--The Board and 
        the Director shall cooperate in any enforcement action against 
        any bank holding company which controls a savings association, 
        if the relevant conduct involves such association.
          ``(7) Director defined.--For purposes of this section, the 
        term `Director' means the Director of the Office of Thrift 
        Supervision.''.
  (d) Alternative Test.--Section 10(m) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 
U.S.C. 1467a(m)) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(2) and (7)'' and 
        inserting ``(2), (7), and (8)''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(8) Alternative test.--Any savings association which meets 
        the requirements set forth in section 7701(a)(19)(C) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be deemed to be a qualified 
        thrift lender and any qualified thrift lender shall be deemed 
        to meet the requirements of such section.''.

SEC. 206. ELIMINATE REQUIREMENT THAT APPROVAL BE OBTAINED FOR 
                    DIVESTITURES.

  Section 2(g) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 
1841(g)) is amended--
          (1) by striking paragraph (3);
          (2) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the end of 
        paragraph (1); and
          (3) by striking ``; and'' at the end of paragraph (2) and 
        inserting a period.

SEC. 207. ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY BRANCH APPLICATIONS.

  (a) National Bank Branch Applications.--Section 5155(i) of the 
Revised Statutes (12 U.S.C. 36(i)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``(i) No branch'' and inserting ``(i) 
        Relocation.--
          ``(1) Approval required.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), no branch''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
          ``(2) No approval required for certain branches.--
        Notwithstanding this subsection or subsection (b) or (c), the 
        consent and approval of the Comptroller of the Currency shall 
        not be required for a national bank to establish and operate, 
        or to retain and operate, a branch or seasonal agency if--
                  ``(A) the bank is well capitalized (as defined in 
                section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and 
                regulations prescribed by the Comptroller of the 
                Currency under such section);
                  ``(B) the bank received a composite CAMEL rating of 
                `1' or `2' under the Uniform Financial Institutions 
                Rating System (or an equivalent rating under a 
                comparable rating system) as of its most recent 
                examination;
                  ``(C) the bank did not receive a `needs to improve' 
                or `substantial noncompliance' composite rating at its 
                most recent examination under the Community 
                Reinvestment Act of 1977; and
                  ``(D) the Comptroller of the Currency is otherwise 
                authorized to grant approval under this section to such 
                bank to establish and operate, or to retain and 
                operate, a branch or seasonal agency at the proposed 
                location.
          ``(3) Certain branches deemed to have approved 
        applications.--A branch or seasonal agency established by a 
        national bank under paragraph (2) shall be deemed to have been 
        established and operated pursuant to an application approved 
        under this section.''.
  (b) State Member Bank Branch Applications.--The third undesignated 
paragraph of section 9 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 321) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: ``Notwithstanding the 
preceding 2 sentences, the approval of the Board shall not be required 
for a State member bank to establish and operate a branch or seasonal 
agency if--
                  ``(A) the State member bank is well-capitalized (as 
                defined in section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
                Act and regulations prescribed by the Board under such 
                section);
                  ``(B) the State member bank received a composite 
                CAMEL rating of `1' or `2' under the Uniform Financial 
                Institutions Rating System (or an equivalent rating 
                under a comparable rating system);
                  ``(C) the State member bank did not receive a `needs 
                to improve' or `substantial noncompliance' composite 
                rating at its most recent examination under the 
                Community Reinvestment Act of 1977; and
                  ``(D) the Board is otherwise authorized to grant 
                approval under this section to such State member bank 
                to establish and operate a branch or seasonal agency at 
                the proposed location.
A branch or seasonal agency established by a State member bank under 
the previous sentence shall be deemed to have been established and 
operated pursuant to an application approved under this section.''.
  (c) State Nonmember Bank Branch Applications.--Section 18(d) of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(d)) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new paragraphs:
          ``(5) Application exemption for certain banks.--
        Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the consent of the Corporation 
        shall not be required for a State nonmember insured bank to 
        establish and operate any domestic branch if--
                  ``(A) the bank is well-capitalized (as defined in 
                section 38 and regulations prescribed by the 
                Corporation under such section);
                  ``(B) the bank received a composite CAMEL rating of 
                `1' or `2' under the Uniform Financial Institutions 
                Rating System (or an equivalent rating under a 
                comparable rating system) as of its most recent 
                examination;
                  ``(C) the bank did not receive a `needs to improve' 
                or `substantial noncompliance' composite rating as 
                result of the bank's most recent examination under the 
                Community Reinvestment Act of 1977; and
                  ``(D) the Corporation is otherwise authorized to give 
                consent under this section to such bank to establish 
                and operate a domestic branch at the proposed location.
          ``(6) Approval granted.--A branch established by a State 
        member bank under paragraph (5) shall be deemed to have been 
        established and operated pursuant to an application approved 
        under this section.''.

SEC. 208. ELIMINATE BRANCH APPLICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ATMs AND 
                    SIMILAR FACILITIES.

  (a) Definition of Branch Under National Bank Act.--Section 5155(j) of 
the Revised Statutes (12 U.S.C. 36(j)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``(j) The term'' and inserting ``(j) 
        Branch.--
          ``(1) In general.--The term''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
          ``(2) Certain proprietary atms and remote servicing units.--
        The term `branch' does not include any automated teller machine 
        or remote service unit which is owned and operated by a 
        depository institution--
                  ``(A) primarily for the benefit of the institution 
                and the affiliates of the institution; and
                  ``(B) which could operate a branch at the location of 
                such machine or unit.''.
  (b) Definition of Branch Under Federal Deposit Insurance Act.--
Section 3(o) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(o)) 
is amended--
          (1) by striking ``(o) The term'' and inserting ``(o) 
        Definitions Relating to Branches.--
          ``(1) Domestic branch.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The term''; and
          (2) by striking ``lent; and the term'' and inserting ``lent.
                  ``(B) Certain proprietary atms and remote servicing 
                units.--The term `domestic branch' does not include any 
                automated teller machine or remote service unit which 
                is owned and operated by a depository institution--
                          ``(i) primarily for the benefit of the 
                        institution and the affiliates of the 
                        institution; and
                          ``(ii) which could operate a branch at the 
                        location of such machine or unit.
          ``(2) Foreign branch.--The term''.

SEC. 209. ELIMINATE REQUIREMENT FOR APPROVAL OF INVESTMENTS IN BANK 
                    PREMISES FOR WELL CAPITALIZED AND WELL MANAGED 
                    BANKS.

  Section 24A of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 371d) is amended by 
inserting before the period in that section the following: ``or, in the 
case of a bank which received a composite CAMEL rating of `1' or `2' 
under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (or an 
equivalent rating under a comparable rating system) as of its most 
recent examination and, both before and immediately following the 
investment or loan, is well capitalized (as defined under section 38 of 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act), the amount which is equal to 150 
percent of the capital stock and surplus of such bank''.

SEC. 210. ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY FILING FOR OFFICER AND DIRECTOR 
                    APPOINTMENTS.
  Section 32(d) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 
1831i(d)) is amended to read as follows:
  ``(d) Additional Information.--
          ``(1) In general.--Any notice submitted to an appropriate 
        Federal banking agency with respect to an individual by any 
        insured depository institution or depository institution 
        holding company pursuant to subsection (a) shall include--
                  ``(A) the information described in section 7(j)(6)(A) 
                about the individual; and
                  ``(B) such other information as the agency may 
                prescribe by regulation.
          ``(2) Waiver.--An appropriate Federal banking agency may 
        waive the requirement of this section by regulation or on a 
        case-by-case basis consistent with safety and soundness.''.

SEC. 211. STREAMLINING PROCESS FOR DETERMINING NEW NONBANKING 
                    ACTIVITIES.
  Section 4(c)(8) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 
1843(c)(8)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``and opportunity for hearing''; and
          (2) by striking ``approval by the Board prior to January 1, 
        1971.'' and inserting the following: ``approval by the Board 
        prior to January 1, 1971, except that, after March 30, 1997, it 
        shall be closely related to banking or managing or controlling 
        banks and a proper incident thereto to provide insurance as a 
        principal, agent, or broker in any State, in full compliance 
        with the laws and regulations of such State that apply 
        uniformly to each type of insurance license or authorization in 
        that State, including laws that restrict a bank in that State 
        from having an affiliate, agent, or employee in that State 
        licensed to provide insurance as principal, agent, or broker. 
        The Board shall prescribe regulations concerning insurance 
        affiliations that provide equivalent treatment for all stock 
        and mutual fund insurance companies that control or are 
        affiliated with a bank, and fully accommodate and are 
        consistent with State law.''.

SEC. 212. DISPOSITION OF FORECLOSED ASSETS.

  Section 4(c)(2) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 
1843(c)(2)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``for not more than one year at a time''; and
          (2) by striking ``but no such extensions shall extend beyond 
        a date five years'' and inserting ``and, in the case of a bank 
        holding company which has not disposed of such shares within 5 
        years of the date such shares were acquired, the Board may, 
        upon the application of such company, grant additional 
        exemptions if, in the Board's judgment, such extension would 
        not be detrimental to the public interest and either the bank 
        holding company has made a good faith attempt to dispose of 
        such shares during such 5-year period or the disposal of such 
        shares during such 5-year period would have been detrimental to 
        the company, but the aggregate duration of such extensions 
        shall not extend 10 years''.
SEC. 213. INCREASE IN CERTAIN CREDIT UNION LOAN CEILINGS.

  Section 107(5)(A) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 
1757(5)(A)) is amended--
          (1) in clause (iv), by striking ``$10,000'' and inserting 
        ``$50,000''; and
          (2) in clause (v), by striking ``$10,000'' and inserting 
        ``$50,000''.

   Subtitle B--Streamlining of Government Regulations; Miscellaneous 
                               Provisions

SEC. 221. ELIMINATE THE PER-BRANCH CAPITAL REQUIREMENT FOR NATIONAL 
                    BANKS AND STATE MEMBER BANKS.

  Section 5155 of the Revised Statutes (12 U.S.C. 36) is amended--
          (1) by striking subsection (h); and
          (2) by redesignating subsections (i) (as amended by section 
        207(a) of this Act), (j) (as amended by section 208(a) of this 
        Act), (k), and (l) as subsections (h), (i), (j), and (k), 
        respectively.

SEC. 222. BRANCH CLOSURES.

  (a) In General.--Section 42 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 
U.S.C. 1831r-1) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
  ``(e) Scope of Application.--
          ``(1) In general.--This section shall not apply with respect 
        to--
                  ``(A) an automated teller machine;
                  ``(B) a branch which--
                          ``(i) has been acquired through merger, 
                        consolidation, purchase, assumption, or other 
                        method; and
                          ``(ii) is located--
                                  ``(I) within 2.5 miles of another 
                                branch of the acquiring institution; or
                                  ``(II) within a neighborhood 
                                currently being served by another 
                                branch of the acquiring institution,
                if such other branch of the acquiring institution is 
                expected to continue to provide banking services to 
                substantially all of the customers currently served by 
                the branch acquired;
                  ``(C) a branch which is closing and reopening at a 
                location which is--
                          ``(i) within 2.5 miles of the location of the 
                        branch being closed; or
                          ``(ii) within the same neighborhood as the 
                        branch being closed,
                if the branch at the new location is expected to 
                continue to provide banking services to substantially 
                all of the customers served by the branch at the former 
                location;
                  ``(D) a branch that is closed in connection with--
                          ``(i) an emergency acquisition under--
                                  ``(I) section 11(n); or
                                  ``(II) subsections (f) or (k) of 
                                section 13; or
                          ``(ii) any assistance provided by the 
                        Corporation under section 13(c); and
                  ``(E) any other branch closure whose exemption from 
                the notice requirements of this section would not 
                produce a result inconsistent with the purposes of this 
                section.
          ``(2) Regulations.--The appropriate Federal banking agency 
        shall, by regulation, determine the circumstances under which 
        any exemption under paragraph(1)(E) may be granted.''.
  (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply 
as if such amendment had been included in section 42 of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Act as of the date of the enactment of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991.

SEC. 223. AMENDMENTS TO THE DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS MANAGEMENT 
                    INTERLOCKS ACT.

  (a) Dual Service in Same Area, Town, or Village.--Section 203 of the 
Depository Institution Management Interlocks Act (12 U.S.C. 3202) is 
amended--
          (1) by inserting ``(a) Prohibitions.--'' before ``A 
        management official''; and
          (2) by adding after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsection:
  ``(b) Small Market Share Exemption.--
          ``(1) In general.--This section shall not be construed as 
        prohibiting a management official of a depository institution 
        or depository holding company from serving as a management 
        official of another depository institution or depository 
        holding company not affiliated with such institution or holding 
        company if the depository institutions or depository holding 
        companies with which the management official serves hold, 
        together with all the affiliates of such institutions or 
        holding companies, in the aggregate no more that 20 percent of 
        the deposits in each relevant geographic banking market where 
        offices of the depository institutions or depository holding 
        companies or their affiliates are located.
          ``(2) Relevant geographic banking market defined.--For 
        purposes of paragraph (1), the term `relevant geographic 
        banking market' means--
                  ``(A) the area defined by the boundaries identified 
                by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
                System;
                  ``(B) if the Board has not defined such boundaries, 
                the area defined by the boundaries of the Ranally 
                Metropolitan Area in which the office of the depository 
                institution or the depository institution holding 
                company is located; and
                  ``(C) if the office of such institution or company is 
                not located within a Ranally Metropolitan Area, the 
                area defined by the county (or an equivalent area of 
                general local government) in which such office is 
                located.''.
  (b) Dual Service Among Larger Organizations.--Section 204 of the 
Depository Institution Management Interlocks Act (12 U.S.C. 3203) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 204. DUAL SERVICE AMONG LARGER ORGANIZATIONS.

  ``(a) In General.--If a depository institution, depository 
institution holding company, or depository institution affiliate of any 
such institution or company has total assets exceeding $2,500,000,000, 
a management official of such institution, company, or affiliate may 
not serve as a management official of any other depository institution, 
depository institution holding company, or depository institution 
affiliate of any such institution or company which--
          ``(1) is not an affiliate of the institution, company, or 
        affiliate of which such person is a management official; and
          ``(2) has total assets exceeding $1,500,000,000.
  ``(b) CPI Adjustments.--The dollar amounts in this section shall be 
adjusted annually after December 31, 1994, by the annual percentage 
increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and 
Clerical Workers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.''.
  (c) Extension of Grandfather Exemption.--Section 206 of the 
Depository Institution Management Interlocks Act (12 U.S.C. 3205) is 
amended--
          (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``for a period of, subject 
        to the requirements of subsection (c), 20 years after the date 
        of enactment of this title'';
          (2) in subsection (b), by striking the 2d sentence; and
          (3) by striking subsection (c).
  (d) Rules or Regulations.--Section 209 of the Depository Institution 
Management Interlocks Act (12 U.S.C. 3207) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``(a) In General.--Rules'' and inserting 
        ``Rules'';
          (2) by inserting ``, including rules or regulations which 
        permit service by a management official which would otherwise 
        be prohibited by section 203 or section 204,'' after ``title''; 
        and
          (3) by striking subsections (b) and (c).
SEC. 224. ACCELERATION OF REPAYMENT TO TREASURY.
  The Appraisal Subcommittee of the Financial Institutions Examination 
Council shall repay to the Secretary of the Treasury the funds 
specified in section 1108 of Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, 
and Enforcement Act of 1989 by not later than September 30, 1998, and 
the Secretary shall deposit such funds in the general fund of the 
Treasury.

SEC. 225. ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY AND DUPLICATIVE RECORDKEEPING AND 
                    REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO LOANS TO 
                    EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND PERMIT PARTICIPATION IN 
                    EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

  (a) Amendments to Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act.--
          (1) Employee benefit plans.--Section 22(h)(2) of the Federal 
        Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 375b(2)) is amended--
                  (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) 
                as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively, and 
                moving the left margins of such clauses 2 ems to the 
                right;
                  (B) by striking ``(2) Preferential terms 
                prohibited.--A member bank'' and inserting ``(2) 
                Preferential terms prohibited.--
                  ``(A) In general.--A member bank''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                  ``(B) Exception.--No provision of this paragraph 
                shall be construed as prohibiting extensions of credit 
                that constitute a benefit or compensation program that 
                is widely available to and used by employees of the 
                member bank, including employees who are not executive 
                officers of the bank.''.
          (2) Exception for extensions of credit to executive officers 
        and directors of nonbank affiliates.--Section 22(h)(8)(B) of 
        the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 375b(8)(B)) is amended to 
        read as follows:
                  ``(B) Exception.--The Board may, by regulation, make 
                exceptions to subparagraph (A) for an executive officer 
                or director of a subsidiary of a company that controls 
                the member bank if--
                          ``(i) the executive officer or director does 
                        not have authority to participate, and does not 
                        participate, in major policymaking functions of 
                        the member bank; and
                          ``(ii) the assets of such subsidiary do not 
                        exceed 10 percent of the consolidated assets of 
                        a company that controls the member bank and 
                        such subsidiary (and is not controlled by any 
                        other company).''.
          (3) Recordkeeping requirements.--Section 22(h)(10) of the 
        Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 375b(10)) is amended by adding 
        at the end the following: ``The Board shall specify by 
        regulation the recordkeeping required of member banks to ensure 
        compliance with this section.''.
  (b) Reporting Requirements.--
          (1) Unnecessary reports.--Section 22(g) of the Federal 
        Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 375a) is amended--
                  (A) by striking paragraphs (6) and (9); and
                  (B) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), and (10) as 
                paragraphs (8), (9), and (10), respectively.
          (2) Unnecessary reports.--Section 7 of the Federal Deposit 
        Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1817) is amended by striking 
        subsection (k).
          (3) Unnecessary reports regarding loans from correspondent 
        banks.--Section 106(b)(2) of the Bank Holding Company Act 
        Amendments of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1972(2)) is amended--
                  (A) by striking subparagraph (G); and
                  (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) and (I) as 
                subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively.
  (c) Amendments Relating to Loans to Executive Officers.--Section 
22(g) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 375a) (as amended by 
subsection (a) of this section) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ``of any one of the 
        three categories respectively referred to in paragraphs (2), 
        (3), and (4)'' and inserting ``of any category referred to in 
        paragraph (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6)'';
          (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (6) 
        and (7), respectively;
          (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraph:
          ``(4) Home equity lines of credit.--A member bank may make a 
        revolving open-end extension of credit to any executive officer 
        of the bank if the credit--
                  ``(A) does not exceed $100,000; and
                  ``(B) is secured by a dwelling that is owned by such 
                officer and used by the officer as a residence.
          ``(5) Loans secured by marketable assets.--A member bank may 
        extend credit to any executive officer of the bank if the 
        credit is secured by readily marketable assets of a value not 
        exceeding such amount as the Board may establish by 
        regulation.''; and
          (4) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated by paragraph (2) of 
        this subsection) by striking ``(4)'' each place such term 
        appears and inserting ``(6)''.

SEC. 226. EXPANDED REGULATORY DISCRETION FOR SMALL BANK EXAMINATIONS.

  (a) Small Bank Size Discretion.--Section 10(d) of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1820(d)) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10);
          (2) by redesignating the 2d of the 2 paragraphs designated as 
        paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and
          (3) in paragraph (9) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``$175,000,000'' and inserting ``$250,000,000''.
  (b) Inflation Adjustment.--Section 10(d) of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1820(d)) is amended by inserting after 
paragraph (10) (as so redesignated in subsection (a)(1) of this 
section) the following new paragraph:
          ``(11) Annual cpi adjustment.--The dollar amount in this 
        section shall be adjusted annually after December 31, 1994, by 
        the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for 
        Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers published by the Bureau 
        of Labor Statistics.''.
  (c) Coordinated Federal and State Examinations.--The Federal banking 
agencies (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) 
shall submit semiannual reports to the Congress on the progress made by 
such agencies in implementing the requirements of section 10(d)(6) of 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act until such agencies submit a final 
report that--
          (1) the examination system provided for in such section is in 
        place; and
          (2) such system provides for full coordination of 
        examinations of State depository institutions with State bank 
        supervisors.

SEC. 227. COST REIMBURSEMENT.

  Section 1115 of the Right to Financial Privacy Act (12 U.S.C. 3415) 
is amended by inserting ``(including corporate customers)'' after 
``pertaining to a customer''.

SEC. 228. IDENTIFICATION OF FOREIGN NONBANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTION 
                    CUSTOMERS.

  (a) In General.--Section 5327(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
          ``(1) is a financial institution (other than a foreign bank 
        (as defined in section 101(b) of the International Banking Act 
        of 1978)) which is a foreign person; and''.
  (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The heading for section 5327 
of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``foreign 
nonbank'' after ``of''.
  (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 53 of 
title 31, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating 
to section 5327 and inserting the following new item:

``5327. Identification of foreign nonbank financial institutions.''.
SEC. 229. PAPERWORK REDUCTION REVIEW.

  Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each 
appropriate Federal banking agency and the National Credit Union 
Administration, in consultation with insured depository institutions, 
insured credit unions, and other interested parties, shall--
          (1) review the extent to which current regulations require 
        insured depository institutions and insured credit unions to 
        produce unnecessary internal written policies; and
          (2) eliminate such requirements, where appropriate.
For purposes of this section, the terms ``insured depository 
institution'' and ``appropriate Federal banking agency'' have the same 
meanings as in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the 
term ``insured credit union'' has the same meaning as in section 101(7) 
of the Federal Credit Union Act.

SEC. 230. DAILY CONFIRMATIONS FOR HOLD-IN-CUSTODY REPURCHASE 
                    TRANSACTIONS.

  Before the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall revise the 
regulation under section 15C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
relating to the obligations of financial institutions and of brokers 
and dealer registered under such Act holding custody of securities 
subject to a repurchase agreement to confirm, daily and in writing, the 
securities that are subject to such repurchase agreement. Such revision 
shall permit the counterparty to such agreement to waive in writing the 
right to obtain such daily written confirmation if the counterparty has 
received a clear and conspicuous disclosure before entering into any 
side agreement, in a form prescribed by the Secretary, that adequately 
informs the counterparty of the benefits of receiving such daily 
written confirmations.
SEC. 231. REQUIRED REGULATORY REVIEW OF REGULATIONS.

  (a) In General.--Not less frequently than once every 10 years, the 
Financial Institutions Examination Council (hereafter in this section 
referred to as the ``Council'') and each appropriate Federal banking 
agency (as defined in section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Act) represented on the Council shall conduct a review of all 
regulations prescribed by the Council or by any such agency, 
respectively, in order to identify outdated or otherwise unnecessary 
regulatory requirements imposed upon insured depository institutions.
  (b) Process.--In conducting the review under subsection (a), the 
Council or the appropriate Federal banking agency shall--
          (1) categorize the regulations by type (such as consumer 
        regulations, safety and soundness regulations, or such other 
        designations as determined by the Council); and
          (2) at regular intervals, provide notice and solicit public 
        comment on a particular category or categories of regulations, 
        requesting commentators to identify areas of the regulations 
        that are outdated, unnecessary, or unduly burdensome.
  (c) Complete Review.--The Council or the appropriate Federal banking 
agency shall ensure that the notice and comment period described in 
subsection (b)(2) is conducted with respect to all regulations 
described in subsection (a) not less frequently than once every 10 
years.
  (d) Regulatory Response.--The Council or the appropriate Federal 
banking agency shall--
          (1) publish in the Federal Register a summary of the comments 
        received under this section, identifying significant issues 
        raised and providing comment on such issues; and
          (2) eliminate unnecessary regulations to the extent that such 
        action is appropriate.
  (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 30 days after carrying out 
subsection (d)(1), the Council shall provide to the Congress a report, 
which shall include--
          (1) a summary of any significant issues raised by public 
        comments received by the Council and the appropriate Federal 
        banking agencies under this section and the relative merits of 
        such issues; and
          (2) an analysis of whether the appropriate Federal banking 
        agency involved is able to address the regulatory burdens 
        associated with such issues by regulation, or whether such 
        burdens must be addressed by legislative action.

SEC. 232. COUNTRY RISK REQUIREMENTS.

  Subsections (a)(1) and (b) of section 905 of the International 
Lending Supervision Act of 1983 (12 U.S.C. 3904) are amended by 
striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may''.

SEC. 233. AUDIT COSTS.

  (a) In General.--
          (1) Auditor attestations.--Section 36 of the Federal Deposit 
        Insurance At (12 U.S.C. 1831m) is amended--
                  (A) in subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii), by striking 
                ``subsections (c) and (d)'' and inserting ``subsection 
                (c)'';
                  (B) by striking subsections (c) and (e); and
                  (C) by redesignating subsections (d), (f), (g), (h), 
                (i), and (j) as subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), 
                and (h), respectively.
          (2) Public availability.--Section 36(a)(3) of the Federal 
        Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1831m(a)(3)) is amended by 
        inserting at the end the following new sentence: 
        ``Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Corporation and 
        the appropriate Federal banking agencies may designate certain 
        information as privileged and confidential and not available to 
        the public.''.
  (b) Exemption for Well-Capitalized and Well-Managed Insured 
Depository Institutions.--Section 36 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Act (12 U.S.C. 1831m) (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(i) Exemption for Well-Capitalized and Well-Managed Insured 
Depository Institutions.--No provision of this section other than 
subsection (c) shall apply with respect to any insured depository 
institution which is well-capitalized and well-managed.''.
  (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
          (1) Paragraph (1)(B) of section 36(e) of the Federal Deposit 
        Insurance Act (as so redesignated by subsection (a)(1)(C) of 
        this section) is amended by striking ``(b)(2), (c), and (d)'' 
        and inserting ``(b)(2) and (c)''.
          (2) Paragraph (1) of section 36(g) of the Federal Deposit 
        Insurance Act (as so redesignated by subsection (a)(1)(C) of 
        this section) is amended by striking ``(d)'' and inserting 
        ``(c)''.

SEC. 234. STANDARDS FOR DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY.

  Section 3(u) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(u)) 
is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(other than an outside 
        director)'' after ``director'';
          (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``(other than an outside 
        director)'' after ``any other person''; and
          (3) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``or outside director'' 
        after ``or accountant)''.
SEC. 235. FOREIGN BANK APPLICATIONS.

  (a) Provisions Relating to Establishment of Bank Offices.--Section 
7(d) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3105(d)) is 
amended--
          (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``The'' and inserting 
        ``Except as provided in paragraph (6), the'';
          (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``Consistent with the 
        standards for approval in paragraph (2), the'' and inserting 
        ``The''; and
          (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
          ``(6) Exception.--
                  ``(A) In general.--If the Board is unable to find 
                under paragraph (2) that a foreign bank is subject to 
                comprehensive supervision or regulation on a 
                consolidated basis by the appropriate authorities in 
                its home country, the Board may nevertheless approve an 
                application under paragraph (1) by such foreign bank 
                if--
                          ``(i) the appropriate authorities in the home 
                        country of such foreign bank are working to 
                        establish arrangements for the consolidated 
                        supervision of such bank; and
                          ``(ii) all other factors are consistent with 
                        approval.
                  ``(B) Additional conditions.--The Board, after 
                requesting and considering the views of the appropriate 
                State bank supervisor or the Comptroller of the 
                Currency, as the case may be, may impose such 
                conditions or restrictions relating to activities or 
                business operations of the proposed branch, agency, or 
                commercial lending company subsidiary, including 
                restrictions on sources of funding, as are considered 
                appropriate in the public interest.
                  ``(C) Modification of conditions.--Any condition or 
                restriction imposed by the Board under this subsection 
                in connection with the approval of an application may 
                be varied or withdrawn where such modification is 
                consistent with the public interest.
          ``(7) Time period for board action.--
                  ``(A) Final action.--The Board shall take final 
                action on any application under paragraph (1) within 
                180 days of receipt of the application, except that the 
                Board may extend for an additional 180 days the period 
                within which to take final action on such application, 
                after providing notice of, and the reasons for, the 
                extension to the applicant foreign bank and any 
                appropriate State bank supervisor or the Comptroller of 
                the Currency, as the case may be.
                  ``(B) Failure to submit information.--The Board may 
                deny any application if it has not received information 
                requested from the applicant foreign bank or 
                appropriate authorities in the home country in 
                sufficient time to permit the Board to evaluate such 
                information adequately within the time periods for 
                final action set forth in subparagraph (A).
                  ``(C) Waiver.--A foreign bank may waive the 
                applicability of subparagraph (A) with respect to any 
                such application.''.
  (b) Provision Relating To Termination of Bank Offices.--Section 
7(e)(1)(A) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 
3105(e)(1)(A)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``(A)'' and inserting ``(A)(i)'';
          (2) by striking ``; or'' and inserting ``; and''; and
          (3) by inserting at the end the following new clause:
                  ``(ii) the appropriate authorities in the home 
                country are not making progress in establishing 
                arrangements for the comprehensive supervision or 
                regulation of such foreign bank on a consolidated 
                basis; or''.
  (c) Uniform Terminations of Foreign Bank Offices, Agencies, Branches, 
and Subsidiaries by the Federal Reserve System.--
          (1) In general.--Section 7(e)(1) of the International Banking 
        Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3105(e)(1)) is amended--
                  (A) by inserting ``or the Comptroller of the 
                Currency'' after ``State bank supervisor'';
                  (B) by inserting ``or a Federal branch or agency'' 
                after ``commercial lending company subsidiary'' the 1st 
                place such term appears; and
                  (C) in the last sentence, by inserting ``or a Federal 
                branch or agency'' after ``commercial lending company 
                subsidiary''.
          (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--Section 7(e) of the 
        International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 3105(e)) is 
        amended--
                  (A) by striking paragraph (5); and
                  (B) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as 
                paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively.

SEC. 236. DUPLICATE EXAMINATION OF FOREIGN BANKS.

  Section 7(c)(1) of the International Banking Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. 
3105(c)(1)) is amended--
          (1) by adding after clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) the 
        following new clause:
                          ``(iii) Avoidance of duplication.--In 
                        exercising its authority under this paragraph, 
                        the Board shall take all reasonable measures to 
                        reduce burden and avoid unnecessary duplication 
                        of examinations.'';
          (2) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
                  ``(C) On-site examination.--Each Federal branch or 
                agency, and each State branch or agency, of a foreign 
                bank shall be subject to on-site examination by a 
                Federal banking agency or State bank supervisor as 
                frequently as would a national bank or State bank, 
                respectively, by its appropriate Federal banking 
                agency.''; and
          (3) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:
                  ``(D) Cost of examinations.--The cost of any 
                examination undertaken pursuant to subparagraph (A) 
                shall be assessed against and collected from the 
                foreign bank or the foreign company that controls the 
                foreign bank, as the case may be, but only to the same 
                extent that fees are collected by the Board for 
                examination of any State member insured bank.''.

SEC. 237. SECOND MORTGAGES.

  (a) In General.--Section 103(aa)(1) of the Truth in Lending Act (15 
U.S.C. 1602(aa)(1)) is amended--
          (1) by inserting ``a subordinate mortgage on'' after 
        ``secured by''; and
          (2) by striking ``a residential mortgage transaction''.
  (b) Effect on Pending Cases.--Any administrative enforcement 
proceeding or other action which--
          (1) is pending on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
          (2) is based on regulations in effect as of such date under 
        the Truth in Lending Act with respect to high-cost residential 
        mortgage transactions which are not subordinate mortgages,
shall be dismissed as of such date.
SEC. 238. STREAMLINING FDIC APPROVAL OF NEW STATE BANK POWERS.

  (a) In General.--Section 24(a) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act 
(12 U.S.C. 1831a(a)) is amended to read as follows:
  ``(a) Activities Generally.--
          ``(1) In general.--An insured State bank may not engage as 
        principal in any type of activity that is not permissible for a 
        national bank unless--
                  ``(A) the bank has given the Corporation written 
                notice of the bank's intention to engage in such 
                activity at least 60 days before commencing to engage 
                in the activity and within such 60-day period (or 
                within the extended period provided under paragraph 
                (2)) the Corporation has not disapproved the activity; 
                and
                  ``(B) the State bank is, and continues to be, in 
                compliance with applicable capital standards prescribed 
                by the appropriate Federal banking agency.
          ``(2) Extension of period.--The Corporation may extend the 
        60-day period referred to in paragraph (1) for issuing a notice 
        of disapproval with respect to any activity for an additional 
        30 days.
          ``(3) Contents of notice.--Any notice submitted by a State 
        bank under paragraph (1)(A) shall contain such information as 
        the Corporation may require.
          ``(4) Basis for disapproval.--The Corporation may disapprove 
        an activity for a State bank under this subsection unless the 
        Corporation determines that the activity would pose no 
        significant risk to the appropriate insurance fund.''.
  (b) Subsidiaries of Insured State Banks.--Section 24(d)(1) of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1831a(d)(1)) is amended to 
read as follows:
          ``(1) Activities generally.--
                  ``(A) In general.--A subsidiary of an insured State 
                bank may not engage as principal in any type of 
                activity that is not permissible for a subsidiary of a 
                national bank unless--
                          ``(i) the subsidiary has given the 
                        Corporation written notice of the subsidiary's 
                        intention to engage in such activity at least 
                        60 days before commencing to engage in the 
                        activity and within such 60-day period (or 
                        within the extended period provided under 
                        paragraph (2)) the Corporation has not 
                        disapproved the activity; and
                          ``(ii) the bank is, and continues to be, in 
                        compliance with applicable capital standards 
                        prescribed by the appropriate Federal banking 
                        agency.
                  ``(B) Extension of period.--The Corporation may 
                extend the 60-day period referred to in subparagraph 
                (A) for issuing a notice of disapproval with respect to 
                any activity for an additional 30 days.
                  ``(C) Contents of notice.--Any notice submitted by a 
                subsidiary of an insured State bank under subparagraph 
                (A)(i) shall contain such information as the 
                Corporation may require.
                  ``(D) Basis for disapproval.--The Corporation may 
                disapprove an activity for a subsidiary of an insured 
                State bank under this paragraph unless the Corporation 
                determines that the activity would pose no significant 
                risk to the appropriate insurance fund.''.
SEC. 239. REPEAL OF CALL REPORT ATTESTATION REQUIREMENT.

  Section 5211(a) of the Revised Statutes (12 U.S.C. 161(a)) is amended 
by striking the 4th sentence.
SEC. 240. AUTHORITY OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY.

  (a) State Supervision.--Chapter 1 of Title LXII of the Revised 
Statutes of the 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. STATE SUPERVISION OF INSURANCE.

  ``(a) State Licensing of Insurance Activities.--
          ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), no provision of 
        section 5136, any other section of this title, or section 13 of 
        the Federal Reserve Act may be construed as limiting or 
        otherwise impairing the authority of any State to regulate--
                  ``(A) the extent to which, and the manner in which, a 
                national bank may engage within the State in insurance 
                activities pursuant to section 5136B of this chapter or 
                section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act;
                  ``(B) the manner in which a national bank may engage 
                within the State in insurance activities pursuant to 
                section 5136(b)(2)(B) of the Revised Statutes of the 
                United States; or
                  ``(C) the manner in which a national bank may engage 
                within the State in insurance activities pursuant to 
                section 5136(b)(2)(A) of the Revised Statutes of the 
                United States through, and limited to, consumer 
                disclosure requirements or licensing requirements, 
                procedures, and qualifications as described in 
                paragraph (2)(C).
          ``(2) Prohibition on state discrimination against national 
        banks.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1)--
                  ``(A) Providing insurance as agent or broker.--No 
                State may impose any insurance regulatory requirement 
                relating to providing insurance as an agent or broker 
                that treats a national bank differently than all other 
                persons who are authorized to provide insurance as 
                agents or brokers in such State, unless there is a 
                legitimate and reasonable State regulatory purpose for 
                the requirement for which there is no less restrictive 
                alternative.
                  ``(B) Providing insurance as principal, agent, or 
                broker.--
                          ``(i) No State may impose on a national bank 
                        any insurance regulatory requirement relating 
                        to providing insurance as principal, agent, or 
                        broker that treats the national bank more 
                        restrictively than any other depository 
                        institution (as defined in section 3(c)(1) of 
                        the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 
                        1813(c)(1)) operating in the State.
                          ``(ii) Nothing in this subparagraph shall 
                        affect the validity of a State law that--
                                  ``(I) prevents a national bank from 
                                engaging in insurance activities within 
                                the State to as great an extent as a 
                                savings association (as defined in 
                                section 3(b)(1) of the Federal Deposit 
                                Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1813(b)(1)) 
                                may engage in such activities within 
                                the State; and
                                  ``(II) was in effect on June 1, 1995.
                  ``(C) Licensing qualifications and procedures.--No 
                State may discriminate against a national bank with 
                respect to the following requirements, procedures, and 
                qualifications as such requirements, procedures, and 
                qualifications relate to the authority of the national 
                bank to provide insurance in such State as an agent or 
                broker:
                          ``(i) License application and processing 
                        procedures.
                          ``(ii) Character, experience, and educational 
                        qualifications for licenses.
                          ``(iii) Testing and examination requirements 
                        for licenses.
                          ``(iv) Fee requirements for licenses.
                          ``(v) Continuing education requirements.
                          ``(vi) Types of licenses required.
                          ``(vii) Standards and requirements for 
                        renewal of licenses.
  ``(b) Authority of the Comptroller of the Currency.--A national bank 
may not provide insurance as a principal, agent, or broker except as 
specifically provided in this section, the paragraph designated as the 
`Seventh' of section 5136(a) of this chapter, section 5136(b) or 5136B 
of this chapter, or section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act.
  ``(c) Preservation of Federally Authorized Bank Activities in 
Permissive States.--No provision of this section may be construed as 
affecting the authority, pursuant to section 5136B of this chapter or 
section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act, of a national bank to act as 
insurance agent or broker consistent with State law.
  ``(d) Preservation of National Bank Authority Consistent With State 
Bank Authority.--Except as provided in subsection (a)(2)(B), no 
provision of this section or section 5136(b)(1) shall have the effect 
of enabling a State to deny a national bank authority that the bank 
otherwise possesses to provide a product in a State, including as 
agent, broker, or principal, where the bank is not providing the 
product in the State other than to an extent and in a manner that a 
State bank (as defined in section 3(a)(2) of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1813(a)(2)) is permitted by the law of the 
State to provide such product, except that nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed as granting any new authority to a national bank to 
provide any product because the law of the State has authorized State 
banks to provide such product.
  ``(e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, sections 5136 and 
5136B, and section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act, the following 
definitions shall apply:
          ``(1) Insurance.--The term `insurance' means any product 
        defined or regulated as insurance, consistent with the relevant 
        State insurance law, by the insurance regulatory authority of 
        the State in which such product is sold, solicited, or 
        underwritten, including any annuity contract the income on 
        which is tax deferred under section 72 of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986.
          ``(2) State.--The term `State' has the same meaning as in 
        section 3(a)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
  ``(f) Grandfather Provision.--
          ``(1) In general.--Any national bank which, before January 1, 
        1995, was providing insurance as agent or broker under section 
        13 of the Federal Reserve Act may provide insurance as an agent 
        or broker under such section, to no less extent and in a no 
        more restrictive manner as such bank was providing insurance as 
        agent or broker under such section on January 1, 1995, 
        notwithstanding contrary State law, subject to final, 
        controlling judgment in a pending action.
          ``(2) Termination.--This subsection shall cease to apply with 
        respect to any national bank described in paragraph (1) if--
                  ``(A) the bank is subject to an acquisition, merger, 
                consolidation, or change in control, other than a 
                transaction to which section 18(c)(12) of the Federal 
                Deposit Insurance Act applies; or
                  ``(B) any bank holding company which directly or 
                indirectly controls such bank is subject to an 
                acquisition, merger, consolidation, or change in 
                control, other than a transaction in which the 
                beneficial ownership of such bank holding company or of 
                a bank holding company which controls such company does 
                not change as a result of the transaction.
  ``(g) Preservation of Banking Products.--Nothing in this section 
shall be construed as affecting the ability of a national bank, or a 
subsidiary of a national bank, to engage in any activity, including any 
activity authorized pursuant to the paragraph designated the 
``Seventh'' of section 5136(a), that is part of, and not merely 
incidental to, the business of banking.''.
  (b) Interpretive Authority of the Comptroller of the Currency.--
Section 5136 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (12 U.S.C. 
24) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``Upon duly making and filing articles of 
        association'' and inserting ``(a) In General.--Upon duly making 
        and filing articles of association''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
  ``(b) Interpretive Authority of the Comptroller of the Currency.--
          ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), it shall not be 
        incidental to banking for a national bank to provide insurance 
        as a principal, agent, or broker.
          ``(2) Scope of application.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
        it shall be incidental to banking for a national bank to engage 
        in the following activities:
                  ``(A) Providing, as an agent or broker, any annuity 
                contract the income on which is tax deferred under 
                section 72 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
                  ``(B) Providing, as a principal, agent, or broker, 
                any type of insurance, other than an annuity or title 
                insurance, which the Comptroller of the Currency 
                specifically determined, before May 1, 1995, to be 
                incidental to banking with respect to national 
                banks.''.
  (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
          (1) The 11th undesignated paragraph of section 13 of the 
        Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 92) is amended by inserting ``, 
        and subject to section 5136A of the Revised Statutes of the 
        United States,'' after ``the laws of the United States''.
          (2) The paragraph designated the ``Seventh'' of section 5136 
        of the Revised Statutes of the United States (12 U.S.C. 24) is 
        amended by striking ``subject to law,'' and inserting ``subject 
        to subsection (b), section 5136A, and any other provision of 
        law,''.
          (3) Section 1306 of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
        by striking ``5136A'' and inserting ``5136C''.
  (d) 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. State supervision of insurance.''.

  (e) Preservation of Bank Holding Company Insurance Authority.--No 
provision of this section, and no amendment made by this section to any 
other provision of law, may be construed as affecting the authority of 
a bank holding company to engage in insurance agency activity pursuant 
to section 4(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 
1843(c)).
SEC. 241. NATIONAL BANK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INSURANCE ACTIVITIES.

  (a) 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 240(a) of this Act) the following 
new section:

``SEC. 5136B. INSURANCE SALES IN EMPOWERMENT ZONES.

  ``(a) Authority To Sell Insurance as Agent From Empowerment Zones.--
The Comptroller of the Currency may approve an application by a 
national bank maintaining a main office or full-service branch in an 
empowerment zone to act as an agent or broker from such office or 
branch for any fire, life, or other insurance company authorized to do 
business in the State in which the customer is located if--
          ``(1) the bank provides sufficient evidence that the 
        availability of competitively priced insurance in the 
        empowerment zone is inadequate; and
          ``(2) the insurance is sold only in the empowerment zone.
  ``(b) Application of State Law.--State laws which regulate conducting 
the business of insurance shall apply to national banks and their 
employees that sell insurance as agent or broker under this section to 
the same extent as such laws apply to other entities and persons not 
affiliated with depository institutions except--
          ``(1) in any case in which the Comptroller of the Currency 
        determines, after notice to and comment by the appropriate 
        State insurance officials, that the application of a State law 
        would have an unreasonably discriminatory effect upon the sale 
        of insurance by national banks or their employees in comparison 
        with the effect the application of the State law would have 
        with respect to sale of insurance by other entities; or
          ``(2) when State law by its own terms does not apply to 
        national banks or employees of such banks.
  ``(c) Authority of Comptroller of the Currency.--
          ``(1) In general.-- The Comptroller of the Currency may 
        prescribe regulations governing sales of insurance by national 
        banks pursuant to this section.
          ``(2) Enforcement of state law.--The provisions of any State 
        law to which a national bank is subject under this section 
        shall be enforced with respect to such bank by the Comptroller 
        of the Currency.
  ``(d) Definitions.--
          ``(1) Empowerment zone.--The term `empowerment zone' means an 
        area that meets the standards for designation as an empowerment 
        zone or enterprise community under section 1392 of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 or an Indian reservation.
          ``(2) Full-service branch.--The term `full-service branch' 
        means a staffed facility which has been approved as a branch 
        and offers loan and deposit services.
          ``(3) Indian reservation.--The term `Indian reservation' has 
        the meaning given such term by section 168(j)(6) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986.''.
  (b) 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 
240(d) of this title) the following new item:

``5136B. Insurance sales in empowerment zones.''.
SEC. 242. AUTHORIZING BANK SERVICE COMPANIES TO ORGANIZE AS LIMITED 
                    LIABILITY PARTNERSHIPS.

  (a) Amendment to Short Title.--Section 1 of the Bank Service 
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1861(a)) is amended by striking subsection 
(a) and inserting the following new subsection:
  ``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `Bank Service 
Company Act'.'';
  (b) Amendments to Definitions.--Section 1(b) of the Bank Service 
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1861(b)) is amended--
          (1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new 
        paragraph:
          ``(2) the term `bank service company' means--
                  ``(A) any corporation--
                          ``(i) which is organized to perform services 
                        authorized by this Act; and
                          ``(ii) all of the capital stock of which is 
                        owned by 1 or more insured banks; and
                  ``(B) any limited liability company--
                          ``(i) which is organized to perform services 
                        authorized by this Act; and
                          ``(ii) all of the members of which are 1 or 
                        more insured banks.'';
          (2) in paragraph (6)--
                  (A) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting 
                ``company''; and
                  (B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
          (3) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8) and 
        inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph:
          ``(7) the term `limited liability company' means any company 
        organized under the law of a State (as defined in section 3 of 
        the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) which provides that a member 
        or manager of such company is not personally liable for a debt, 
        obligation, or liability of the company solely by reason of 
        being, or acting as, a member or manager of such company; 
        and''; and
          (4) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated)--
                  (A) by striking ``corporation'' each place such term 
                appears and inserting ``company''; and
                  (B) by striking ``capital stock'' and inserting 
                ``equity''.
  (c) Amendments to Section 2.--Section 2 of the Bank Service 
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1862) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``corporation'' and inserting ``company'';
          (2) by striking ``corporations'' and inserting ``companies''; 
        and
          (3) in the heading for such section, by striking 
        ``corporation'' and inserting ``company''.
  (d) Amendments to Section 3.--Section 3 of the Bank Service 
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1863) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``corporation'' each place such term appears 
        and inserting ``company''; and
          (2) in the heading for such section, by striking 
        ``corporation'' and inserting ``company''.
  (e) Amendments to Section 4.--Section 4 of the Bank Service 
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1864) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``corporation'' each place such term appears 
        and inserting ``company'';
          (2) in subsection (b), by inserting ``or members'' after 
        ``shareholders'' each place such term appears;
          (3) in subsections (c) and (d), by inserting ``or member'' 
        after ``shareholder'' each place such term appears;
          (4) in subsection (e)--
                  (A) by inserting ``or members'' after ``national bank 
                and State bank shareholders'';
                  (B) by striking ``its national bank shareholder or 
                shareholders'' and inserting ``any shareholder or 
                member of the company which is a national bank'';
                  (C) by striking ``its State bank shareholder or 
                shareholders'' and inserting ``any shareholder or 
                member of the company which is a State bank'';
                  (D) by striking ``such State bank or banks'' and 
                inserting ``any such State bank''; and
                  (E) by inserting ``or members'' after ``State bank 
                and national bank shareholders'';
          (5) in subsection (f), by inserting ``or providing insurance 
        as principal, agent, or broker (except to the extent permitted 
        under subparagraph (A) or (E) of section 4(c)(8) of the Bank 
        Holding Company Act of 1956)'' after ``or deposit taking''; and
          (6) in the heading for such section, by striking 
        ``corporation'' and inserting ``company''.
  (f) Amendments to Section 5.--Section 5 of the Bank Service 
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1865) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``corporation'' each place such term appears 
        and inserting ``company''; and
          (2) in the heading for such section, by striking 
        ``corporations'' and inserting ``companies''.
  (g) Amendments to Section 6.--Section 6 of the Bank Service 
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1866) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``corporation'' each place such term appears 
        and inserting ``company'';
          (2) by inserting ``or is not a member of'' after ``does not 
        own stock in'';
          (3) by striking ``the nonstockholding institution'' and 
        inserting ``such depository institution'';
          (4) by inserting ``or is a member of'' after ``that owns 
        stock in'';
          (5) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by inserting ``or nonmember'' 
        after ``nonstockholding''; and
          (6) in the heading for such section by inserting ``or 
        nonmembers'' after ``nonstockholders''.
  (h) Amendments to Section 7.--Section 7 of the Bank Service 
Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1867) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``corporation'' each place such term appears 
        and inserting ``company'';
          (2) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) by inserting ``or principal member'' after 
                ``principal shareholder''; and
                  (B) by inserting ``or member'' after ``other 
                shareholder''; and
          (3) in the heading for such section, by striking 
        ``corporations'' and inserting ``companies''.
SEC. 243. BANK INVESTMENTS IN EDGE ACT AND AGREEMENT CORPORATIONS.

  The 10th undesignated paragraph of section 25A of the Federal Reserve 
Act (12 U.S.C. 618) is amended by striking the last sentence and 
inserting the following: ``Any national bank may invest in the stock of 
any corporation organized under this section. The aggregate amount of 
stock held by any national bank in all corporations engaged in business 
of the kind described in this section or section 25 shall not exceed an 
amount equal to 10 percent of the capital and surplus of such bank 
unless the Board determines that the investment of an additional amount 
by the bank would not be unsafe or unsound and, in any case, shall not 
exceed an amount equal to 25 percent of the capital and surplus of such 
bank.''.

SEC. 244. REPORT ON THE RECONCILIATION OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 
                    REGULATORY ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND GENERALLY 
                    ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.

  Before the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, each appropriate Federal banking agency (as 
defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) shall submit 
to the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs of the Senate a report on the actions taken and to be taken by 
the agency to eliminate or conform inconsistent or duplicative 
accounting and reporting requirements applicable to reports or 
statements filed with any such agency by insured depository 
institutions, as required by section 121 of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991.

SEC. 245. WAIVERS AUTHORIZED FOR RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR NATIONAL 
                    BANK DIRECTORS.

  The 1st sentence of section 5146 of the Revised Statutes of the 
United States (12 U.S.C. 72) is amended by inserting ``(1) the 
Comptroller of the Currency may, in the Comptroller's discretion, waive 
the residency requirement in the case of any director of a national 
bank to whom the requirement would otherwise apply, and (2)'' after 
``except that''.

                      TITLE III--LENDER LIABILITY

SEC. 301. LENDER LIABILITY.

  (a) In General.--The Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1811 et 
seq.) is amended by adding after section 44, the following new section:

``SEC. 45. LENDER, FIDUCIARY, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL 
                    LIABILITIES.

  ``(a) Lender Environmental Liability.--
          ``(1) In general.-- Notwithstanding any other provision or 
        rule of Federal law, no lender, acting as defined in this 
        section, shall be liable pursuant to a Federal environmental 
        law, except as provided in this section.
          ``(2) Actual participation required.--A lender shall only be 
        liable pursuant to a Federal environmental law when the lender 
        actually participates in management of another person's 
        activities which create liability under the same Federal 
        environmental law.
          ``(3) Definitions.--The following definitions shall apply for 
        purposes of this section:
                  ``(A) Participate in management.--The term 
                `participate in management' means actually 
                participating in the management or operational affairs 
                of other persons' activities, and does not include 
                merely having the capacity to influence, or the 
                unexercised right to control such activities;
                  ``(B) Participate in management.--A person shall be 
                considered to `participate in management' while a 
                borrower is still in possession of property, only if 
                such person--
                          ``(i) exercises decisionmaking control over 
                        the environmental compliance of a borrower, 
                        such that the person has undertaken 
                        responsibility for the hazardous substance 
                        handling or disposal practices of the borrower; 
                        or
                          ``(ii) exercises control at a level 
                        comparable to that of a manager of the 
                        enterprise of the borrower, such that the 
                        person has assumed or manifested responsibility 
                        for the overall management of the enterprise 
                        encompassing day-to-day decisionmaking with 
                        respect to environmental compliance, or with 
                        respect to substantially all of the operational 
                        aspects (as distinguished from financial or 
                        administrative aspects) of the enterprise, 
                        other than environmental compliance.
                  ``(C) Participate in management.--The term 
                `participate in management' does not include engaging 
                in an act or failing to act before the time that an 
                extension of credit is made or a security interest is 
                created in property.
                  ``(D) Participate in management.--The term 
                `participate in management' does not include, unless 
                such actions rise to the level of participating in 
                management (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (B))--
                          ``(i) holding an extension of credit or a 
                        security interest or abandoning or releasing an 
                        extension of credit or a security interest;
                          ``(ii) including in the terms of an extension 
                        of credit, or in a contract or security 
                        agreement relating to such an extension, 
                        covenants, warranties, or other terms and 
                        conditions that relate to environmental 
                        compliance;
                          ``(iii) monitoring or enforcing the terms and 
                        conditions of an extension of credit or 
                        security interest;
                          ``(iv) monitoring or undertaking 1 or more 
                        inspections of property, except that monitoring 
                        or undertaking any such inspection, although 
                        not required by this subsection, shall provide 
                        probative evidence that a holder of a security 
                        interest is acting to preserve and protect the 
                        property during the time the holder may have 
                        possession or control of such property;
                          ``(v) requiring or conducting a response 
                        action or other lawful means of addressing the 
                        release or threatened release of a hazardous 
                        substance in connection with property prior to, 
                        during, or upon the expiration of the term of 
                        an extension of credit;
                          ``(vi) providing financial or other advice or 
                        counseling in an effort to mitigate, prevent, 
                        or cure default or diminution in the value of 
                        the property;
                          ``(vii) restructuring, renegotiating, or 
                        otherwise agreeing to alter the terms and 
                        conditions of an extension of credit or 
                        security interest, or exercising forbearance; 
                        or
                          ``(viii) exercising other remedies that may 
                        be available under applicable law for the 
                        breach of any term or condition of the 
                        extension of credit or security agreement.
                  ``(E) When a lender did not participate in management 
                of property prior to foreclosure, then the lender shall 
                not be liable even if such person forecloses on 
                property, sells, re-leases, or liquidates property, 
                maintains business activities, winds up operations, or 
                undertakes any response action with respect to 
                property, or takes other measures to preserve, protect, 
                or prepare property prior to sale or disposition, if 
                such person seeks to sell, release, or otherwise divest 
                the property at the earliest practical, commercially 
                reasonable time, on commercially reasonable terms, 
                taking into account market conditions and legal and 
                regulatory requirements.
          ``(4) Limitation on liability.--The liability of any lender 
        that is liable under any Federal environmental law shall be 
        limited to only the cost of any response action or corrective 
        action to the extent and in the amount that the lender actively 
        and directly contributed to the hazardous substance release. A 
        lender shall not be liable for the cost of any response action 
        or corrective action relating to the release of a hazardous 
        substance which commences before and continues after the lender 
        obtains a security interest in the property so long as the 
        lender does not actively and directly contribute to the 
        hazardous substance release.
  ``(b) Fiduciary Environmental Liability.--
          ``(1) In general.-- Notwithstanding any other provision or 
        rule of Federal law, no fiduciary, acting as defined in this 
        section, shall be liable pursuant to any Federal environmental 
        law, except as provided in this section.
          ``(2) Liability of fiduciary.--
                  ``(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), a 
                fiduciary holding title to property or otherwise 
                affiliated with property solely in a fiduciary capacity 
                shall be personally subject to the obligations and 
                liabilities of any person under any Federal 
                environmental law, to the same extent as if the 
                property were held by the fiduciary free of trust.
                  ``(B) The personal obligations and liabilities of a 
                fiduciary referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be 
                limited to the extent to which the assets of the trust 
                or estate are sufficient to indemnify the fiduciary, 
                unless--
                          ``(i) the obligations and liabilities would 
                        have arisen even if the person had not served 
                        as a fiduciary;
                          ``(ii) the fiduciary's own failure to 
                        exercise due care with respect to property 
                        caused or contributed to the release of 
                        hazardous substances following establishment of 
                        the trust, estate, or fiduciary relationship; 
                        or
                          ``(iii) the fiduciary had a role in 
                        establishing the trust, estate, or fiduciary 
                        relationship, and such trust, estate, or 
                        fiduciary relationship has no objectively 
                        reasonable or substantial purpose apart from 
                        the avoidance or limitation of liability under 
                        an environmental law.
                Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed as 
                requiring indemnification by an employee benefit plan 
                (within the meaning of paragraph (3) of section 3 of 
                Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), or by 
                any trust forming a part thereof, of any fiduciary of 
                such plan contrary to the terms of the plan or in an 
                amount in excess of the amount permitted under the 
                terms of such plan.
                  ``(C) A fiduciary shall not be personally liable for 
                undertaking or directing another to undertake a 
                response action.
          ``(3) Rule of construction.--No provision of this subsection 
        shall be construed as affecting the liability, if any, of any 
        person who--
                  ``(A)(i) acts in a capacity other than a fiduciary 
                capacity; and
                  ``(ii) directly or indirectly benefits from a trust 
                or fiduciary relationship; or
                  ``(B)(i) is a beneficiary and a fiduciary with 
                respect to the same fiduciary estate; and
                  ``(ii) as a fiduciary, receives benefits that exceed 
                customary or reasonable compensation, and incidental 
                benefits, permitted under other applicable laws.
  ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of subsections (a) and (b), the 
following definitions shall apply:
          ``(1) Federal environmental law.--The term `Federal 
        environmental law' means any Federal statute or rule of common 
        law with the purpose of protection of the environment and any 
        Federal regulation promulgated thereunder and any State statute 
        or regulation created as a federally approved or delegated 
        program implementing these laws, including the following:
                  ``(A) The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
                Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.).
                  ``(B) The Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 
                2601 et seq.).
                  ``(C) The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
                U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
                  ``(D) The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 
                et seq.).
                  ``(E) The Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.).
                  ``(F) The Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et 
                seq.).
                  ``(G) The Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
                Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 
                et seq.).
                  ``(H) The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
                13101 et seq.).
          ``(2) Extension of credit.--The term `extension of credit' 
        means the making or renewal of any loan, a granting of a line 
        of credit or extending credit in any manner, such as an advance 
        by means of an overdraft or the issuance of a standby letter of 
        credit, and a lease finance transaction--
                  ``(A) in which the lessor does not initially select 
                the leased property and does not, during the lease 
                term, control the daily operation or maintenance of the 
                property; or
                  ``(B) that conforms with regulations issued by the 
                appropriate Federal banking agency or the appropriate 
                State bank supervisory (as these terms are defined in 
                section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or with 
                regulations issued by the National Credit Union 
                Administration Board, as appropriate.
          ``(3) Fiduciary.--The term `fiduciary' means a person who 
        acts for the exclusive benefit of another person as a bona fide 
        fiduciary within the meaning of section 3(21) of the Employee 
        Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, trustee, executor, 
        administrator, custodian, guardian, conservator, receiver, 
        committee of estates of lunatics or other disabled persons, or 
        personal representative; except, that the term `fiduciary' does 
        not include any person--
                  ``(A) who owns, or controls, is affiliated with, or 
                takes any action with respect to property on behalf of 
                or for the benefit of a lender or takes any action to 
                protect a lender's extension of credit or security 
                interest (any such person shall be treated as a lender 
                under subsection (a) of this section); or
                  ``(B) who is acting as a fiduciary with respect to a 
                trust or other fiduciary estate that--
                          ``(i) was not created as part of, or to 
                        facilitate, one or more estate plans or 
                        pursuant to the incapacity of a natural person; 
                        and
                          ``(ii) was organized for the primary purpose 
                        of, or is engaged in, actively carrying on a 
                        trade or business for profit.
          ``(4) Financial or administrative aspect.--The term 
        `financial or administrative aspect' means a function such as a 
        credit manager, accounts payable officer, accounts receivable 
        officer, personnel manager, comptroller, or chief financial 
        officer, or any similar function.
          ``(5) Foreclosure, foreclose.--The terms `foreclosure' and 
        `foreclose' means, respectively, acquiring, and to acquire, 
        property through--
                  ``(A) purchase at sale under a judgment or decree, a 
                power of sale, a nonjudicial foreclosure sale, or from 
                a trustee, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or similar 
                conveyance, or through repossession, if such property 
                was security for an extension of credit previously 
                contracted;
                  ``(B) conveyance pursuant to an extension of credit 
                previously contracted, including the termination of a 
                lease agreement; or
                  ``(C) any other formal or informal manner by which 
                the person acquires, for subsequent disposition, 
                possession of collateral in order to protect the 
                security interest of the person.
          ``(6) Hazardous substance.--The term `hazardous substance' 
        means any chemical, biological, organic, inorganic, or 
        radioactive pollutants, contaminants, materials, waste, or 
        other substances regulated under, defined, listed, or included 
        in any Federal environmental law.
          ``(7) Lender.--The term `lender' means--
                  ``(A) a person that makes a bona fide extension of 
                credit to or takes a security interest from another 
                person and includes a successor or assign of the person 
                which makes the extension of credit or takes the 
                security interest;
                  ``(B) the Federal National Mortgage Association, the 
                Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal 
                Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, or other entity that 
                in a bona fide manner is engaged in the business of 
                buying or selling loans on interests therein;
                  ``(C) any person engaged in the business of insuring 
                or guaranteeing against a default in the repayment of 
                an extension of credit, or acting as a surety with 
                respect to an extension of credit, to other persons; or
                  ``(D) any person regularly engaged in the business of 
                providing title insurance who acquires property as a 
                result of assignment or conveyance in the course of 
                underwriting claims and claims settlement.
          ``(8) Operational aspect.--The term `operational aspect' 
        means a function such as a facility or plant manager, 
        operations manager, chief operating officer, or chief executive 
        officer.
          ``(9) Person.--The term `person' means an individual, firm, 
        corporation, association, partnership, consortium, joint 
        venture, commercial entity, United States Government, State, 
        municipality, commission, political subdivision of a State, or 
        any interstate body.
          ``(10) Property.--The term `property' means real, personal, 
        and mixed property.
          ``(11) Response action.--The term `response action' shall 
        have the same meaning as that term is defined in section 101 of 
        the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and 
        Liability Act.
          ``(12) Security interest.--The term `security interest' means 
        a right under a mortgage, deed of trust, assignment, judgment 
        lien, pledge, security agreement, factoring agreement, or 
        lease, or any other right accruing to a person to secure the 
        repayment of money, the performance of a duty, or some other 
        obligation.
  ``(d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in subsections (a) (b), or (c), 
shall--
          ``(1) affect the rights or immunities or other defenses that 
        are already available to lenders or fiduciaries under any 
        Federal environmental law;
          ``(2) be construed to create any liability for any lender or 
        fiduciary; or
          ``(3) create a private right of action against any lender or 
        fiduciary.
  ``(e) Federal Banking and Lending Agency Environmental Liability.--
          ``(1) Governmental entities.--
                  ``(A) Banking and lending agencies.--Except as 
                provided in paragraph (C), a Federal banking or lending 
                agency shall not be liable under any law imposing 
                strict liability for the release or threatened release 
                of petroleum or a hazardous substance at or from 
                property (including any right or interest therein) 
                acquired--
                          ``(i) in connection with the exercise of 
                        receivership or conservatorship authority, or 
                        the liquidation or winding up of the affairs of 
                        an insured depository institution, including 
                        any of its subsidiaries, and bridge bank;
                          ``(ii) in connection with the provision of 
                        loans, discounts, advances, guarantees, 
                        insurance, or other financial assistance; or
                          ``(iii) in connection with property received 
                        in any civil or criminal proceeding, or 
                        administrative enforcement action, whether by 
                        settlement or order.
                  ``(B) Application of state law.--Nothing in paragraph 
                (e) shall be construed as preempting, affecting, 
                applying to, or modifying any State law, or any rights, 
                actions, cause of action, or obligations under State 
                law, except that liability under State law shall not 
                exceed the value of the agency's interest in the asset 
                giving rise to such liability. Nothing in this section 
                shall be construed to prevent a Federal banking or 
                lending agency from agreeing with a State to transfer 
                property to such State in lieu of any liability that 
                might otherwise be imposed under State law.
                  ``(C) Limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraph (A), and 
                subject to section 107(d) of the Comprehensive 
                Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
                of 1980, a Federal banking or lending agency that 
                directly caused or materially contributed to the 
                release of petroleum or a hazardous substance may be 
                liable for removal, remedial, or other response action 
                pertaining to that release.
                  ``(D) Subsequent purchaser.--The immunity provided by 
                paragraphs (A) and (B) shall extend to the first 
                subsequent purchaser of property described in such 
                paragraph from a Federal banking or lending agency, 
                unless such purchaser--
                          ``(i) would otherwise be liable or 
                        potentially liable for all or part of the costs 
                        of the removal, remedial, or other response 
                        action due to a prior relationship with the 
                        property;
                          ``(ii) is or was affiliated with or related 
                        to a party described in subparagraph (i);
                          ``(iii) fails to agree to take reasonable 
                        steps necessary to abate the release or 
                        threatened release or to protect public health 
                        and safety in a manner consistent with the 
                        purposes of applicable Federal environmental 
                        laws; or
                          ``(iv) directly causes or significantly and 
                        materially contributes to any additional 
                        release or threatened release on the property.
                  ``(E) Federal or state action.--Notwithstanding 
                subparagraph (D), if a Federal agency or State 
                environmental agency is required to take remedial 
                action due to the failure of a subsequent purchaser to 
                carry out, in good faith, the agreement described in 
                subparagraph (D)(iii), such subsequent purchaser shall 
                reimburse the Federal or State environmental agency for 
                the costs of such remedial action. Any such 
                reimbursement shall not exceed the increase in the fair 
                market value of the property attributable to the 
                remedial action.
          ``(2) Lien exemption.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, any property held by a subsequent purchaser referred to in 
        paragraph (1)(D) or held by a Federal banking or lending agency 
        shall not be subject to any lien for costs or damages 
        associated with the release or threatened release of petroleum 
        or a hazardous substance existing at the time of the transfer.
          ``(3) Exemption from covenants to remediate.--A Federal 
        banking or lending agency shall be exempt from any law 
        requiring such agency to grant covenants warranting that a 
        removal, remedial, or other response action has been, or will 
        in the future be, taken with respect to property acquired in 
        the manner described in paragraph (e)(1)(A).
          ``(4) Definitions.--For purposes of subsection (e), the 
        following definitions shall apply:
                  ``(A) Federal banking or lending agency.--The term 
                `Federal banking or lending agency' means the 
                Corporation, the Resolution Trust Corporation, the 
                Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the 
                Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift 
                Supervision, a Federal Reserve Bank, a Federal Home 
                Loan Bank, the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development, the National Credit Union Administration 
                Board, the Farm Credit Administration, the Farm Credit 
                System Insurance Corporation, the Farm Credit System 
                Assistance Board, the Farmers Home Administration, the 
                Rural Electrification Administration, the Small 
                Business Administration, and any other Federal agency 
                acting in a similar capacity, in any of their 
                capacities, and their agents or appointees.
                  ``(B) Hazardous substance.--The term `hazardous 
                substance' has the same meaning as in section 101(14) 
                of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
                Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980.
                  ``(C) Release.--The term `release' has the same 
                meaning as in section 101(22) of the Comprehensive 
                Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
                of 1980, and includes the use, storage, disposal, 
                treatment, generation, or transportation of a hazardous 
                substance.
          ``(5) Savings clause.--Nothing in subsection (e) shall--
                  ``(A) affect the rights or immunities or other 
                defenses that are available under this Act or other 
                applicable law to any party, subject to the provisions 
                of this section;
                  ``(B) be construed to create any liability for any 
                party; or
                  ``(C) create a private right of action against an 
                insured depository institution or lender or against a 
                Federal banking or lending agency.''.
  (b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect upon the date of 
the enactment of this Act and shall apply to any claim against any 
lender, fiduciary, or government agency under any Federal environmental 
law that has not been finally resolved by adjudication or settlement 
before such date.
    TITLE IV--ANNUAL STUDY AND REPORT ON IMPACT ON LENDING TO SMALL 
                                BUSINESS

SEC. 401. ANNUAL STUDY AND REPORT.

  Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and annually thereafter, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, the 
Comptroller of the Currency, and the Board of Directors of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation shall jointly conduct a study and submit 
to the Congress a report on the extent to which this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act have, through reductions in regulatory 
burdens, resulted in increased lending to small businesses.
                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Financial Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995 
advances the effort begun by the 102nd Congress to remove 
unnecessary and redundant regulations imposed on the nation's 
financial institutions without affecting safety and soundness. 
Over the past 25 years, a variety of new laws and regulations 
in the areas of safety and soundness and consumer protections 
has been imposed on financial institutions. Over the course of 
time, however, some of these laws and regulations have proven 
to be duplicative and counterproductive causing bank resources 
to be dedicated to costly paperwork and compliance review 
processes instead of commercial and consumer lending. Needless 
regulations result in inefficiency and increased costs to both 
financial institutions and consumers. In addition, the added 
cost of regulation produces disintermediation--the movement of 
savings dollars from traditional federally insured institutions 
to other venues where regulatory requirements are less 
burdensome and thus less costly. Ironically, the volume of 
information required to be provided to consumers under the 
numerous Federal consumer protection laws is so overwhelming 
that consumers are frequently more confused than informed. By 
removing excessive regulation this legislation is designed to 
encourage operational efficiency and to support the 
competitiveness of financial institutions without compromising 
the safety and soundness mechanisms or consumer protections 
required to uphold the integrity of the U.S. banking system.
    The complex regulatory environment of the early 1990s 
evolved in response to a variety of problems that occurred in 
financial markets during the 1970s and 1980s, including the 
savings and loans crisis. In an effort to respond to economic 
immediacies, Congress enacted a series of statutes designed to 
improve the supervision of savings associations and to curtail 
investments and other activities that posed unacceptable risks 
to the Federal deposit insurance funds.
    While it is clear that many of the safety and soundness 
provisions enacted as a result of the financial conditions in 
the 1980s, such as those mandating strong capital requirements 
and accurate accounting standards, are necessary, other 
provisions are generally considered to be unnecessary burdens 
by regulators and the banking industry. In addition, these 
legislative actions were followed by an avalanche of 
implementing regulations that have overwhelmed the management 
of many depository institutions regardless of size.
    Other significant factors in the growth of regulatory 
burden are the numerous Federal consumer protection laws 
enacted by Congress. These statutes include the Real Estate 
Settlement Procedures Act of 1977 (RESPA), the Truth in Lending 
Act (TILA), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), the Equal 
Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act 
(FCRA), the Fair Housing Act (FHA), the Electronic Fund 
Transfer Act (EFTA), and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 
(FDCPA). Again, while the objectives of these laws may be 
worthwhile, implementation of these and other new requirements 
has increased reporting, disclosure, and recordkeeping which, 
in turn, has increased the cost of extending credit and 
offering deposit products. Moreover, experience has shown that 
inundating consumers with a countless array of documents 
written in legal, technical language generally fails to provide 
consumers with the types of useful information intended by the 
above laws.
    As a result of all of these statutory and regulatory 
developments, depository institutions today bear a heavy 
regulatory burden. Three years ago, the banking industry 
estimated that the cost of compliance was into the billions of 
dollars. Various other studies over the past few years have 
estimated that compliance with regulatory requirements imposes 
significant direct costs on banks, some portion of which is 
passed on to the consumer. At times, the burden falls 
disproportionately on insured banks and thrifts, as compared 
with other types of financial institutions. Given the increased 
competition in the financial services market from nonbank 
entities not subject to federal regulations, regulatory burdens 
should not unnecessarily place banks at a competitive 
disadvantage.
    It is also important to recognize that regulatory burden 
generally has a significantly greater impact on smaller 
institutions. For example, one-quarter of the banks supervised 
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have fewer 
than 13 employees on a full-time basis. A labor force of this 
size cannot deal with the complexity and sheer volume of 
regulatory and legislative requirements, whereas larger 
institutions can more easily integrate such requirements into 
their business operations.
    In short, the need for this legislation arises from the 
fact that the regulatory environment is too complex, the cost 
compliance is too high, and the resulting competitive 
disadvantages facing financial institutions are too great. In 
order to ensure the integrity, the competitiveness, and the 
continued success of the nation's banking system, certain 
legislative action must be taken to reduce the unnecessary 
regulatory burdens currently imposed on financial institutions.

                          Purpose and Summary

    The purpose of this legislation is to streamline, 
rationalize, and modernize the regulation of financial 
institutions and to maintain the safety and soundness of the 
nation's financial systems and necessary consumer protections. 
This threefold objective is principally achieved by removing 
unnecessary reporting, disclosure, or recordkeeping 
requirements or by making appropriate modifications thereto. By 
reducing regulatory burdens, this legislation strives to 
significantly lower the cost of compliance and to promote 
competition among all types of financial institutions both 
within and outside of the United States. At the same time, this 
legislation deliberately preserves the legislative safeguards 
already in law that pertain to safety and soundness and 
consumer protection. This legislation, ultimately, is intended 
to provide the consumer with greater choices and lower prices 
for financial products and services.

            Title I--Reductions in Government Overregulation

                 subtitle a--the home mortgage process

1. Rationalizing the home mortgage lending process

    Government overregulation of the nation's home mortgage 
lending process has resulted in higher costs, excessive 
paperwork, and consumer frustration to the detriment of both 
financial institutions and consumers. Legislation is needed to 
rationalize the regulatory framework that governs the home 
mortgage lending process in order to eliminate unnecessary 
costs, burdens, and complexity while providing more useful 
information to consumers.
    Currently, the home mortgage lending process is governed by 
the TILA and the RESPA. The TILA was enacted to enable 
consumers to shop comparatively for consumer credit by 
requiring lenders to disclose interest rates and other 
information about credit terms and costs in a uniform way. The 
TILA governs disclosures required for all consumer credit 
transactions, a uniform way. The TILA governs disclosures 
required for all consumer credit transactions, including home 
mortgages. The RESPA was enacted to ensure that consumers are 
provided with greater and more timely information on the nature 
and costs of the real estate settlement process and are 
protected from unnecessarily high settlement charges and fees.
    Under this system of dual supervision, there is 
considerable overlap in regulatory requirements, especially 
with respect to disclosure statements. Duplicative disclosure 
statements unnecessarily increase the costs of compliance and 
ultimately lessen the financial institution's ability to engage 
in mortgage lending. Moreover, redundancy in disclosure 
statements is frequently confusing to the consumer and often 
needlessly complicates the settlement process. In order to 
reduce the statutory overlap and to eliminate unnecessary 
paperwork, this legislation would transfer rulemaking authority 
relating to the disclosure provisions under the RESPA from the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the 
Federal Reserve Board, which currently has rulemaking authority 
under the TILA. Furthermore, this legislation mandates the 
Board to reconcile differences between the disclosure 
provisions found in the TILA and the RESPA, to simplify 
disclosures, including the timing thereof, and to create a 
single format for such disclosures. These changes would reduce 
compliance costs and provide more meaningful information to the 
consumer.
    The current enforcement structure with regard to 
disclosures under the RESPA and the TILA is also problematic. 
Not only do these statutes have two different mechanisms for 
providing similar information in real estate transactions, but 
they are presently interpreted by two different regulators. By 
transferring interpretive authority for RESPA disclosures to 
the Board, along with instructions to eliminate duplicative and 
unnecessary requirements, real estate transactions will be 
greatly simplified.
    All other sections of RESPA pertaining to settlement 
services, including section 8, remain under the jurisdiction of 
HUD. In light of the fact that HUD is currently not providing 
any clear and consistent regulatory guidance to settlement 
service providers under RESPA, this legislation requires HUD to 
utilize a negotiated rulemaking process provided for under the 
Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 before proceeding with any 
additional proposed and final rules under Sections 8 and 9 of 
the RESPA. Negotiated rulemaking will ensure that the concerns 
of all parties are expressed before HUD issues any rules 
regarding real estate settlement issues.
    Enforcement of the settlement service sections of RESPA are 
retained under HUD authority with regard to non-banking 
entities and are transferred to the appropriate federal banking 
agencies for banking organizations. Additionally, in situations 
where numerous enforcement agencies are involved, agencies are 
required to coordinate their enforcement activities in order to 
assure that institutions are subject to the same rules of law 
and enforcement policies.

2. Recent Truth in Lending Act litigation (``Rodash'')

    This legislation also addresses the United States Court of 
Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit's decision in Rodash v. AIB 
Mortgage Co., 16 F.3d 1142 (11th Cir. 1994), a case involving 
the TILA. The TILA requires lenders to disclose credit terms to 
borrowers in a manner that allows them to compare objectively 
various credit products. For example, the TILA requires lenders 
to characterize certain charges associated with a loan as 
``finance charges'' and requires them to aggregate all such 
charges into one ``finance charge'' to be disclosed at real 
estate closings. The TILA allows borrowers to rescind 
transactions even for technical violations of the disclosure 
provisions of the statute.
    On March 21, 1994, the court in Rodash v. AIB, ruled that 
certain taxes and fees (a $20 Federal Express delivery charge), 
including some fees that are assessed by third parties other 
than the lender, must be characterized as ``finance charges'' 
under the TILA. Because of this technical violation, the 
borrower was able to rescind the mortgage. When a mortgage is 
rescinded, the borrower is released from the mortgage lien 
leaving the lender with the unsecured loan moreover, the 
borrower is entitled to repayment of interest and all other 
non-principal payments made on the loan.
    The Eleventh Circuit's ruling has sparked numerous class 
action lawsuits against lenders who have not characterized or 
disclosed such taxes and fees as ``finance charges'' in the 
past. It is argued that Rodash could have disastrous 
consequences for both organizers of mortgage loans and the 
secondary market. The potential cost of rescinding all 
refinanced mortgages made in the last three years (the time 
allowed under TILA to exercise the rescission right) has been 
estimated to be as high as $217 billion.
    This issue was addressed by the House in the 103rd Congress 
by including the necessary corrective legislative language in a 
bill to amend the FCRA. That language, which was passed as part 
of H.R. 5178, would have expressly exempted from the definition 
of ``finance charge'' the types of taxes and fees that the 
Eleventh Circuit found objectionable. Although H.R. 5178 was 
passed by the House on November 5, 1994 by voice vote, it was 
not considered by the Senate.
    On April 4, 1995, with bipartisan support, the House under 
a suspension of the rules passed H.R. 1380, ``The Truth in 
Lending Class Action Relief Act of 1995.'' The Senate passed 
H.R. 1380 by unanimous consent on April 24, 1995. H.R. 1380 
imposes a moratorium until October 1, 1995 on certain TILA 
class action certifications, including Rodash-style class 
actions brought in connection with first liens on real property 
or dwellings that constitute a refinancing or consolidation of 
a debt.
    Again, this legislation reflects a bipartisan compromise. 
This legislation exempts a number of charges from inclusion in 
the ``finance charge'' and provides a tiered ``tolerance'' 
approach on finance charge miscalculations. The legislation 
clarifies the applicability of the three year right of 
rescission for material nondisclosure, and precludes rescission 
for certain first-lien refinances. The legislation also 
contains limitations on the liability of assignees and services 
of home mortgages. It provides retroactive relief from 
liability for certain errors in disclosures with respect to 
certain individual cases and class actions.

           subtitle b--community reinvestment act amendments

    This legislation reaffirms the Community Reinvestment Act's 
(CRA) original intent to encourage financial institutions to 
reinvest in their communities, while not imposing comprehensive 
credit allocation dictates or unnecessary burdens on banks and 
savings associations. Under the current law, the CRA requires 
federal regulatory agencies to encourage financial institutions 
to meet the credit needs of their local communities consistent 
with the safe and sound operation of such institutions.
    Institutions are examined for CRA compliance and given one 
of four ratings: (i) ``substantial noncompliance'', (ii) 
``needs to improve'', (iii) ``satisfactory'', or (iv) 
``outstanding.'' Agencies consider these ratings when 
institutions apply to charter a bank or savings association, to 
relocate or establish a deposit facility, or to merge, 
consolidate or acquire assets of another institution.
    Enacted as part of the Housing and Community Development 
Act of 1977, the CRA was seen as a way to combat urban decay 
that was blamed in part on redlining (the practice of financial 
institutions intentionally not lending to certain neighborhoods 
or parts of a community). CRA was premised on the view that 
regulated institutions have a continuing obligation to meet the 
credit needs of their local communities in exchange for deposit 
insurance and a government charter.
    This legislation is designed to respond to many of the 
concerns that have been raised about the CRA and that were not 
addressed in the new inter-agency regulations. First, the 
legislation reemphasizes the original intent of the CRA not to 
impose added regulatory burden by explicitly prohibiting 
additional recordkeeping or reporting requirements unless such 
requirements reduce regulatory burden.
    Second, recognizing the inordinate regulatory impact of CRA 
compliance on small, community institutions and the fact that 
these institutions must meet the credit needs of their 
community in order to survive, the legislation permits 
institutions with less than $250 million in assets to self-
certify compliance with the CRA in lieu of receiving an agency 
CRA evaluation. In general, banks with assets of $250 million 
or less typically do not have the resources for a full time CRA 
officer and cannot achieve the economies of scale in compliance 
efforts that billion dollar banks can achieve in developing and 
implementing CRA programs. The reasonableness of an 
institution's self-certification would be assessed during that 
institution's safety and soundness examination and would be 
based on information contained in the institution's public 
notice. Interested parties would be able to comment on an 
institution's performance and all comments would be maintained 
in the institution's public file. In addition, the legislation 
exempts an institution if it and its holding company in the 
aggregate have assets of $100 million or less from the 
requirements of the CRA. In rural communities, in particular, 
small banks lend to their community out of necessity as their 
continued existence depends upon a strong thriving community. 
In essence, small banks are already doing what the CRA 
requires, that is lending to their entire community.
    Third, for institutions with assets of $250 million or 
greater, the appropriate federal banking agency would still 
perform a full CRA evaluation of the institution. The inter-
agency regulations adopted in April would still be applicable. 
The legislation, however, further reforms the CRA for large 
institutions by establishing a new mechanism for community 
input into an institution's CRA examination and further 
provides that CRA ratings for institutions receiving a 
``satisfactory'' or ``outstanding,'' would be conclusive until 
the next examination.
    Under the present CRA system, all too often banks find that 
they do not hear from community advocates until the bank files 
a merger or acquisition application. Because of the delay and 
cost these protests add to the application process, many 
community groups have found it a highly effective method of 
``encouraging'' institutions to enter into significant lending 
agreements in exchange for dropping the protest. Evidence 
suggests that CRA protests typically result in bank-sponsored 
targeted loan programs. The banks argue that they are being 
held ``hostage'' by community groups. The regulatory system is 
so flawed that even a bank with an ``outstanding'' CRA rating 
can find its CRA record challenged at the time it files an 
application.
    This legislation, by providing a procedure for community 
groups to respond to the institution's record of meeting its 
community needs in connection with the institution's 
examination rather than at the application stage, ensures that 
examiners will focus on the community issues raised by 
interested parties and encourages continuous dialogue between 
the institutions and the communities in which they serve.
    Fourth, in addition to the community comment period being 
moved from the application process to the CRA examination 
stage, the legislation also requires that an institution's CRA 
performance be assessed as part of, and at the same time as, 
the overall evaluation of the institutions. For those 
institutions that do not receive a satisfactory or outstanding 
rating, the regulators may take into account the institution's 
CRA record when evaluation the institution's condition. In 
addition, the institution's CFA rating may be determinative of 
whether or not an institution can take advantage of other 
benefits provided in law such as the streamlined applications 
procedures. This approach is more systematic and less 
disruptive to the business of banking.
     subtitle C--Consumer Banking Reforms--the Truth in Savings Act

    Enacted in 1991, the Truth in Savings Act (TISA) was 
intended to allow consumers to make a ``meaningful comparison 
between competing claims of depository institutions with regard 
to deposit accounts.'' Currently, under the TISA, financial 
institutions are required to disclose fees, interest rates, an 
annual percentage yield (APY) and other account terms through 
schedules and periodic disclosures for all checking and 
interest-bearing accounts they offer. A bank is subject to 
civil liability provisions if it fails to follow the strict and 
complicated disclosure requirements.
    Unfortunately, the disclosure requirements under TISA have 
caused depository institutions and bank regulators more 
compliance problems than they have provided useful information 
to savers. As was noted in testimony before the Subcommittee on 
Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, it is ironic that a 
law aimed at providing consumers adequate information about 
interest rates in a simple understandable form, requires more 
than 200 pages of rules, covering 56 pages in the Federal 
Register.
    Instead of providing savers a better opportunity to compare 
``apples with apples'' when choosing among a wide array of 
savings accounts, the Act and its implementing regulations have 
limited the kinds of accounts banks can offer and created a 
situation where savers are comparing ``apples with oranges.'' A 
January 1995 Federal Reserve study indicated that the TISA has 
not enhanced consumer awareness.
    H.R. 1858 addresses these concerns by eliminating certain 
provisions of the TISA which have caused the most compliance 
problems, such as the requirement to disclose an APY. The 
legislation does maintain, however, the beneficial provisions 
of the Act which require disclosure of fees, penalties, charges 
and the simple interest rate when an account is opened and when 
there is a change in terms relating to the required 
disclosures.

          subtitle D--Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments

    The goal of fair lending laws is to ensure that credit is 
not denied based on an individual's race, national origin, sex 
or age. One way to ensure that illegal discrimination is 
eradicated is to enlist the help of financial institutions in 
identifying and correcting discriminatory behavior. This 
legislation establishes a privilege for lenders who self-test 
for compliance with the ECOA and the FHA from having such tests 
used against them in any proceeding or civil action brought 
under these Acts where the lender has identified discriminatory 
practices and has taken appropriate corrective actions. It 
further grants Federal banking regulators discretionary 
authority to refer fair lending problems to the Attorney 
General or the Secretary of HUD under certain circumstances.

              subtitle E--Consumer Leasing Act Amendments

    The purpose of this subtitle is to assure simple, 
meaningful disclosure of leasing terms to enable a consumer to 
comparison shop for leasing arrangements and to be protected 
from inaccurate and unfair leasing practices. The legislation 
instructs the Federal Reserve Board to address consumer leasing 
issues through regulation and requires the Board to publish 
model disclosure forms.

             Title II--Streamlining Government Regulations

                 subtitle A--Regulatory Approval Issues

    In general, this title builds on the regulatory relief 
effort begun in the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory 
Improvement Act of 1994, which was enacted into law in the 
103rd Congress. H.R. 1858 eliminates a number of routine, but 
costly procedures and changes a number of overlapping and 
unnecessary requirements in current law, such as prior approval 
for the establishment of a domestic branch by institutions that 
operate safely and soundly. It also establishes expedited 
procedures for bank holding companies which are available only 
to companies that are well capitalized and well managed.
    Additionally, the title also removes per-branch capital 
requirements without affecting the consolidated capital 
requirements otherwise applicable to banks and amends the 
Depository Management Interlocks Act to allow sharing of 
management officials between small institutions in situations 
in which there would be no competitive impact. Finally, the 
legislation eliminates branch applications for automated teller 
machines (ATMs) and other duplicative approval requirements 
pertaining to mergers and divestitures and investments in bank 
premises as long as the investment does not exceed 150% of 
capital.

           subtitle B--streamlining of government regulations

1. Branch closures

    The provisions included in this legislation substantially 
mirror the federal regulators' interagency policy statement on 
branch closings and would reduce regulatory burden by 
eliminating the need to give prior notice of decisions to close 
automated teller machines, to close or relocate branches that 
are within 2.5 miles of another branch of the same institution, 
and to close certain branches acquired through mergers.

2. Insider lending

    This legislation makes minor changes to requirements 
governing insider lending. Specifically, the legislation amends 
the Federal Reserve Act to allow insiders of financial 
institutions to qualify for employee-wide benefit plans offered 
by their institutions. Additionally, the legislation allows 
executive officers to be eligible for home equity loans and 
loans secured by readily marketable assets but only within 
established limitations on amounts and on competitive terms. 
The legislation also removes unnecessary restrictions on loans 
to executive officers or directors of affiliates that represent 
less than ten percent of the assets of the holding company if 
the officers or directors do not participate in a major 
policymaking role in the bank.

3. Insurance activities of national banks and bank holding companies

    The legislation includes a restriction on the power of the 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to grant new 
insurance powers without rolling back the status quo. It also 
attends the Bank Holding Company Act (BHCA) to allow 
affiliations between banks and insurance companies under a 
holding company structure in accordance with state insurance 
laws. Such affiliations would be delayed until March 30, 1997. 
Additionally, national banks would be permitted to sell 
insurance within empowerment zones, subject to state 
regulation.

                      Title III--Lender Liability

    Title III provides clarity to the issue of liability of 
lenders, fiduciaries, and government agencies under Federal 
environmental laws. This clarification resolves the uncertainty 
of existing exemptions promulgated by the Environmental 
Protection Agency and, subsequently, overturned by judicial 
determination. The Court in United States v. Fleet Factors 
Corporation, 901 F.2d 1550 (11th Cir. 1990), cert. denied, 498 
U.S. 1046 (1991) decided that a lender could be held liable for 
the costs of any corrective or response action when the lender 
has the mere capacity to influence the borrower's treatment of 
hazardous waste. In addition, in United States v. Maryland Bank 
& Trusts Co., 632 F. Supp. 573 (D. Md. 1986), the Court held a 
lender liable for foreclosing on a contaminated property and 
later disposing of the property through sale. As a result of 
such judicial opinions, lenders are hesitant to make loans to 
certain borrowers and to foreclose on properties. Therefore, 
Title III addresses the issue of how and to what extent a 
lender can be held under environmental laws.
    Besides providing clarity to the liability issue, Title III 
provides encouragement and incentives to lenders and 
fiduciaries to protect the properties through environmental 
inspections and clean ups.
                                Hearings

    The Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer 
Credit held two days of hearings on the CRA.
    Testifying before the Subcommittee on March 8, 1995 were: 
The Honorable Joseph P. Kennedy II, U.S. House of 
Representatives; The Honorable Ricki Helfer, Chairman, Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation; The Honorable Eugene A. Ludwig, 
Comptroller of the Currency; The Honorable Jonathan L. 
Fiechter, Acting Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; The 
Honorable Lawrence Lindsey, Governor, Federal Reserve System; 
Mr. William A. Niskanen, Chairman, the Cato Institute; Ms. Lucy 
H. Griffin, Compliance Management Services; Ms. Cathy Bessant, 
Senior Vice President, Nations Bank; Mr. Warren Traiger, CRA 
Practitioner; Mr. Ned Brown, Financial Modeling Concepts.
    Testifying before the Subcommittee on March 9, 1995 were: 
Mr. James Culberson, Jr., Chairman, First National Bank and 
Trust Company; Mr. Tony Abbate, Chairman, Marketing Committee, 
Independent Bankers Association; Mr. Mark Milligan, America's 
Community Bankers; Mr. Benson F. Roberts, Vice President for 
Policy, Local Initiatives Support Corporation; Ms. Michelle 
Meier, Counsel, Government Affairs, Consumers Union; Ms. Gale 
Cincotta, Chairperson, National People's Action; Mr. John E. 
Taylor, President and C.E.O., National Community Reinvestment 
Coalition; Mr. Allen Fishbein, General Counsel, Center for 
Community Change; Rev. Charles R. Stith, National President, 
Organization for a New Equality.
    The Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer 
Credit held four days of hearings on legislation to reduce the 
regulatory burdens being imposed on financial institutions, 
including H.R. 1362, introduced by Representative Bereuter.
    Testifying before the Subcommittee on May 18, 1995, were: 
The Honorable Richard Carnell, Assistant Secretary of Financial 
Institutions, Department of the Treasury; The Honorable Susan 
B. Phillips, Governor, Federal Reserve Board; The Honorable 
Ricki Helfer, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; 
The Honorable Eugene A. Ludwig, Comptroller of the Currency; 
The Honorable Jonathan L. Fiechter, Acting Director, Office of 
Thrift Supervision; The Honorable Nicholas P. Retsinas, 
Assistant Secretary of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development; The Honorable Catherine Ghiglieri, Texas Banking 
Commissioner, representing the Conference of State Bank 
Supervisors.
    Testifying before the Subcommittee on May 23, 1995 were: 
Mr. James Culberson, Jr., American Bankers Association; Mr. 
Richard L. Mount, President, Independent Bankers Association of 
America; Mr. David Carson, America's Community Bankers; Mr. Ron 
Snellings, National Association of Federal Credit Unions; Ms. 
Nancy Pierce, Credit Union National Association, Inc.; Mr. H. 
Jay Sarles, Consumer Bankers Association; Mr. Alfred Pollard, 
Bankers Roundtable; Mr. John Davey, Mortgage Bankers 
Association of America; Mr. Rick Adams, National Association of 
Realtors; Mr. Larry Swank, National Association of Home 
Builders; Mr. Hank Williams, Real Estate Services Providers 
Council; Mr. Parker Kennedy, American Land Title Association.
    Testifying before the Subcommittee on May 24, 1995 were: 
The Honorable Maxine Waters, U.S. House of Representatives; Mr. 
Bart Harvey, The Enterprise Foundation; Dr. Francine Justa, 
Executive Director, Neighborhood Housing Services of New York 
City; Dr. Steven Roberts, Regulatory Advisory Practice, KPMG 
Peat Marwick LLP; Dr. Robert Edelstein, Walter A. Haas School 
of Business, University of California at Berkeley; Ms. Michelle 
Meier, Government Affairs Counsel, Consumers Union; Ms. Frances 
Smith, Director, Consumers Alert; Ms. Madeline Houston, Passaic 
County Legal Aid; Ms. Tess Canja, American Association of 
Retired Persons; Ms. Maude Hurd, ACORN.
    Testifying before the Subcommittee on June 8, 1995 were: 
Mr. Robert Elliott, President and C.E.O., Household Finance 
Corporation on behalf of the American Financial Services 
Association; Mr. Harley Bergmeyer, President, Saline State 
Bank; Mr. Wayne Holsted, Chairman and Chief Counsel, Northwest 
Title and Escrow; Mr. Eric Carlsen, Senior Vice President, 
Frontier Savings Bank; Mr. Richard Roberto, Vice President, 
European American Bank; Mr. Stanley Lowe, First Representative, 
Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group.

                   Committee Consideration and Votes

                      (Rule XI, Clause 2(l)(2)(B))

    On June 21, 22, 27, and 28, 1995, the Committee met in open 
session to mark up regulatory burden relief legislation. The 
Committee considered as original text for purposes of amendment 
a Committee Print which incorporated the provisions of H.R. 
1362 as reported by the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit and a provision placing a moratorium on the 
authority of the Comptroller of the Currency to allow new 
insurance powers for national banks.
    During the markup, the Committee approved, by recorded 
vote, 18 amendments to the Committee Print. The Committee also 
defeated, by recorded vote, 14 amendments. The following 
amendments were adopted by recorded vote.
    An amendment offered by Mrs. Roukema and Mr. Bereuter 
making a number of clarifications to Title I of the Committee 
Print. Pages 1-9 of the amendment which make a number of 
changes to the RESPA and the TILA, including the transfer of 
rulemaking authority for all disclosure aspects of the RESPA to 
the Federal Reserve Board, passed 27-11.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. LaFalce
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. Vento
Mrs. Roukema                        Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Bereuter                        Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Roth                            Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. Wynn
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Watt
Mr. King                            Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Bentsen
Mr. Weller
Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Bono
Mr. Ney
Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Barr
Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. Stockman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. Orton

    Page 10 of the amendment which requires federal bank 
regulators to ensure that their examiners consult with each 
other and to consider appointing an examiner in charge for all 
agency exams passed 38-0.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach
Mr. McCollum
Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Roth
Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Lazio
Mr. Bachus
Mr. Castle
Mr. King
Mr. Royce
Mr. Weller
Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Bono
Mr. Ney
Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Barr
Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. Stockman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. LaFalce
Mr. Vento
Mr. Orton
Mrs. Maloney
Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Watt
Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Bentsen

    Pages 11-12 of the amendment which clarify the effective 
date of the amendments made to the TISA passed 39-0.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach
Mr. McCollum
Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Roth
Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Lazio
Mr. Bachus
Mr. Castle
Mr. King
Mr. Royce
Mr. Weller
Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Bono
Mr. Ney
Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Barr
Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. LaFalce
Mr. Vento
Mr. Orton
Mr. Sanders
Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Gutierrez
Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Velazquez
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Watt
Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Bentsen

    Page 13 of the amendment which clarifies the burden of 
proof for unauthorized transfers remain on the creditors passed 
30-10.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. LaFalce
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. Vento
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Sanders
Mr. Bereuter                        Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Roth                            Mr. Gutierrez
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. Wynn
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. King                            Mr. Watt
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Lucas
Mr. Weller
Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Bono
Mr. Ney
Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Barr
Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Orton
Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Bentsen

    Page 14 of the amendment which makes a number of changes 
concerning consumer leases, including the placing of statutory 
penalties for creditors under the Consumer Credit Protection 
Act passed 41-0.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach
Mr. McCollum
Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Roth
Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Lazio
Mr. Bachus
Mr. Castle
Mr. King
Mr. Royce
Mr. Lucas
Mr. Weller
Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Bono
Mr. Ney
Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Barr
Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. LaFalce
Mr. Vento
Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Orton
Mr. Sanders
Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Gutierrez
Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Watt
Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Bentsen

    An amendment offered by Mr. Roth which prevents the CRA 
regulations from requiring financial institutions from making 
loans or other agreements to an uncreditworthy person, 
business, organization, or any other entity that would 
jeopardize safety and soundness of the subject lending 
institutions was passed 25-13.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. Ney
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. Fox
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Watts
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. LaFalce
Mr. Roth                            Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Mr. Mfume
Mr. Bachus                          Ms. Waters
Mr. King                            Mr. Sanders
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Weller                          Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Hayworth                        Mr. Wynn
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Bono                            Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Barr
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Stockman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. Vento
Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Watt
Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Bentsen
    Present: Mr. Heineman.

    An amendment offered by Mr. Weller which strikes the 
requirement that regulated financial institutions with $100 
million or less in assets be outside of a metropolitan 
statistical area in order to be exempt from CRA examination 
requirements was passed 23-16.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. Bereuter
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. Vento
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Schumer
Mr. Roth                            Mr. Frank
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Bachus                          Ms. Waters
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Sanders
Mr. King                            Mr. Gutierrez
Mr. Royce                           Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Weller                          Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Hayworth                        Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Wynn
Mr. Bono                            Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Ney                             Mr. Watt
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Barr                            Mr. Bentsen
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. Stockman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly

    An amendment offered by Mr. McCollum which strikes 
assessment of an institution's CRA record during the 
applications process for a deposit facility and instead 
requires the CRA record to be included in the assessment of 
overall evaluation of the condition of the institution was 
passed 25-17.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. Vento
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. Frank
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Roth                            Ms. Waters
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. Orton
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Sanders
Mr. Castle                          Mrs. Maloney
Mr. King                            Mr. Gutierrez
Mr. Royce                           Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Lucas                           Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Weller                          Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Hayworth                        Mr. Wynn
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Bono                            Mr. Watt
Mr. Ney                             Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Bentsen
Mr. Barr
Mr. Cremeans
Mr Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. Stockman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mr. Kelly

    An amendment offered by Mr. Schumer, Ms. Maloney and Mr. 
Vento which deletes the provision that modified liability 
provisions under the EFTA for the unauthorized use of 
electronic fund transfers was passed 24-18.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Heineman                        Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Stockman                        Mr. Lazio
Mr. Watts                           Mr. Bachus
Mrs. Kelly                          Mr. Castle
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. King
Mr. Vento                           Mr. Lucas
Mr. Schumer                         Mr. Weller
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Bono
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Ney
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Barr
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. Chrysler
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Fox
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Watt
Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Bentsen

    An amendment offered by Mr. Schumer and Mr. Vento which 
eliminates the provisions that modified the liability 
provisions under the TILA for the unauthorized use of credit 
cards was passed 23-21.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. McCollum
Mr. Royce                           Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Heineman                        Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Stockman                        Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Watts                           Mr. Lazio
Mrs. Kelly                          Mr. Bachus
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Castle
Mr. Vento                           Mr. King
Mr. Schumer                         Mr. Lucas
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Weller
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Hayworth
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Bono
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Ney
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. Ehrlich
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Barr
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Chrysler
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Fox
Mr. Fields, (LA)                    Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Frank
Mr. Hinchey                         Mr. Orton
Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Bentsen

    An amendment to Mr. Leach's amendment which strikes a 
requirement that would have required agency concurrence in 
Department of Justice enforcement actions under the fair 
lending cases was passed 24-20.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. Leach
Mr. Ney                             Mr. McCollum
Mr. Fox                             Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Watts                           Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mrs. Kelly                          Mr. Lazio
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Bachus
Mr. Vento                           Mr. King
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Royce
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Lucas
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Weller
Mr. Mfume                           Mr. Hayworth
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Orton                           Mr. Bono
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Ehrlich
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. Barr
Mr. Gutierrez                       Mr. Chrysler
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Heineman
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Stockman
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watt
Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Bentsen

    An amendment offered by Mr. Hinchey which requires that in 
order to receive protection under the ECOA, credit scoring 
systems cannot have a disparate impact on a protected class 
unless the criterion used is justified by business necessity 
and a no less discriminatory alternative is available was 
passed 29-17.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. McCollum
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. Lazio
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Bachus
Mr. Weller                          Mr. King
Mr. Fox                             Mr. Royce
Mr. LoBiondo                        Mr. Lucas
Mr. Watts                           Mr. Hayworth
Mrs. Kelly                          Mr. Metcalf
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Bono
Mr. Vento                           Mr. Ney
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Kanjorski                       Mr. Barr
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Mfume                           Mr. Heineman
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Stockman
Mr. Orton
Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Gutierrez
Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Watt
Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Bentsen

    An amendment offered by Mr. Hinchey which strikes the 
prohibition in the legislation which would have restricted the 
use of disparate impact evidence in enforcing fair lending laws 
was passed 32-15.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. McCollum
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. Bachus
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. King
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Royce
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Lucas
Mr. Fox                             Mr. Weller
Mr. Heineman                        Mr. Hayworth
Mr. LoBiondo                        Mr. Bono
Mr. Watts                           Mr. Ney
Mrs. Kelly                          Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Barr
Mr. Vento                           Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Kanjorski                       Mr. Stockman
Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Flake
Mr. Mfume
Ms. Waters
Mr. Orton
Mr. Sanders
Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Gutierrez
Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Watt
Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Bentsen

    An amendment offered by Mr. Castle which makes 
clarifications to the OCC insurance moratorium language 
contained in Mr. Leach's amendment was passed 40-2.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. McCollum
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Roth
Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Lazio
Mr. Bachus
Mr. Castle
Mr. King
Mr. Royce
Mr. Lucas
Mr. Hayworth
Mr. metcalf
Mr. Bono
Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Barr
Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. Stockman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. Gonzalez
Mr. LaFalce
Mr. Vento
Mr. Schumer
Mr. Frank
Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Mfume
Ms. Waters
Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Gutierrez
Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Watt
Mr. Bentsen

    An amendment offered by Mr. Baker, (LA), which amends 
section (4)(c)(8) of the BHCA to allow bank holding companies 
to own insurance companies in accordance with state insurance 
laws was passed 36-12.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Leach
Mr. Roth                            Mr. McCollum
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. Weller
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Metcalf
Mr. King                            Mr. Ney
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Lucas                           Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Bono                            Mrs. Kelly
Mr. Barr                            Ms. Waters
Mr. Chrysler                        Mr. Sanders
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. Stockman
Mr. Watts
Mr. Gonzalez
Mr. LaFalce
Mr. Vento
Mr. Schumer
Mr. Frank
Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Flake
Mr. Mfume
Mr. Orton
Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Gutierrez
Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Watt
Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Bentsen

    An amendment offered by Mr. McCollum which strikes the 
provision putting restrictions on the ability of outside 
counsel and accountants to serve on a financial institution's 
board of directors was passed 27-17.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. Gonzalez
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. LaFalce
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Vento
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. Schumer
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Flake
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Mfume
Mr. King                            Ms. Waters
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Orton
Mr. Lucas                           Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Weller                          Mr. Gutierrez
Mr. Hayworth                        Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Bono                            Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Ney                             Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Bentsen
Mr. Barr
Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. Wynn
Mr. Watt

    The following amendments were defeated by recorded vote.
    An amendment offered by Mr. Barrett, (WI), to Mr. Roth's 
amendment which strikes reference to uncreditworthy persons was 
defeated 16-25.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Leach
Mr. Vento                           Mr. McCollum
Mr. Kanjorski                       Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Mfume                           Mr. Roth
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Lazio
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Bachus
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Castle
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Royce
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Lucas
Mr. Fields, (LA)                    Mr. Weller
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Hinchey                         Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Ackerman                        Mr. Bono
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Ney
                                    Mr. Ehrlich
                                    Mr. Barr
                                    Mr. Cremeans
                                    Mr. Fox
                                    Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. Stockman
                                    Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly

    An amendment offered by Mr. Kennedy which strikes the CRA 
subtitle was defeated 18-26.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Gonzalez                        Mr. Leach
Mr. Vento                           Mr. McCollum
Mr. Frank                           Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Kanjorski                       Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Roth
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Lazio
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Bachus
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Castle
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. King
Mr. Gutierrez                       Mr. Royce
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Lucas
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Weller
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Fields, (LA)                    Mr. Bono
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Hinchey                         Mr. Barr
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Chrysler
                                    Mr. Cremeans
                                    Mr. Fox
                                    Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. Stockman
                                    Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly
                                    Mr. Orton

    An amendment offered by Mr. McCollum which raises the level 
of CRA self-certification from $25,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 
was defeated 11-32.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. Leach
Mr. Roth                            Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Lazio
Mr. King                            Mr. Castle
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Weller                          Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Bono                            Mr. Ney
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Barr                            Mr. Heineman
Mr. Fox                             Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly
                                    Mr. Vento
                                    Mr. Schumer
                                    Mr. Frank
                                    Mr. Kanjorski
                                    Mr. Kennedy
                                    Mr. Flake
                                    Mr. Mfume
                                    Ms. Waters
                                    Mr. Orton
                                    Mr. Sanders
                                    Mr. Gutierrez
                                    Ms. Roybal-Allard
                                    Mr. Barrett, (WI)
                                    Ms. Velazquez
                                    Mr. Wynn
                                    Mr. Fields, (LA)
                                    Mr. Watt
                                    Mr. Hinchey
                                    Mr. Bensten

    An amendment offered by Mr. McCollum which amends the CRA 
to bring it back to its original purpose by making redlining 
enforceable under the ECOA and the FHA was defeated 11-26.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. Leach
Mr. Roth                            Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Bereuter
Mr. King                            Mr. Lazio
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Castle
Mr. Lucas                           Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Hayworth                        Mr. Ney
Mr. Bono                            Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Fox
Mr. Barr                            Mr. Heineman
Mr. Chrysler                        Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mr. Vento
                                    Mr. Frank
                                    Mr. Kanjorski
                                    Mr. Kennedy
                                    Mr. Waters
                                    Mr. Orton
                                    Ms. Roybal-Allard
                                    Mr. Barrett, (WI)
                                    Ms. Velazquez
                                    Mr. Wynn
                                    Mr. Fields, (LA)
                                    Mr. Watt
                                    Mr. Hinchey
                                    Mr. Bensten

    An amendment offered by Mr. Fields, (LA), which provides 
for ``point of transaction'' fee disclosures for all automated 
teller machine transactions was passed by a Voice Vote. A 
motion to reconsider the amendment was approved 18-17.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. Bachus
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Roth                            Mr. LaFalce
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. Vento
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Schumer
Mr. King                            Mr. Frank
Mr. Royce                           Ms. Waters
Mr. Lucas                           Mr. Orton
Mr. Weller                          Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Hayworth                        Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Bono                            Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Wynn
Mr. Cremeans                        Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Heineman                        Mr. Watt
Mr. Stockman                        Mr. Hinchey
Mr. LoBiondo                        Mr. Ackerman
Mrs. Kelly                            

    Mr. Fields' amendment was then defeated by a roll call vote 
of 21-21.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Leach
Mr. Stockman                        Mrs. Roukema
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Vento                           Mr. Roth
Mr. Schumer                         Mr. Lazio
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Castle
Mr. Kanjorski                       Mr. King
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Royce
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Lucas
Mr. Orton                           Mr. Weller
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Hayworth
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. Metcalf
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Bono
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Ney
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Barr
Mr. Fields, (LA)                    Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Hinchey                         Mr. Heineman
Mr. Ackerman                        Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Bentsen                         Mrs. Kelly

    An amendment offered by Mr. Kennedy which strikes the 
affiliate information sharing provision of the legislation was 
defeated 19-23.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Gonzalez                        Mr. Leach
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. McCollum
Mr. Vento                           Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Schumer                         Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Bachus
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Castle
Mr. Flake                           Mr. King
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Royce
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Lucas
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. Weller
Mr. Gutierrez                       Mr. Hayworth
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Bono
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Ney
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Barr
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Hinchey                         Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Ackerman                        Mr. Fox
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly
                                    Mr. Orton

    An amendment offered by Ms. Waters which imposes a two-year 
moratorium on bank fee increases for accounts with an average 
daily balance below $3,000 was defeated 4-30.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Leach
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. McCollum
Mr. Gutierrez                       Mrs. Roukema
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Bereuter
                                    Mr. Baker, (LA)
                                    Mr. Lazio
                                    Mr. Bachus
                                    Mr. Castle
                                    Mr. King
                                    Mr. Royce
                                    Mr. Weller
                                    Mr. Hayworth
                                    Mr. Metcalf
                                    Mr. Bono
                                    Mr. Ney
                                    Mr. Ehrlich
                                    Mr. Barr
                                    Mr. Fox
                                    Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. Stockman
                                    Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly
                                    Mr. Frank
                                    Mr. Orton
                                    Mr. Barrett, (WI)
                                    Mr. Wynn
                                    Mr. Watt
                                    Mr. Hinchey
                                    Mr. Ackerman

    An amendment offered by Mr. Bentsen which changes the CRA 
rating system was defeated 15-22.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Vento                           Mr. Leach
Mr. Frank                           Mr. McCollum
Mr. Kanjorski                       Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Bereuter
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Lazio
Mr. Orton                           Mr. Bachus
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Castle
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. King
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Royce
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Lucas
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Fields, (LA)                    Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Bono
Mr. Hinchey                         Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Barr
                                    Mr. Cremeans
                                    Mr. Fox
                                    Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. Stockman
                                    Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly

    An amendment offered by Mr. Schumer and Mrs. Maloney which 
deletes provisions in the legislation modifying the current 
restrictions on insider lending was defeated 15-26.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Leach
Mr. Vento                           Mr. McCollum
Mr. Schumer                         Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Mfume                           Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Orton                           Mr. Lazio
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Bachus
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. Castle
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. King
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Royce
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Lucas
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Weller
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Hinchey                         Mr. Metcalf
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Bono
                                    Mr. Ney
                                    Mr. Ehrlich
                                    Mr. Barr
                                    Mr. Chrysler
                                    Mr. Cremeans
                                    Mr. Fox
                                    Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. Stockman
                                    Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly

    An amendment offered by Mr. Schumer and Mrs. Maloney which 
deletes the provision in the legislation modifying the current 
statutory requirement that all members of bank audit committees 
be independent directors was defeated 20-20.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. McCollum
Mr. Lazio                           Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Roth
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Heineman                        Mr. Bachus
Mrs. Kelly                          Mr. King
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Lucas
Mr. Vento                           Mr. Weller
Mr. Schumer                         Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Mfume                           Mr. Bono
Mr. Orton                           Mr. Ney
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Gutierrez                       Mr. Barr
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Cremeans
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Fox
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Stockman
Mr. Watt                            Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Watts

    An amendment offered by Mr. Vento which strikes section 234 
of the legislation modifying the culpability standards for 
outside directors was defeated 17-24.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. McCollum
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Gonzalez                        Mr. Roth
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Vento                           Mr. Lazio
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Bachus
Mr. Kanjorski                       Mr. Castle
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. King
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Royce
Mr. Orton                           Mr. Lucas
Mrs. Maloney                        Mr. Weller
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Bono
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Ney
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Hinchey                         Mr. Barr
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Chrysler
                                    Mr. Cremeans
                                    Mr. Fox
                                    Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. Stockman
                                    Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly

    An amendment offered by Mr. Kennedy which strikes section 
238 concerning second mortgages was defeated by 21-23.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. McCollum
Mr. Lazio                           Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Heineman                        Mr. Roth
Mr. LoBiondo                        Mr. Baker, (LA)
Mr. Gonzalez                        Mr. Bachus
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Castle
Mr. Vento                           Mr. King
Mr. Frank                           Mr. Royce
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Lucas
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Weller
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. Bono
Mr. Gutierrez                       Mr. Ney
Ms. Roybal-Allard                   Mr. Ehrlich
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Barr
Ms. Velazquez                       Mr. Chrysler
Mr. Wynn                            Mr. Cremeans
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Fox
Mr. Ackerman                        Mr. Stockman
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly
                                    Mr. Orton

    An amendment offered by Mr. Bachus which makes a number of 
reforms to the FDCPA was defeated 19-26.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. McCollum
Mr. Roth                            Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Mr. Royce
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. Fox
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Watts
Mr. King                            Mrs. Kelly
Mr. Lucas                           Mr. Gonzalez
Mr. Weller                          Mr. LaFalce
Mr. Hayworth                        Mr. Vento
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Schumer
Mr. Bono                            Mr. Frank
Mr. Ney                             Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Mfume
Mr. Barr                            Ms. Waters
Mr. Chrysler                        Mr. Orton
Mr. Cremeans                        Mr. Sanders
Mr. Heineman                        Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Stockman                        Mr. Gutierrez
                                    Ms. Roybal-Allard
                                    Mr. Barrett, (WI)
                                    Ms. Velazquez
                                    Mr. Wynn
                                    Mr. Watt
                                    Mr. Hinchey
                                    Mr. Bentsen

    Present: Mr. Leach.
    An amendment offered by Mr. Vento which was an amendment in 
the nature of a substitute was defeated 13-24.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. LaFalce                         Mr. Leach
Mr. Vento                           Mr. McCollum
Mr. Frank                           Mrs. Roukema
Mr. Kennedy                         Mr. Bereuter
Mr. Flake                           Mr. Roth
Mr. Mfume                           Mr. Baker, (LA)
Ms. Waters                          Mr. Bachus
Mr. Sanders                         Mr. King
Mr. Gutierrez                       Mr. Royce
Mr. Barrett, (WI)                   Mr. Lucas
Mr. Watt                            Mr. Weller
Mr. Ackerman                        Mr. Hayworth
Mr. Bentsen                         Mr. Metcalf
                                    Mr. Bono
                                    Mr. Ney
                                    Mr. Ehrlich
                                    Mr. Barr
                                    Mr. Chrysler
                                    Mr. Cremeans
                                    Mr. Fox
                                    Mr. Heineman
                                    Mr. LoBiondo
                                    Mr. Watts
                                    Mrs. Kelly

    After adopting the Committee Print, as amended, H.R. 1858 
was called up for committee consideration. A motion to strike 
everything after the enacting clause in H.R. 1858 and insert in 
lieu thereof the Committee Print, as amended, was approved by 
Voice Vote.
    A motion to adopt H.R. 1858 and favorably report H.R. 1858, 
as amended, to the House was approved 27-23.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. Gonzalez
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. LaFalce
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Vento
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. Schumer
Mr. Roth                            Mr. Frank
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Lazio                           Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Flake
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Mfume
Mr. King                            Ms. Waters
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Orton
Mr. Lucas                           Mr. Sanders
Mr. Weller                          Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Hayworth                        Mr. Gutierrez
Mr. Metcalf                         Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Bono                            Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Ney                             Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Wynn
Mr. Barr                            Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Chrysler                        Mr. Watt
Mr. Cremeans                        Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Fox                             Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Heineman                        Mr. Bentsen
Mr. Stockman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly

    A motion to give power to the Chair to request to go to 
conference was approved 28-20.
        YEAS                          NAYS
Mr. Leach                           Mr. Gonzalez
Mr. McCollum                        Mr. Vento
Mrs. Roukema                        Mr. Kanjorski
Mr. Bereuter                        Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Roth                            Mr. Flake
Mr. Baker, (LA)                     Mr. Mfume
Mr. Lazio                           Ms. Waters
Mr. Bachus                          Mr. Orton
Mr. Castle                          Mr. Sanders
Mr. King                            Mrs. Maloney
Mr. Royce                           Mr. Gutierrez
Mr. Lucas                           Ms. Roybal-Allard
Mr. Weller                          Mr. Barrett, (WI)
Mr. Hayworth                        Ms. Velazquez
Mr. Metcalf                         Mr. Wynn
Mr. Bono                            Mr. Fields, (LA)
Mr. Ney                             Mr. Watt
Mr. Ehrlich                         Mr. Hinchey
Mr. Barr                            Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Chrysler                        Mr. Bentsen
Mr. Cremeans                        Mr. Fox
Mr. Heineman
Mr. Stockman
Mr. LoBiondo
Mr. Watts
Mrs. Kelly
Mr. LaFalce

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(A) of rule XI of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee reports 
that the findings and recommendations of the Committee, based 
on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of Rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

         Committee on Government Reform and Oversight Findings

    No findings and recommendations of the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight were received as referred to in 
clause 2(l)(3)(D) of rule XI and clause 4(c)(2) of rule X of 
the Rules of the House of Representatives.

               New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures

    Clause 2(l)(3)(B) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does 
not provide new budgetary authority or increased tax 
expenditures.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    The cost estimate pursuant to Clause 2(l)(3)(C) of rule XI, 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and Section 403 of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been requested, but 
had not been prepared as of the filing of Part I of this 
report. The estimate will be filed at a future date.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                    Congressional Accountability Act

    The reporting requirement under section 102(b)(3) of the 
Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1) is inapplicable 
because this legislation does not relate to terms and 
conditions of employment or access to public services or 
accommodations.

                     Inflationary Impact Statement

    Pursuant to clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee estimates that H.R. 
1858 will have no significant inflationary impact on prices and 
costs in the national economy.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

            TITLE I--REDUCTION IN GOVERNMENT OVERREGULATION

                 Subtitle A--The Home Mortgage Process

section 101. regulatory authority over disclosures and escrow accounts 
            under respa transferred to federal reserve board

    Section 101 transfers rulemaking authority for all 
disclosure provisions of the RESPA from HUD to the Federal 
Reserve Board but maintains at HUD rulemaking authority 
regarding certain real estate settlement services under the 
RESPA including those prohibiting kickbacks and unearned fees. 
This section also clarifies that the purpose of RESPA is to 
effect changes in the residential real estate settlement 
process that will result in the elimination of kickbacks or 
referral fees without directly regulating settlement service 
prices or wages paid to bona fide employees that are not 
designed as a subterfuge to facilitate kickbacks among 
affiliated companies. Section 101 also revises the rulemaking 
process under the RESPA to incorporate negotiated rulemaking 
procedures. The section distributes administrative enforcement 
of Section 8 and 9 of RESPA among HUD (for non-financial 
institutions) and the appropriate federal financial institution 
regulators (for financial entities); enforcement authority for 
disclosure requirements is shared among the Federal Reserve 
Board and the Federal depository institution regulators.
    In addition, the section requires interagency cooperation 
in establishing uniform penalties and enforcement guidelines. 
The Federal Reserve Board is given the authority to determine 
the appropriate regulator in cases of more than one potential 
regulator. The Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision 
(OTS) is given this same authority for savings and loan holding 
companies. In cases of joint ventures between a non-banking 
entity and a banking entity, the section provides that the 
banking entity's regulator will be the regulator of the joint 
venture. The section provides that liability for criminal 
penalties under the RESPA exists only for wilful violations 
(current law allows criminal penalties for unintentional 
violations). The section redesignates ``Controlled Business 
Arrangements'' as ``Affiliated Business Arrangements.''

  section 102. simplification and unification of disclosures required 
             under respa and tila for mortgage transactions

    Section 102 directs the Federal Reserve Board to eliminate 
duplicative disclosure requirements that require unnecessary, 
confusing and costly paperwork which obscures important 
consumer information. This section requires the Federal Reserve 
Board to take swift action in this area to (1) simplify 
disclosures provided under RESPA and TILA, including the timing 
of the disclosures, and (2) provide a single format for RESPA 
and TILA disclosures. In the event it is necessary to adopt 
regulations to implement the provisions of this section, the 
Board is required to publish such proposed regulations within 
three months of the date of enactment of this legislation.

   section 103. increased regulatory flexibility under the truth in 
                              lending act

    Section 103 (a) and (b) grants the Board statutory 
authority to exempt various transactions from coverage under 
TILA. The Board is directed to exempt from the TILA any class 
of transaction for which coverage under the TILA does not 
provide a measurable benefit to consumers in the form of useful 
information or protection. The Board is encouraged to exercise 
its discretionary authority granted under Sections 102 and 103 
of H.R. 1858 to reduce the regulatory burdens and costs 
associated with the credit-granting process.
    section 104. reductions in respa regulatory burdens; clarifying 
                               amendments

    Section 104 amends the RESPA to require disclosure at the 
time of application for a loan whether servicing of the loan 
may be assigned, sold or transferred. It also eliminates 
subordinate mortgages from RESPA coverage and clarifies that 
business loans are exempt from the RESPA.

         section 105. disclosures for adjustable rate mortgages

    Section 105 provides financial institutions with options 
for disclosing information regarding the impact of changes in 
interest payments under adjustable rate mortgages.
    Section 105 also adds a new paragraph to section 128(b) of 
the TILA concerning the honoring of lock-in promises.

                      section 106. certain charges

    This section clarifies whether certain fees should be 
included or excluded in the calculation of the finance charge 
under the TILA.
    (a) Third Party Fees.--This section provides that fees 
imposed by the closing agent should be excluded from the 
finance charge when the creditor does not expressly require 
their imposition or the services provided and the creditor does 
not retain the charges. Settlement agents frequently incur 
costs that they pass on to consumers without the creditor's 
knowledge or retention of the specific charge; one common 
example is courier fees. Creditors exercise little, if any, 
control over settlement agents' charges.
    (b) Mortgage Broker Fees.--This section, which applies to 
transactions entered into after the date of enactment, 
clarifies that borrower-paid mortgage broker fees will be 
included in the finance charge. This bright line rule 
eliminates a review of such factors as whether a borrower may 
or may not obtain more favorable loan terms or more timely loan 
funding using a broker rather than applying directly to the 
creditor for a loan. Lender-paid broker fees are not included 
in the finance charge because they are not paid by the 
borrower; only those charges which the borrower actually pays 
are included in the finance charge.
    (c) Debt Cancellation.--Section 106(c) currently pertains 
to the treatment of certain installment sale contracts or 
leases under the TILA. Under subsection 106(c) of this 
legislation, charges or premiums for such contracts must be 
included in the finance charge unless the creditor makes a 
clear and specific written statement to the borrower that sets 
forth the cost of the contract and states that the borrower may 
choose the person from whom he or she obtains coverage. This 
treatment applies to contracts involving insurance or any 
voluntary insurance product in connection with any consumer 
credit transaction that provides protections against loss of or 
damage to property or against part or all of the debtor's 
liability for amounts in excess of the value of the collateral 
securing the debtor's obligation, or against liability arising 
out of the ownership or use of the property.
    (d) Taxes on Security Instruments or evidences of 
Indebtedness.--Section 106(d) of the TILA currently allows 
creditors to exclude from the finance charge fees imposed by 
law for perfecting security interests related to the credit 
transaction, such as filing fees for recording the security 
instrument. Some states impose taxes on the indebtedness or on 
the documents evidencing the indebtedness or granting the 
security interest, commonly referred to as intangible taxes. 
This legislation provides that intangible taxes may be excluded 
from the finance charge when the tax must be paid before the 
creditor can perfect its security interest.
    (e) Preparation of Loan Documents.--Section 106(e) of the 
TILA currently excludes from the finance charge specific items 
that are regularly incurred when credit is secured by an 
interest in real property, such as appraisal fees, title 
examinations and document preparation. The Official Staff 
Commentary to Regulation Z explains that a lump sum charged for 
conducting or attending a closing ``is excluded from the 
finance charge if the charge is primarily for services related 
to'' the items excluded by section 106(e). This legislation 
clarifies that a closing fee that may also cover the incidental 
services performed at the closing is not a finance charge.
    (f) Fees Relating to Pest Infestations, Inspections, and 
Hazards.--Currently, section 106(e) of the TILA excludes 
appraisal fees incurred in connection with a real estate 
mortgage transaction from the finance charge. Appraisal-related 
fees, for such items as termite reports, building inspections 
or flood hazard assessments, are also incurred in evaluating 
potential risks to the value of the real property securing the 
transaction both before and after extending credit. The same 
reasoning that excludes appraisal fees from the finance charge 
when the credit is secured by real estate should apply to these 
fees. This legislation clarifies that fees for appraisal-type 
services should be excludable from the finance charge, both 
when the service is originally provided prior to settlement and 
for subsequent maintenance or verification services after 
settlement.
    (g) Ensuring Finance Charges Reflect Cost of Credit.--
Section 106(f) of this legislation directs the Federal Reserve 
Board to reexamine the costs that consumers incur in connection 
with an extension of credit and to determine how to calculate 
the finance charge to reflect more accurately these costs. The 
definition of finance charge does not currently have a unified 
approach to fees. The current list of excludable and excluded 
fees prevents the consumer from knowing the total cost of the 
credit while the discretion give to creditors on the treatment 
of some charges results in non-uniform disclosures.
    The existing exemption from rescission for same creditor 
refinancings reportedly has enabled creditors to ``flip 
loans,'' potentially charging consumers higher rates on 
refinancings while eliminating their rights of rescission. The 
Federal Reserve Board is directed to study this practice to 
determine how creditors abuse the system the scope of such 
abusive practices, and whether ``flipping'' can be prevented.
    The Federal Reserve Board is specifically directed to work 
with representatives of affected industries and consumer groups 
(including working with those outside of the Consumer Advisory 
Council) with respect to both issues in preparing its report to 
Congress. The Federal Reserve Board is to report to Congress on 
regulatory or legislative recommendations for resolving both 
issues. To the extent regulatory changes need to be made, the 
Federal Reserve Board is authorized and directed to promulgate 
final regulations within one year of the date of enactment of 
this legislation.

                section 107. exemptions from rescission

    Section 125(a) of TILA provides consumers with the right to 
rescind credit transactions secured by their homes within three 
days after consummation, receipt of the required disclosures, 
and the notice of the right to rescind. This provision gives 
consumers a ``cooling off'' period in which to reconsider 
offering their homes to secure the credit transaction. It was 
enacted in response to the abusive practices of certain home-
improvement contractors who showed up at consumers' doorsteps 
and pressured them into purchasing home improvements on credit, 
secured by the house.
    The right of rescission has never applied to transactions 
to finance the acquisition or construction of homes. 15 U.S.C. 
Sec. 1635(e)(1). Similarly, section 125(e)(2) currently exempts 
from rescission the refinancing or consolidating of existing 
home-secured debt with the same creditor when there are no new 
advances.
    The amendment extends the exemption from rescission for 
same creditor ``no-cash-out'' refinancings to all refinancings 
of debt initially incurred to finance the acquisition or 
construction of consumers' homes that are secured by a first 
lien on the consumers' principal dwelling to the extent there 
are no new advances and no consolidation of debt. The provision 
does not exempt ``high cost'' mortgages, as defined in section 
103(aa); these mortgages remain subject to full rescission 
rights.
    The requirement that the refinancing relate back to an 
initial residential mortgage transaction prevents unscrupulous 
home improvement contractors from making loans to consumers 
with no existing liens on their homes for the purchase of 
``improvements'' and then refinancing that debt to avoid 
rescission rights. In addition, the exemption only applies to a 
refinancing to the extent that no consolidation of debt and no 
new advances are involved. However, if a consumer refinances a 
residential mortgage transaction, (with a consolidation of debt 
or new advances) regardless of the remaining principal amount 
and subsequently refinances (with no consolidation or no new 
advances), the entire new refinancing is exempt from 
rescission. Thus, a refinancing with new advances within a 
series of refinancings will not affect a future refinancing's 
exemption from rescission, provided that the future refinancing 
does not involve a consolidation of existing debt and new 
advances.
             Section 108. Tolerances; Basis of Disclosures

    (a) Tolerances for Accuracy.--The two key disclosures 
required by TILA are the finance charge and the annual 
percentage rate (the ``APR''). In 1980, Congress amended 
section 107(c) of TILA to explicitly provide a tolerance of 
one-eighth of one percent in calculating the APR; no statutory 
tolerance was specified for calculating the finance charge. The 
Board subsequently adopted, as a footnote to Regulation Z, a 
tolerance for finance charge calculations for closed-end credit 
of $5 for an amount financed up to $1000 and $10 for an amount 
financed greater than $1000. 12 C.F.R. Sec. 226.18 n. 41. Since 
every transaction subject to TILA has APR and finance charge 
disclosures, the lower of the two tolerances ultimately 
determines whether a violation has occurred. Section 108(f) 
provides a finance charge tolerance of one-half the APR 
tolerance set forth in section 107(c) but includes a floor of 
$25 and a ceiling of $200. The provision is not intended to 
permit bad-faith intentional understatements of finance 
charges.
    The amendment provides that a disclosed finance charge that 
is greater than the actual finance charge shall be considered 
accurate for purposes of TILA. This language reinforces section 
103(z) which allows for overstatements without imposing 
liability.
    The amendment also implements a different tolerance for 
determining if the finance charge is accurate for purposes of 
rescission. By providing a finance charge tolerance of one-half 
of one percent of the loan amount, the penalty of rescission 
will be limited to those circumstances in which there has been 
a substantial disclosure error.
    (b) Basis of Disclosure for Per Diem Interest.--Interim 
interest, the interest due for the period from loan closing 
until the date of the first payment, is regularly paid at the 
closing. However, it can be difficult to accurately calculate 
this charge at the time documents are prepared for the closing 
since interim interest, unlike other charges, changes if the 
date of closing is advanced or delayed. The existing regulation 
is unclear with respect to a creditor's right to estimate 
interim interest or treat it as a minor irregularity. If the 
loan is consummated or funded on a date other than the date 
anticipated when disclosures were prepared (for example, 
because the consumer is unable to attend closing on the 
targeted date), the finance charge disclosure may become out of 
the range of tolerance. This provision allows creditors to have 
documents produced for the closing and sent to the closing 
agent based on the expected closing date and the information 
available to the creditor at the time the documents are being 
prepared.

                  Section 109. Limitation on Liability

    Responding to the more that 50 nation-wide class actions 
that have been filed in the last year based on the Rodash 
decision, this amendment eliminates liability based on the 
treatment of specific types of charges. The limitation on 
liability extends to claims based on disclosure of a finance 
charge, or other numerical disclosure, that is within the 
tolerances established by this legislation. In addition, the 
limitation includes a provision protecting creditors from 
liability when they overstate an amount or percentage to be 
disclosed.
    The amendment also eliminates creditor liability for use of 
the incorrect form for providing the consumer with notice of 
his or her rescission rights. Existing section 125(a) of TILA 
requires the creditor to give the consumer notice of the right 
to rescind in accordance with regulations of the Board. The 
Board has adopted two model forms, Form H-8 and Form H-9, for 
notice of the consumer's right to rescind in closed end 
transactions. The forms are labelled, respectively, 
``Rescission Model Form (General)'' and ``Rescission Model Form 
(Refinancing''. This amendment eliminates creditor liability 
where a creditor has provided the consumer with notice of the 
right of rescission using a model form but selected the 
incorrect model form or a written notice based on the incorrect 
model form.
    The liability limitations set forth in this section do not 
apply to class actions for which final orders certifying the 
class were entered prior to January 1, 1995, and to individual 
actions and actions brought by the named consumers in any class 
action filed before June 1, 1995.

            Section 110. Limitation on Rescission Liability

    This section responds to a court opinion that held that a 
lender's reliance on either form of rescission notice published 
and adopted by the Federal Reserve Board was misplaced. Section 
110 provides that where a creditor selects the appropriate 
Federal Reserve Board form of notice and properly completes the 
form, the borrower cannot rescind on the basis of improper 
notice. The Federal Reserve Board is directed to reexamine 
forms that have been adopted to eliminate further confusion 
facing creditors and consumers.

                  Section 111. Calculation of Damages

    Section 130(a) of TILA allows a consumer to recover both 
actual and statutory damages in connection with TILA 
violations. Congress provided for statutory damages because 
actual damages in most cases would be nonexistent or extremely 
difficult to prove. To recover actual damages, consumers must 
show that they suffered a loss because they relied on an 
inaccurate or incomplete disclosure.
    Recognizing the difficulty of proving actual damages and 
the increase in costs involved in mortgage lending, this 
amendment increases the statutory damages available in closed 
end credit transactions secured by real property or a dwelling 
to a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $2,500.

                    Section 112. Assignee Liability

    (a) Violations Apparent on the Face of Transaction.--
Section 131(a) of TILA currently provides that assignees are 
liable only if the violation is apparent on ``the face of the 
disclosure statement.'' To lessen the burden on the secondary 
market while maintaining the deterrent the provision has on 
unscrupulous lenders, this amendment to section 131 provides 
that, for closed end loans secured by real property, the ``face 
of the disclosure statement'' refers only to the Truth In 
Lending disclosure document, any itemization of the amount 
financed and any other disclosure of disbursement, and not to 
``other documents assigned'' generally. Following Federal 
Reserve Board review pursuant to section 106(g) and section 102 
of this legislation, it is anticipated that the assignee will 
be able to determine compliance based on a review of a single 
format of disclosure.
    (b) Servicer not Treated as Assignee.--A number of recent 
consumer lawsuits against mortgage loan servicers have claimed 
the servicer is an assignee of the creditor who made the loan 
and is therefore liable for errors under section 131. This 
provision clarifies that the loan servicer (the entity 
collecting payments from the consumer and otherwise 
administering the loan) is not an ``assignee'' under the TILA 
unless the servicer is the owner of the loan obligation. 
Moreover, a servicer shall not be deemed to be an owner of the 
loan on the basis of an assignment of the loan or the mortgage 
for administrative convenience in servicing the loan. A 
``servicer'' is defined by reference to section 6(i)(2) of the 
RESPA. The TILA continues to apply to servicers who were the 
original creditors and then sold the loan but retained 
servicing rights. This amendment does not change the law; 
rather, it provides courts with further specific guidance on 
the interpretation of current law.

             Section 113. Rescission Rights in Foreclosure

    This amendment adds a new subsection to section 125 of TILA 
giving consumers the right to rescind a loan within the three-
year time period established in section 125(f) of TILA as a 
defense if the creditor brings an action to foreclose on the 
consumer's principal dwelling in three specific instances: 
improper treatment of borrower-paid mortgage broker fees in 
calculating the finance charge, use of the incorrect form of 
notice of the right of rescission, and disclosure of a finance 
charge which understates the actual finance charge by more than 
$35. The consumer protection provisions of this section are 
intended to benefit consumers that are unable to meet their 
mortgage obligations and are not intended as a mechanism 
whereby consumers can avoid their obligations by defaulting and 
then raising the defense in foreclosure. Nothing in this 
section is intended to override the exceptions to the rights of 
rescission created in section 125(e).
    Section 125(f) of TILA provides that the consumer's right 
of rescission expires on the earlier of three years after the 
date of consummation of the transaction or upon the sale of the 
property even if the consumer has not received the required 
disclosures or forms. Rescission rights expire in three years. 
The time period shall not be extended except as explicitly 
provided in section 125(f) relating to agency enforcement 
proceedings. However, section 125(f) does not affect any 
equitable remedies that may be available under State or common 
law.

                     Section 114. Recovery of Fees

    Section 114 makes a borrower who exercises a right of 
rescission liable under TILA for any appraisal reports or 
credit reports charges.
        section 115. homeownership debt counseling notification

    Section 115 repeals homeownership debt counseling 
notification under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 
1968. Homeownership is widely available through the private 
sector. Therefore, a government program is both duplicative and 
wasteful.

               section 116. home mortgage disclosure act

    The HMDA requires a financial insitution with assets of $10 
million or more that has a headquarters or a branch within a 
metropolitan statistical area to compile and report data 
related to home mortgage loans. Section 116(a) modifies the 
HMDA to exempt institutions with $50 million in assets or less 
from the reporting requirements. The Federal Reserve Board is 
also given the discretion to further exempt institutions with 
assets of $50 million or greater if the Board determines that 
the burden of compliance with the HMDA outweighs the usefulness 
of the information required to be reported. Finally, section 
116(b) permits depository institutions to keep such data in 
their home office (instead of in each branch) and make it 
available upon written request.

                       section 117. applicability

    The amendments made by section 106(a), (d), (e), and (f) 
and sections 108, 112 and 113 will apply to all consumer credit 
transactions in existence or consummated on or after the date 
of enactment. Subsections 106(a), (d), (e) and (f) (certain 
charges) and section 112 (assignee liability) apply 
retroactively. In contrast, section 106(b) regarding the 
treatment of borrower-paid mortgage broker fees applies 
prospectively. Sections 108 and 113 are applied retroactively. 
Section 109 (limitation on liability) applies to all existing 
transactions. The remaining sections, section 107 (exemption 
for non-cashout refinancings), section 111 (statutory damages) 
and section 110 (limitation on rescission liability), apply 
prospectively. However, nothing in this section is intended to 
change the law retroactively with respect to individual actions 
or counterclaims filed before June 1, 1995, class actions for 
which a final order certifying the class was entered before 
January 1, 1995, actions by named individual plaintiffs in any 
class action filed before June 1, 1995, or any consumer credit 
transactions with respect to which a timely notice of 
rescission was sent to the creditor before June 1, 1995 as 
provided in section 109(a) (new section 139(b) of the TILA).

           Subtitle B--Community Reinvestment Act Amendments

            section 121. expression of congressional intent

    Section 121 amends the Congressional purpose for the CRA by 
stating that in encouraging financial institutions to meet the 
credit needs of their communities, regulators are not supposed 
to impose additional regulatory burden or paperwork on 
financial institutions.

           section 122. community reinvestment act exemption

    Section 122 exempts from the examination requirements of 
the CRA any financial institution if the institution and the 
holding company which controls the institution have not more 
than $100 million in assets (which is to be adjusted for 
inflation).

     section 123. self-certification of community reinvestment act 
                               compliance

    Section 123 allows a financial institution with no more 
than $250 million in assets to self-certify compliance with the 
CRA, provided the institution has not been found to have 
engaged in a pattern or practice of illegal discrimination 
under the FHA or the ECOA within the past 5 years and has a 
current CRA rating of ``satisfactory'' or ``outstanding.'' This 
section also requires the financial institution to maintain a 
public notice of self-certification and provides for regulatory 
review of self-certification reasonableness during each 
examination for safety and soundness. In addition, this section 
provides for the institution to be examined for CRA compliance 
if the institution's self-certification is found to be ``not 
reasonable.'' If after the regular CRA exam an institution 
receives a less than ``satisfactory'' CRA rating, it shall not 
be allowed to self-certify again for a period of five years.

           section 124. community input and conclusive rating

    Section 124 amends the CRA to establish a new mechanism for 
community input for an institution's CRA examination by 
providing the public advance notice in the Federal Register of 
an institution's CRA examination. After the Federal financial 
supervisory agency provides such notice and reviews all timely 
comments, the financial institution is provided a conclusive 
CRA rating until its next CRA examination. A reconsideration of 
an institution's rating may be requested within 30 days of the 
disclosure of the rating to the public.
    Under section 124(c), an institution's CRA record is taken 
into account in the overall evaluation of the condition of an 
institution rather than at the time of an application for a 
deposit facility. Current law requires the regulator to take 
into consideration an institution's CRA record when it applies 
for a deposit facility.

          section 125. special purpose financial institutions

    Section 125(a) requires the appropriate Federal financial 
supervisory agency, in evaluating the CRA records of special 
purpose institutions, to take into account the nature of the 
business of such institutions and the amount of deposits 
received by such institution. Subsection (b) defines the term 
``special purpose institution'' to mean a financial institution 
that does not generally accept deposits in amounts less than 
$100,000 dollars. Such institutions include, but are not 
limited to, wholesale, credit card and trust institutions.
  SECTION 126. INCREASED INCENTIVES FOR LENDING TO LOW- AND MODERATE-
                           INCOME COMMUNITIES

    Section 126 revises the CRA to expand the category of 
capital investments, loan participations, and other ventures 
for which an institution can receive CRA credit. Under current 
law, in evaluating the record of a non-minority-owned and non-
women-owned financial institution, an agency may consider as a 
factor capital investment, loan participants, and other 
ventures undertaken by the institution in cooperation with 
minority- and women-owned financial institutions and low-income 
credit unions, provided that these activities help meet the 
credit needs of local communities in which such institutions 
and credit unions are chartered.
    In order to encourage institutions to participate in 
transactions that have the effect of providing credit to low- 
and moderate-income neighborhoods, regardless of whether those 
neighborhoods are in an institution's community, section 126 
requires the agencies to give institutions credit for 
investments in or loans to any minority or women's depository 
institution or low-income credit union. The agencies are also 
directed to give credit for participation in any joint venture 
or other entity or project which provides benefits to any 
distressed community, whether or not the distressed community 
is where the institution is chartered to do business. 
Institutions must also receive credit for investments in or 
loans to targeted low- and moderate-income communities, 
including real property loans to such communities.
    Finally, the agencies are required to consider equally with 
other factors capital investment, loan participation and other 
ventures undertaken by the institution in cooperation with 
minority and women owned financial institutions and low income 
credit unions to the extent that these activities help meet the 
credit needs of the community in which these institutions are 
located. Capital investment, loan participations, and other 
ventures undertaken by institution in cooperation with a 
community development financial institution (so long as the 
loans and other financial services provided to low- and 
moderate-income persons and small business are meeting the 
credit needs of the local communities served by the majority-
owned institution) are also to be considered equally with all 
other factors.

   SECTION 127. PROHIBITION ON ADDITIONAL REPORTING UNDER COMMUNITY 
                            REINVESTMENT ACT

    This section prohibits the Federal financial institution 
regulators from requiring additional reporting or recordkeeping 
from financial institutions as a result of any regulations 
prescribed under the CRA.

                    SECTION 128. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT

    The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branch Efficiency 
Act of 1994 modified the CRA to include a requirement to have a 
separate discussion of the findings and conclusions of a CRA 
report for each metropolitan area in which a regulated 
depository institution maintains one or more domestic branch 
offices. Under current law, this requirement applies to all 
regulated depository institutions including institutions that 
are located in only one state. The legislative intent of the 
provision was to have the requirement apply only to regulated 
institutions with interstate branches. Section 128 makes a 
technical revision to the CRA that provides that the 
requirement apply only to regulated banks with interstate 
branches.

                   SECTION 129. DUPLICATIVE REPORTING

    Section 129 exempts institutions which are members of the 
Federal Home Loan Bank System from meeting the Federal Home 
Loan Bank Act's community investment and service requirements 
if the institution has received a CRA rating of ``outstanding'' 
or ``satisfactory''.

    SECTION 130. COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT

    Section 130 requires each Federal banking agency to report 
to Congress by December 31, 1996 and by December 31, 1997, 
respectively, on the implementation of the CRA regulations 
prescribed after the date of enactment H.R. 1858. These reports 
are to include input from the regulated financial institutions 
and quantifiable measures of the cost savings of the new CRA 
regulations and their effectiveness in achieving CRA 
objectives.

               SECTION 131. CONSULTATION AMONG EXAMINERS

    Depository institutions frequently are subject to multiple 
exams by the same agency. For example, an institution may have 
an annual safety and soundness exam as well as a CRA exam and a 
trust department exam, all of which may be conducted at 
separate times. These separate and uncoordinated exams may 
result in inconsistent recommendations to an institution. Sec. 
131 is intended to reduce the burden placed on banks as a 
result of multiple exams by requiring each agency to direct is 
examiners to consult on examination activities related to an 
institution and resolve any inconsistencies in the examiners' 
recommendations. In addition, section 131 directs that each 
agency appoint an ``examiner-in-charge'' who is responsible for 
consultation with all examiners of an institution.

                 SECTION 132. LIMITATION ON REGULATIONS

    Section 132 provides that no CRA regulation may be 
promulgated which would require financial institutions to make 
loans to any uncreditworthy person that would jeopardize the 
safety and soundness of the institution. In addition, no 
regulation prescribed under the CRA shall require a financial 
institution to make a loan on the basis of any discriminatory 
criteria prohibited under any U.S. law. It also clarifies that 
no regulation shall prevent or hinder in any way a financial 
institution's full responsibility to provide credit to all 
segments of its community. Finally, it clarifies that these 
regulations shall encourage financial institutions to extend 
credit to all creditworthy persons, consistent with safety and 
soundness.
                  Subtitle C--Consumer Banking Reforms

                     Section 141. truth in savings

    Section 141 revises the TISA to eliminate provisions that 
have resulted in unnecessary and overly complex regulations. 
The revisions to the TISA retain the basic components of that 
Act relating to disclosure of account fees, charges, penalties 
and simple interest rates. Financial institutions would 
continue to disclose minimum balance requirements at the time a 
consumer opens an account or upon request and would also 
continue to be required to disclose a change in the terms of an 
account at least 30 days before such change becomes effective. 
Section 141 also retains the prohibition against deceptive and 
misleading advertising of accounts.
    The changes that section 141 makes to the TISA primarily 
concern the requirement that financial institutions disclose 
the ``annual percentage yield'' for accounts and the 
application of civil liability for violations of the TISA. The 
TISA currently requires the Federal Reserve Board to develop a 
formula for calculation of an annual percentage yield. 
Development of such formula has proved to be extremely 
difficult. Furthermore, it appears that disclosure of an annual 
percentage yield may not provide consumers with significantly 
more information concerning an account than disclosure of the 
simple interest rate. As such, the requirement for financial 
institutions to disclose an annual percentage yield is 
repealed.
    Section 141 also removes the civil liability provisions for 
violations of the TISA. The imposition of civil liability for 
violation of the TISA has resulted in financial institutions 
seeking numerous clarifications and commentaries from the 
Federal Reserve Board increasing the regulatory burden for both 
the industry and the Board. Accordingly, the civil liability 
provisions are repealed. The federal banking agencies would 
still retain the authority to take administrative actions to 
enforce the TISA.

                    section 142. information sharing

    Section 142 pertains to the sharing of information among 
depository institutions and their affiliates and subsidiaries 
where such sharing or communication may be restricted or 
limited by law. This section does not authorize the sharing of 
information with persons or entities other than affiliates or 
subsidiaries of a depository institution. In addition, this 
section is not intended to restrict or otherwise affect the 
sharing or communication of information that is otherwise 
permissible. Before information regarding a consumer may be 
shared or communicated in reliance on this provision, the 
depository institution, subsidiary or affiliate must disclose 
to the consumer that such information may be communicated or 
shared and the customer must be given the opportunity to direct 
that the information not be communicated or shared. This 
section is not intended to supersede in any way any sales 
practice rules issued by the National Association of Securities 
Dealers. The Committee is of the opinion that such sales 
practice rules concerning information sharing should apply 
equally to all affiliates of a broker dealer.

        section 143. electronic fund transfer act clarification

    Section 143 clarifies that provisions of the EFTA do not 
apply to stored value cards or value stored on such cards 
except for transactions where the card is actually used to 
access an account to effect a transaction. In addition, 
computers, computer-driven programs, or software that are 
functionally equivalent to stored value cards are also exempted 
from EFTA.

 section 144. limit on restitution for truth in lending violations if 
           safety and soundness of violator would be affected

    Under current law, Section 108(e) of TILA prescribes rules 
for reimbursement of inadequately disclosed finance charges, 
and requires the federal financial institution supervisory 
agencies to order restitution to consumers of amounts charged 
but not adequately disclosed. Section 144 allows supervisory 
agencies to take into account the safety and soundness of that 
institution when requiring restitution from an institution. 
Under the section, two alternatives to full, immediate 
restitution exist. First, an agency is able to order partial 
restitution, in an amount that would not have a significantly 
adverse impact on the lender's safety and soundness. Second, an 
agency is allowed to order restitution in the full amount, but 
to be paid over a period of time to avoid a significantly 
adverse impact. In the case of the federal financial 
institution supervisory agencies, an agency cannot order 
partial restitution or restitution in partial payments over an 
extended period unless the agency made a factual determination 
that full, immediate restitution would cause the creditor to 
become undercapitalized pursuant to such agency's regulations 
promulgated under section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Act.

          Subtitle D--Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments

                   section 152. findings and purpose

    Section 152 states that the purpose of this legislation is 
to reconcile and coordinate the notice requirements under the 
ECOA amd FCRA.

          section 153. equal credit opportunity act amendments

    Section 153 coordinates notices required under the ECOA 
resulting from adverse credit actions with notices required 
under the FCRA where requirements of the two Acts overlap. It 
also ensures that when credit is denied based on a consumer 
report, the adverse action notice must state that the credit 
denial was based on information contained in the credit report. 
In addition, the notice must contain: (1) the name, address, 
and telephone number of the consumer reporting agency making 
the report; and, (2) a statement of the consumer's right to 
obtain a free copy of the consumer repot and to dispute the 
accuracy or completeness of any information in the consumer 
report. In addition, the ECOA is amended by limiting liability 
for violations of the adverse notice requirements provided for 
in section 701(d) if it can be shown that the creditor 
maintained reasonable procedures to assure compliance.
           section 154. fair credit reporting act amendments

    Section 154 coordinates the notices required under the FCRA 
resulting from adverse credit actions with notices required 
under the ECOA where requirements of the two Acts overlap.

                section 155. incentives for self-testing

    Section 155 is designed to encourage lenders to conduct 
self-tests in order to determine their compliance with fair 
lending laws. First, the section establishes a privilege for 
lenders who self-test for compliance with the ECOA or the FHA 
from having such tests used against them in any proceeding or 
civil action brought under these acts where the lender has 
identified discriminatory practices and has taken appropriate 
corrective actions. Such tests, however, can be used if the 
lender conducted them at the request of an agency, they have 
been disclosed to a third party by the lender, if they are used 
as an affirmative defense by the lender, or in determining the 
remedy for FHA or ECOA violations. Second, the section grants 
the Federal banking regulators discretionary authority to refer 
evidence of discrimination contained in a self-testing report 
to the Attorney General or the Secretary of HUD under certain 
circumstances.
    Ambiguities under current law in the self-testing area 
create disincentives for financial institutions to test their 
activities with the nation's fair lending laws. Under current 
law, the possibility exists that self-tests will be used as 
evidence against a lender in a later administrative proceeding 
or civil action. The privilege and discretionary referral 
provided for under section 155 are designed to eliminate these 
current disincentives.
    Under this section, the appropriate federal department or 
agency is given the authority to determine which kinds of tests 
will qualify for the privilege. Although paired testing is a 
widely accepted form of testing for noncompliance, other 
testing methods may produce similar and reliable evidence of 
unlawful practices and may be less cost-prohibitive for smaller 
institutions. Therefore, these tests also warrant protection 
under this section.

                  section 156. credit scoring systems

    Section 156 amends the ECOA to clarify that credit 
decisions based solely on an empirically derived, demonstrably 
and statistically sound, credit scoring system, as defined by 
the Federal Reserve Board in regulations prescribed under this 
title, shall be in compliance with the non-discrimination 
requirements under ECOA (subsection (a)) so long as the system 
does not use any category protected under subsection (a), does 
not use any functional equivalent of such a category, and does 
not use any criterion that has a discriminatory effect on any 
category unless the use of the criterion is justified by 
business necessity and there is no less discriminatory 
alternative available. The term business necessity as well as 
the duty of showing a less discriminatory alternative shall be 
construed consistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedent such as 
Griggs v. Duke Power Company, 401 U.S. 424 (1971) and 
Albermarle Paper Company v. Moody, 422 U.S. 405 (1975).

 Section 157. Consultation by Attorney General required in Nonreferral 
                                 cases

    Section 157 requires the Attorney General to consult with 
the appropriate regulatory agency prior to bringing a civil 
action. The Attorney General and the regulatory agencies are to 
work in close cooperation to avoid unnecessary duplication of 
effort, and to avoid unnecessary burdens on regulated entities.

              Subtitle E--Consumer Leasing Act Amendments

                        Section 163. Regulations

    Section 163 amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act by 
directing the Federal Reserve Board to address consumer leasing 
issues through regulation and requiring the Board to publish 
model disclosure forms to facilitate compliance with the 
disclosure requirements and to aid consumers in understanding 
leasing transactions.

                Section 164. Consumer Lease Advertising

    Section 164 rewrites the disclosure requirements for 
consumer lease advertising. Under this section, when an 
advertisement states that an initial payment or that no initial 
payment is required, the advertisement must also state that the 
transaction is a lease; the number of payments; the 
applicability of a security deposit; the number, amount and 
timing of payments; and certain other pertinent information. In 
addition, the special rules governing radio advertisements are 
repealed under this section.

                    Section 165. Statutory penalties

    Section 165 amends section 185(a) of the Consumer Credit 
Protection Act to limit a creditor's liability for statutory 
penalties for failure to provide certain consumer lease 
disclosures.

             Subtitle F--Federal Home Loan Bank Amendments

 Section 171. Application for Membership in the Federal Home Loan bank 
                                 System

    Section 171 establishes that an applicant for membership in 
the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System may submit the 
application in the district where the applicant's principal 
place of business is located rather than submit the application 
to the Federal Housing Finance Board in Washington. It also 
establishes that applicants may apply in an adjoining district 
if it is convenient and meets with the approval of the Federal 
Housing Finance Board.
         section 172. federal home loan bank external auditors

    Section 172 provides that General Accounting Office audits 
of FHLBs shall not be limited to periods during which 
government capital has been invested in them. It also prohibits 
the Federal Housing Finance Board from participating in the 
hiring of an external auditor by the FHLBs, other than to 
establish requirements for audit contracts.

             TITLE II--STREAMLINING GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS

                 Subtitle A--Regulatory Approval Issues

 section 201. streamlined nonbanking acquisitions by well capitalized 
                 and well managed banking organizations

    Under current law, a bank holding company must submit a 
written notice to the Federal Reserve Board at least 60 days 
before engaging in a nonbanking activity. The Federal Reserve 
Board determines whether the activity is so closely related to 
banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper 
incident thereto.
    Section 201 permits well capitalized and well managed bank 
holding companies to engage, either directly or through an 
acquisition, in nonbanking activities previously approved by 
the Federal Reserve Board without prior notice or with an 
abbreviated notice. In order to be eligible for these expedited 
procedures (1) the bank holding company must be well 
capitalized and well managed; (2) the company's lead insured 
depository institution must be well capitalized and well 
managed; (3) insured depository institutions controlling 80 
percent of the company's banking assets must be well 
capitalized; (4) insured depository institutions controlling 90 
percent of the company's banking assets must be well managed; 
(5) no insured depository institution controlled by the company 
may be undercapitalized or poorly managed (with a limited 
exception for recently acquired depository institutions); and, 
(6) neither the bank holding company nor any subsidiary 
depository institution may be the subject of any enforcement 
action, order, or administrative enforcement proceeding within 
the prior twelve months. In addition, the book value of the 
assets to be acquired may not exceed 10 percent of the holding 
company's consolidated total risk-weighted assets, and the 
price paid may not exceed 15 percent of the consolidated Tier 1 
capital of the company. All activities must be conducted in 
compliance with any applicable regulations, orders, and 
interpretations of the Federal Reserve Board.
    Qualifying bank holding companies may engage de novo in any 
``laundry list'' nonbanking activity approved by the Federal 
Reserve Board by regulation without prior notice, but must 
inform the Board within 10 days after commencing the activity. 
Qualifying bank holding companies wishing to engage in an 
activity approved by the Federal Reserve Board by order, or 
wishing to acquire any nonbanking company, must provide 12 days 
prior notice to the Board. Prior to expiration of the notice 
period, the Federal Reserve Board may require the bank holding 
company to comply with statutory notice and review provisions 
that generally apply to proposals under section 4(c)(8).

section 202. streamlined bank acquisitions by well capitalized and well 
                     managed banking organizations

    Section 202 amends the notice procedures of the BHCA to 
permit well capitalized and well managed bank holding companies 
that are rated ``satisfactory'' or ``outstanding'' for CRA 
performance to acquire another bank, without prior approval, 
when the acquisition is limited in size, meets competitive 
criteria established by the Federal Reserve Board (in 
consultation with the Attorney General), and meets applicable 
geographical and other established statutory requirements. In 
addition, the bank holding company may not have been the 
subject of any enforcement action, order, or administrative 
enforcement proceeding within the twelve months prior to the 
acquisition.
    Section 202 requires bank holding companies to provide the 
Federal Reserve Board with brief advance notification of the 
proposal to allow the Board to require a full notice or 
application if warranted by the specific case. It also 
clarifies that the Department of Justice's anti-competitive 
review remains applicable to notices filed under the 
streamlined procedures. Under these streamlined procedures the 
Attorney General will receive notification of the proposed 
acquisition at the same time as the Federal Reserve Board. The 
Attorney General shall advise the Federal Reserve Board during 
the review period in writing if any competitive concerns exist 
with respect to the transition. If the Attorney General advises 
the Federal Reserve Board that no such concerns exist, the 
post-approval waiting period in section 11(b) shall not apply.

  section 203. eliminate filing and approval requirements for insured 
 depository institutions already controlled by the same holding company

    Section 203 amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) 
and the National Bank Consolidation and Merger Act to allow 
merger of banks controlled by the same bank holding company 
without having to comply with certain filing and approval 
requirements. Section 203 requires that these transactions meet 
the recently enacted interstate branching requirements. The 
responsible agency for the resulting bank may require an 
application under these Acts, if the facts of the specific case 
warrant.

    section 204. eliminate redundant approval requirement for oakar 
                              transactions

    Section 204 amends the FDIA to remove the duplicative 
approval requirements for the merger of a bank and a savings 
association under thee Oakar Amendment to the FDIA. Section 204 
leaves requirements under the Bank Merger Act intact. Section 
204 does not remove the other provisions for Oakar 
transactions, including the requirement that the resulting 
institution remain adequately capitalized and the requirement 
that assessments paid by the resulting institution go to the 
appropriate FDIC insurance fund.
section 205. elimination of duplicative requirements imposed upon bank 
 holding companies and other regulatory relief under the home owners' 
                                loan act

    Section 205 amends the Home Owners' Loan Act (HOLA) to 
eliminate duplicative regulation of bank holding companies 
under the BHCA and the HOLA. Currently, a registered bank 
holding company that controls a savings association is 
supervised by the Federal Reserve Board and is also subject to 
the requirements of the HOLA. As such, it must obtain approval 
from the OTS for acquisitions and must register with the OTS as 
a savings and loan association holding company. The amendment 
eliminates duplicative supervision under the HOLA. However, the 
amendment does not free savings associations owned by bank 
holding companies from the Qualified Thrift Lender (QTL) test 
or from any other requirements applicable to savings 
associations under Federal law.
    Section 205 also amends the BHCA to ensure that the Federal 
Reserve Board and the OTS will cooperate in the supervision of 
bank holding companies that control savings associations. The 
Federal Reserve Board must seek and consider the views of the 
Director of the OTS in considering any application or notice by 
a bank holding company to acquire a savings association. The 
Federal Reserve Board also must consult with the Director, as 
appropriate, in establishing the scope of inspections of bank 
holding companies that control savings associations. Such 
consultation should be more involved when savings associations 
make up a substantial portion of the assets of the holding 
companies. The Federal Reserve Board must also, upon request of 
the Director, provide the Director with any inspection report 
or any other supervisory material relating to a bank holding 
company that controls a savings association. Finally, the 
Federal Reserve Board and the Director are required to 
cooperate in any enforcement action against a bank holding 
company that involves a savings association controlled by the 
company.
    Section 205(d) reduces the regulatory and paperwork burden 
faced by savings and loan associations by allowing them to 
satisfy the QTL test required under the HOLA by meeting the 
Qualified Thrift Asset (QTA) test under the Internal Revenue 
Code.
    Under HOLA the QTL test requires thrifts to have at least 
65% of their portfolios in mortgages and mortgage-related 
products. In addition, the law also allows a limited amount of 
consumer loans, commercial loans and educational loans to be 
considered qualified lending. Thrifts must meet the QTL test in 
order to receive certain benefits not afforded to banks.
    Under the tax code, the QTA test requires thrifts to have 
at least 60% of their assets in certain loans and investments 
listed in the code. The list includes residential mortgage 
loans, but not commercial loans or many types of mortgage 
backed securities. The two tests are similar, but not 
identical. In addition, the QTL test is computed on the basis 
of portfolio assets and the tax test on total assets. By 
meeting the QTA test, thrifts receive certain tax benefits, for 
example, the choice of using the experience method or the 
percentage of taxable income method of computing their bad debt 
reserve. This subsection does not affect tax law in any way. It 
merely reduces the paperwork burden on thrifts by no longer 
requiring them to juggle their assets to ensure that they have 
the correct balance of assets to meet their two similar but 
different tests.

   section 206. eliminate requirement that approval be obtained for 
                              divestitures

    Section 206 eliminates a statutory presumption that a bank 
holding company that divests shares of any company to a third 
party investor in a transaction funded by any subsidiary of the 
bank holding company is presumed to continue to control those 
shares unless the Federal Reserve Board determines that the 
divestiture is genuine. The presumption was intended to prevent 
sham divestitures, but the application burden imposed on the 
banking industry has proved to outweigh the benefits of this 
requirement. The Federal Reserve Board can detect sham 
transactions through the examination process.

         section 207. eliminate unnecessary branch applications

    Section 207 eliminates the notice and approval requirements 
concerning the operation of branches for well-capitalized, 
CAMEL 1 or 2 institutions with ``outstanding'' or 
``satisfactory'' CRA ratings. This section does not change in 
any way the geographic restrictions that govern the 
establishment or operation of a branch office.

  section 208. eliminate branch application requirements for atms and 
                           similar facilities

    Section 208 amends the McFadden Act and the FDIA to provide 
that automated teller machines (ATMs) or remote service unit 
(RSUs) owned by a depository institution are not considered to 
be branches for purposes of filing an application to establish 
a branch so long as they are owned and operated at sites at 
which the bank could operate a branch. Existing law regarding 
when other categories of ATMs and RSUs are to be considered 
branches is not affected by this amendment.

section 209. eliminate requirement for approval of investments in bank 
          premises for well capitalized and well managed banks

    Section 209 amends the Federal Reserve Act to allow well 
capitalized institutions which have received one of the two 
highest composite CAMEL ratings to invest up to 150% of the 
institution's capital in its premises without obtaining prior 
approval.

  section 210. eliminate unnecessary filing for officer and director 
                              appointments

    Section 32 of the FDIA requires insured depository 
institutions and depository institution holding companies to 
file a notice with their regulators at least 30 days before 
hiring new directors or senior executive officers where the 
institution is undercapitalized or otherwise in troubled 
condition, has been chartered less than two years, or the 
institution or holding company has undergone a change in 
control during the past two years. In these situations, the 
individuals would have to undergo background checks.
    Section 210 adds a provision that lets the agencies waive 
the notice requirement on a case-by-case basis in appropriate 
circumstances.

   section 211. streamlining process for determining new nonbanking 
                               activities

    Section 211 amends the BHCA to eliminate the hearing 
requirement contained in Section 4(c)(8) of that Act. Section 
211 also amends section 4(c)(8) to create an exception to that 
section's general prohibition on bank holding company insurance 
activities to allow bank holding companies to own insurance 
affiliates in accordance with State insurance laws. The 
provision states that it shall be ``closely related to 
banking'' to provide insurance as a principal, agent, or broker 
in any State, in full compliance with the laws and regulations 
of such state that apply uniformly to each type of insurance 
license or authorization in that State, including anti-
affiliation laws.

             section 212. disposition of foreclosed assets

    Under current law, bank holding companies are accorded up 
to five years to dispose of stock acquired as a result of a 
loan foreclosure; under certain circumstances, real estate 
assets may be held for up to ten years. National banks may hold 
both foreclosed real estate and foreclosed stock for a maximum 
period of 10 years. Section 212 would equalize the treatment of 
national banks and bank holding companies by amending section 
4(c)(2) of the BHCA to provide authority for the Federal 
Reserve Board to approve applications to hold foreclosed stock 
for an additional five years. An extension beyond the initial 
five year period would be dependent on a showing by the bank 
holding company that it has made a good faith attempt to 
dispose of the asset within five years, or that disposal within 
the initial five year period would be detrimental to the 
company. The section also eliminates the statutory requirement 
that a bank holding company must apply for an extension every 
year.

      section 213. increase in certain credit union loan ceilings

    Section 213 allows a federal credit union to make aggregate 
loans up to $50,000 to officials of the credit union without 
approval by the board of directors. Under present law, the 
aggregate loan ceiling is $10,000.

   Subtitle B--Streamlining of Government Regulations; Miscellaneous 
                               Provisions
section 221. eliminate the per-branch capital requirement for national 
                      banks and state member banks

    Section 221 eliminates section 5155(h) of the Revised 
Statues. Currently, section 5155(h) requires national bank 
associations to maintain capital for their branches as if each 
branch were a separately chartered bank. In deleting this 
subsection, national banks' capital will be held against their 
total assets and not the assets of each of their individual 
branches.

                      section 222. branch closures

    Section 222 clarifies the scope of the branch closing 
notice requirement under section 42 of the FDIA. Under section 
42, an insured depository institution that intends to close a 
branch is required to notify the customers of the branch and 
the institution's appropriate Federal banking agency 90 days 
prior to the closing.
    An interagency policy statement has interpreted section 42 
such that (1) the term ``branch'' is defined as a traditional 
brick and mortar branch and does not include an ATM or remote 
service facility; and (2) the relocation or consolidation of a 
branch does not constitute a branch closing provided that the 
relocation or consolidation of a branch does not constitute a 
branch closing provided that the relocation or consolidation is 
within the same immediate neighborhood and the same customers 
are served.
    Section 222 confirms, and in one way, broadens these 
interpretations in the intergency policy statement. ATMs are 
explicitly excluded from the definition of branch. Furthermore, 
the merger or relocation of branch is excluded from the notice 
requirement when certain conditions are met. The merger or 
relocation of a branch is excluded if the branch affected in 
located within 2.5 miles of or in the same neighborhood as 
another branch of the same institution. In other instances, the 
other branch must serve substantially all of the customers 
currently served by the branch to be closed.
    Section 222 also excludes from the notice requirements 
branch closings in connection with an emergency acquisition or 
other FDIC assistance under the FDIC. Section 222 grants the 
agencies authority to create further exceptions consistent with 
the purposes of the section.

   section 223. amendments to the depository institutions management 
                             interlocks act

    This section makes several changes to the Depository 
Institutions Management Interlocks Act. First, it increases the 
dollar thresholds in the rule currently prohibiting banks or 
bank holding companies with more than $1 billion in assets from 
having a management interlock with another nonaffiliated bank 
or bank holding company, where ever located, with assets 
greater than $500 million. This threshold would rise to $2.5 
billion and $1.5 billion, respectively, and be adjusted 
annually for inflation.
    Second, this section permits grandfathered interlocks to 
continue indefinitely (until the death or resignation of the 
official in question). Third, it restores the exemptive 
authority the regulators had prior to 1994. Fourth, it permits 
a management official of one institution or hold company to 
serve as a management official of another non-affiliated 
institution or holding company if the institutions or holding 
companies (and their affiliates) hold in the aggregate no more 
than 20 percent of the deposits in each relevant geographic 
area in which they are located.

     section 224. acceleration of appraisal subcommittee repayment

    This section requires the acceleration of repayment to the 
Treasury of a five million dollar loan held by the Financial 
Institutions Examination Council's Appraisal Subcommittee. 
Under this section, the loan is to be repaid by the end of 
Fiscal Year 1998.

 section 225. eliminate unnecessary and duplicative recordkeeping and 
  reporting requirements relating to loans to executive officers and 
             permit participation in employee benefit plans

    Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act governs extensions 
of credit to insiders (executive officers, directors, and 
principal shareholders) of member banks and their affiliates, 
including related interests of those insiders (such as 
companies they control). In general, section 22(h) requires 
that insider loans be within certain limits and not be on 
preferential terms. Section 22(g) of the Federal Reserve Act 
establishes special limits for extensions of credit to 
executive officers only.
    Without changing any of the core restrictions on insider 
lending, section 225 eliminates extraneous and unnecessary 
reporting requirements and ends coverage of certain persons who 
are executive officers and directors of affiliates who cannot 
affect policymaking at a bank. Section 225 does not affect the 
effectiveness of the insider lending provisions of section 22 
of the Federal Reserve Act of the Federal Reserve Board's 
Regulation O in any significant way.
    Section 225(a)(1) allows executive officers, directors, or 
principal shareholders to receive extensions of credit that are 
made pursuant to a benefit or compensation plan that is widely 
available to, and used by, employees of the bank. Such loans 
will continue to count toward the limits of section 22(h) but 
will no longer be barred as preferential. This amendment will 
permit such persons to participate in programs that allow 
reduced closing costs or a slightly favorable rate in 
connection with an employment-related relocation.
    Section 225(a)(2) allows the Federal Reserve Board to 
exempt from the restrictions of section 22(h) executive 
officers and directors of affiliates who are not involved in 
policymaking at the bank, provided that the affiliate by which 
they are employed does not represent more than 10 percent of 
the consolidated assets of the organization. Maintaining 
updated records of the identities of all these persons, and 
their related interests represent a substantial recordkeeping 
burden. For large banks, this means tracking literally 
thousands of directors and executive officers, sometimes 
overseas, as well as any company those persons control. Given 
that these people are not employed by the bank or a significant 
affiliate and cannot therefore affect the bank's policies, the 
costs of the recordkeeping requirement clearly outweigh the 
benefits.
    Section 225(b) eliminates unnecessary reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements. The crucial recordkeeping 
requirements necessary to monitor compliance with Regulation O 
are contained in the Federal Reserve Board's regulation. Each 
bank is required to track loans to its insiders and their 
related interests, and examiners make certain that loans are 
within statutory limits and that adequate records are being 
kept. Various other statutory provisions, however, impose 
unnecessary recordkeeping and reporting burdens on banks that 
are not worth the costs they impose. Section 225(b) eliminates 
these burdens.
    Section 225(c) amends section 22(g) to allow member banks 
to extend two types of credit to their executive officers: home 
equity lines not to exceed $100,000 and loans secured by 
readily marketable assets up to an amount to be set by the 
Federal Reserve Board. These loans are secured by collateral 
such that they pose minimal risk to the bank.

section 226. expanded regulatory discretion for small bank examinations

    Current law requires annual examinations for banks with 
$250 million or more in assets and permits examinations every 
18 months for CAMEL 1 banks with less than $250 million in 
assets and for CAMEL 2 banks with less than $100 million in 
assets. The regulators may increase the CAMEL 2 threshold to 
$175 million after September 1996. Section 226 amends current 
law to permit the regulators to raise the CAMEL 2 asset 
threshold to $250 million after September 1996. In addition, 
the Federal banking agencies are required to report on a 
semiannual basis on the progress being made on implementing a 
system for coordinating examinations. The report must be filed 
until a system is implemented.

                    section 227. cost reimbursement

    This section adds corporate customers to the cost 
reimbursement provisions of Section 3415 of Title 12 of the 
U.S. Code.

 section 228. identification of foreign nonbank financial institution 
                               customers

    Section 228 repeals the responsibility of a domestic 
depository institution's obligation to maintain a listing of 
all domestic financial institutions having an account there. 
All foreign nonbank financial institutions with accounts at a 
domestic financial institution, however, would still be 
required to be identified and listed.
                SECTION 229. PAPERWORK REDUCTION REVIEW

    Section 229 requires each Federal financial institution 
regulator and the National Credit Union Administration to 
review and repeal unnecessary internal written policies.

    SECTION 230. DAILY CONFIRMATIONS FOR HOLD-IN-CUSTODY REPURCHASE 
                              TRANSACTIONS

    Section 230 requires the Secretary of the Treasury to 
revise regulations relating to confirmations for hold-in-
custody repurchase transactions to permit the waiver of the 
right to obtain daily written confirmations if disclosure has 
been received that adequately informed the counter party of the 
benefits of receiving daily written confirmations, including, 
but not limited to, the value of receiving confirmations in 
verifying transactions and in perfecting a security interest 
under the Uniform Commercial Code.

         SECTION 231. REQUIRED REGULATORY REVIEW OF REGULATIONS

    Section 231 requires a review of all banking regulations at 
least once every ten years in order to identify outdated or 
otherwise unnecessary regulatory requirements imposed upon 
insured depository institutions. Each regulation will be 
reviewed by the Financial Institution Examination Council (the 
Council) or one of the Federal banking agencies, depending on 
which agency or Council promulgated the regulation.
    As part of the review process, the Council or such 
appropriate Federal banking agency shall designate each 
regulation by category. On a regular schedule within the 10-
year period, the Council or such appropriate Federal banking 
agency shall notify and solicit comments on each category from 
the pubic for their recommendations.
    Further, the Council or such appropriate Federal banking 
agency shall publish in the Federal Register a summary of the 
comments including highlighted issues and comments. When it is 
appropriate, the Council or such appropriate Federal banking 
agency shall eliminate those regulations that were found to be 
unnecessary. The Council shall report to the Congress within 30 
days of the publication a summary including significant issues 
raised during the review period, the relative merits of those 
issues, and whether the problems need to be addressed by the 
appropriate Federal banking agency or by legislation.

                 SECTION 232. COUNTRY RISK REQUIREMENTS

    Under Section 905 of the International Lending Supervision 
Act (ILSA), federal banking regulators are required to mandate 
that banks maintain special reserves when their overseas loans 
have become impaired due to a foreign borrower's inability to 
make payment. Such reserves cannot be counted as capital or 
surplus or allowances for possible loan losses and are charged 
against current income. Section 233 provides that the 
regulators may, but are not required to, impose such special 
reserves.
                        section 233. audit costs

    This section repeals the requirement that independent 
auditors attest to bank compliance with safety and soundness 
regulations and internal controls. It also inserts a 
``privileged and confidential'' element to the annual 
management report required under Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation Improvement Act (FDICIA) that would permit 
regulators to designate certain information included in such 
reports as privileged and confidential and therefore not 
available to the public. The designation of information as 
privileged and confidential is not intended to alter or provide 
an exemption from any requirement to file audited financial 
statements and audit letters otherwise required under the 
federal securities laws or rules or regulations adopted 
thereunder. In addition, the section also creates a safe harbor 
for well-capitalized and well-managed banks from the 
requirements of section 36 of the FDIA except the requirement 
for an independent financial audit.

       section 234. standards for director and officer liability

    Section 234 provides that outside directors are subject to 
the same culpability standards as independent contractors in 
enforcement actions by the regulatory agencies. Under the new 
standard, regulators are required to show that an outside 
director knowingly or recklessly committed the Act in question. 
Under the present law, outside directors are subject to the 
same standards as officers and inside directors of a financial 
institution.

                 section 235. foreign bank applications

    This section amends section 7(d) of the International 
Banking Act (IBA) to permit the Federal Reserve Board to 
approve an application by a foreign bank to establish a branch 
or agency in the United States if the home country supervisor 
is working to establish arrangements for the consolidated 
supervision of such foreign bank. This changes current law, 
which mandates denial of an application unless the foreign bank 
is already subject to consolidated supervision. The mandatory 
standard of consolidated supervision has prevented otherwise 
qualified banks from entering the U.S. market, even if the home 
country supervisors are working to put in place a framework for 
consolidated supervision of the bank.
    This section also requires the Federal Reserve Board to act 
on an application within 180 days of its receipt, except that 
the Board may, after giving notice to the applicant and the 
licensing authority, extend the time for no more than an 
additional 180 day period. Such time frames are appropriate in 
light of the time that can elapse in transmitting and 
translating information to and from foreign countries. The 
amendment also permits the Board to deny an application if the 
applicant does not respond in a timely manner to requests for 
information necessary to process the application. Thus, the 
amendment establishes a definite time frame for final action 
while retaining an incentive for an applicant bank to provide 
information in a timely manner.
    The section also amends section 7(e)(1) of the IBA. 
Currently, section 7(e)(1) allows the Board to terminate a 
State-licensed office of a foreign bank if the foreign bank has 
committed a violation of law or engaged in unsafe practices in 
the United States or if the foreign bank is not subject to 
consolidated supervision by its home country authorities. 
Section 235(b) provides that, with respect to the consolidated 
supervision standard, the Board can terminate a foreign bank's 
operations for lack of consolidated supervision if the home 
country authorities are not making progress in establishing 
arrangements for the bank's consolidated supervision. Section 
235(c) provides the Board parallel authority to terminate 
federally licensed offices of foreign banks in addition to its 
current authority to terminate State-licensed offices.

          section 236. duplicate examination of foreign banks

    This section amends section 7(c) of the IBA relating to the 
Federal Reservice Board's examination authority over foreign 
banks. The amendment provides that (1) the Board must take all 
reasonable measures to coordinate examinations with the 
licensing authority of the foreign bank's branch or agency; and 
(2) a foreign bank's offices should be examined with the same 
frequency as a State or national bank (currently annually) and 
that this examination requirement may be met by an exam by 
State supervisor.
    This section also provides that the Board shall assess 
foreign banks for the costs of examinations, but only to the 
extent that State member banks are charged by the Board for 
their examination costs. This provision ensures parallel 
treatment of U.S. and foreign banks.

                     section 237. second mortgages

    This section amends the Home Ownership and Equity 
Protection Act of 1994 to apply only to subordinate mortgages. 
It also mandates the dismissal of any administrative 
enforcement proceedings or other actions which are pending on 
the date of enacting of the Financial Institutions Regulatory 
Relief Act of 1995 and are based on regulations in effect under 
the TILA with respect to high-cost residential mortgage 
transactions.

    section 238. streamlining federal deposit insurance corporation 
                   approval of new state bank powers

    This section gives insured state banks and their 
subsidiaries the ability to engage in new activities by giving 
the FDIC 60 days notice as long as the institution remains in 
compliance with appropriate capital standards. The FDIC may 
extend this notice period up to 30 days for the purpose of 
issuing notices of disapproval. The FDIC may disapprove any new 
activity unless it determines that the activity would pose a 
significant risk to the appropriate insurance fund.
       section 239. repeal of call report attestation requirement

    This section repeals the three-director attestation 
requirement. This is in addition to the provision requiring an 
officer to make a declaration as to the correctness of the call 
report.

       section 240. authority of the comptroller of the currency

    Section 240 places a permanent moratorium on the authority 
of the OCC to expand bank insurance powers, without rolling 
back the status quo. The section also provides for the 
functional regulation of national bank insurance activities. In 
prescribing the terms of state supervision of insurance, the 
section provides that no provision of section 5136, or any 
other section of this Title of the revised statutes (including 
section 5136B as added by this legislation) or section 13 of 
the Federal Reserve Act may be construed as limiting or 
otherwise impairing the authority of any state to regulate. 
During consideration of H.R. 1858 by the Committee, several 
modifications were made to section 240 to clarify its 
provisions. These modifications included:
          A ban on any State prohibitions relating to the 
        extent of insurance activities currently authorized for 
        national banks.
          State supervision of annuities limited to disclosure 
        and licensing. No ability to limit lobby sales.
          Grandfather from State regulation related to the 
        extent of insurance activities for all banks in towns 
        of 5000 currently engaged in insurance activities in 
        all States, subject to the outcome of pending 
        litigation.
          Non-discrimination provisions to require that any 
        State supervisory limitation is applied equally to 
        state banks and S&Ls.
          Non-discrimination language to protect against a 
        State insurance regulator labeling traditional banking 
        products as insurance.
          Limitation on the definition of insurance requiring 
        that the definition must be tied to a State regulator's 
        authority under the relevant State insurance law.
          Express protection of any rights to engage in 
        insurance activities by bank holding companies under 
        the BHCA.
    In addition, the Committee adopted an amendment designed to 
make it clear that State insurance regulators could not 
overstep their authority to establish the regulatory framework 
within which national banks can act as agent or broker in the 
sale of insurance. That amendment also sought to assure that 
State insurance regulators would not be able to define 
traditional banking products as insurance. It did that by 
retaining for the Comptroller of the Currency the ability to 
define the ``business of banking'' and authorizing national 
banks or their subsidiaries to engage in such activities. The 
Committee wishes to make clear, however, that this language 
does not permit the Comptroller to engage in definitional 
``games'' which was the genesis of Section 240 in the first 
place.
    The effect of this provision is to clarify that a State may 
not determine that certain traditional banking products--those 
that are part of the business of banking--are actually 
insurance products. The authority to determine what is 
insurance and what is traditionally banking, subject to this 
clarification, must be exercised in a manner consistent with 
the overall objective of new section 5136A of the revised 
statutes, which is to protect a State's authority to regulate 
insurance. It is clearly not within the scope of a State's 
authority under this Section, or otherwise, to determine that 
other types of traditional banking products, like standby 
letters of credit, swaps and other risk management tools, put 
option bonds, asset-backed securities, loan participations, 
stock indexed CDs, or other similar products, are insurance 
products for purposes of the National Bank Act.
    Insurance is a State regulated business and nothing in this 
legislation is intended to interfere with the functional 
regulation of insurance products. In keeping with that design, 
the Committee would not expect for the Comptroller to define 
any product as the ``business of banking'' which today is 
regulated as insurance by the States. While it may be true that 
some future products may have some insurance features and some 
banking features, the Committee does not expect the Comptroller 
to seek to broaden banking powers without Congressional 
authorization and the Comptroller should not declare any 
current insurance products, regulated as such by the States, to 
be the ``business of banking''.
    In addition, the Committee is aware that commodity futures 
and option contracts are used by national banks to hedge 
against or manage the risk of adverse price changes in various 
physical commodities and financial products and that some of 
these contracts are, in fact, traded by national banks to hedge 
against price movements in homeowners, catastrophe and other 
forms of insurance. In adopting a broad definition of 
``insurance'' for purposes of national bank activities under 
the legislation, the Committee does not intend to suggest that 
state regulations may permissibly define insurance so as to 
purport to regulate the offer, sale or trading in commodity 
futures and option contracts by national banks which are 
exclusively regulated by the CFTC under the Commodity Exchange 
Act.

 section 241. national bank community development insurance activities

    Section 241 authorizes the Comptroller of the Currency to 
approve an application by a national bank located in an 
empowerment zone to act as an insurance agent or broker. 
However, the bank must provide sufficient evidence that 
competitively priced insurance products are not adequately 
available and that the insurance products are sold only in the 
empowerment zone.
    This new section will provide greater access to insurance 
in disadvantaged communities where competitively priced 
insurance is inadequate. Moreover, this amendment will foster 
economic revitalization, such as new business and employment 
opportunities, in low income neighborhoods by permitting the 
sale of insurance in empowerment zones. Additionally, by 
requiring the sale of insurance to occur from a ``full-service 
branch'' in the empowerment zone, the amendment provides a 
significant incentive for banks to improve the quality and 
quantity of banking services in such communities.
    Effective immediately, this amendment allows national banks 
having main offices or full-service branches in areas eligible 
for designation as empowerment zones or enterprise communities 
under section 1392 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or in 
Indian reservations, to sell insurance from that location. The 
designation criteria for an empowerment zone or enterprise 
community assures that the community is one experiencing 
economic distress.

section 242. authorizing bank service companies to organize as limited 
                         liability partnerships

    Section 242 of this legislation modifies the Bank Service 
Corporation Act by expanding the scope of companies that may be 
owned by banks under the Act to include limited liability 
companies. These companies often combine the elements of both 
corporations and partnerships to provide more flexibility in 
management and in the sharing of profits among its owners than 
do corporations. Furthermore, these companies are taxed as 
partnerships under the Internal Revenue Code.
    Under current law, the Bank Service Corporation Act only 
allows multiple banks to invest in stock-owned corporations. 
These corporations are permitted to perform activities that the 
banks could engage in directly. It enables banks to join 
together to share overhead expenses and to realize the kinds of 
efficiencies of scale that are available to larger banks. By 
permitting institutions to own limited liability companies, 
banks will be granted even greater regulatory relief because of 
the increased flexibility, profit incentive, and tax treatment 
noted above. Restrictions on activities that are imposed on 
corporations under current law and the authority of the federal 
banking agencies to examine and regulate these companies would 
be maintained. Finally, banks would continue to be required to 
obtain prior approval from their primary banking regulator in 
order to invest in these companies.

  section 243. bank investment in edge act and agreement corporations

    Section 25A of the Federal Reserve Act imposes a non-
waivable limit on a member bank's ability to invest in 
subsidiaries organized under that section (i.e., Edge Act 
subsidiaries) and in subsidiaries held directly under Section 
25 of the Federal Reserve Act (i.e., certain financial service 
corporations held by a member bank's non-U.S. branches). The 
current non-waivable limit of 10% of a member bank's capital 
and surplus was enacted as part of the original Edge Act in 
1919, before U.S. banks or the Federal Reserve Board had 
significant international banking experience. The revision 
would extend the non-waivable limit to 25% of capital and 
surplus providing that the Federal Reserve Board does not find 
the additional amount would be unsafe and unsound. In making 
this determination, the Federal Reserve Board would consider, 
inter alia, the capital and management strength of the member 
bank. The amendment would not otherwise change current law.

   section 244. report on the reconciliation of differences between 
  regulatory accounting principles and generally accepted accounting 
                              principles.

    When the FDICIA was enacted in 1991, the Congress noted 
that differences between Regulatory Accounting Principles (RAP) 
and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) created 
significant, unnecessary and costly regulatory reporting and 
control burdens. Accordingly, Section 121 of FDICIA called for 
uniform accounting principles consistent with GAAP (unless the 
appropriate regulator found that a RAP standard was necessary 
to protect safety and soundness, etc.). However, the regulators 
seem to have taken no significant actions toward this goal. 
Therefore, this section requires each appropriate regulator to 
report to both the House Committee on Banking and Financial 
Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban 
Affairs, within 180 days of enactment, concerning the actions 
taken and to be taken to achieve the goal set by FDICIA. This 
report will set the stage for a meaningful Congressional review 
as an important step toward making sure that there is steady 
but prudent amelioration of this regulatory burden.

section 245. waivers authorized for residency requirement for national 
                             bank directors

    Section 5136 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 
(12 U.S.C. 72) imposes a residency requirement on directors of 
national banks. In general, current law requires all directors, 
during their whole term of service, to be citizens of the U.S. 
and requires that at least two-thirds of the directors must be 
residents of the State in which the bank is located, subject to 
certain exceptions. Section 245 provides that the Comptroller 
of the Currency may waive the residency requirement.

                      TITLE III--LENDER LIABILITY

                     section 301. lender liability

    Section 301 clarifies the liability under Federal 
environmental law for lenders, fiduciaries, and Federal banking 
and lending agencies by adding section 45 to the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Act. Although the Environmental Protection 
Agency promulgated rules which clarified exemptions for lenders 
and those who act in these capacities, the rule was overturned 
by a court case. Section 301, again, provides certainty as to 
when and to what extent these parties may be liable for 
violations under Federal environmental law for their lending, 
financial and fiduciary activities.
    New section 45(a) provides that a lender is liable when a 
lender actually participates in management of another person's 
environmental activities, regardless of the lender's status as 
a lending institution. A lender is considered under this 
section to be ``actually participating in management'' if a 
lender makes decisions regarding the disposition of hazardous 
substances or exercises control at a management level. 
``Actually participating in management'' does not include 
traditional lending activities, such as the extension of 
credit, holding a security interest, providing financial 
advice, or undertaking voluntary inspection of property, unless 
these activities rise to the level of participating in the 
operation and management of the property.
    A lender who is held liable pursuant to new section 45(a) 
shall be liable for the cost of any response or corrective 
action to the extent and for the amount that the lender 
actively and directly contributed to the hazardous substance 
release. However, a lender shall not be liable for the cost of 
any response or corrective action for a release of a hazardous 
substance which commences prior to and continues after the 
lender obtains a security interest in the property, so long as 
the lender does not actually participate in the management 
after obtaining a security interest in the property.
    Further, new section 45(b) provides that a fiduciary, while 
acting in a fiduciary capacity, is personally liable for non-
compliance with Federal environmental law as if the fiduciary 
holds the property free of trust. The fiduciary's liability is 
limited to assets of the trust or estate which are sufficient 
to indemnify the fiduciary. If a fiduciary is liable for 
environmental harm, section 45(b) makes clear that such 
liability does not otherwise override indemnification terms of 
the fiduciary contract of employee benefit plans made pursuant 
to section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act 
of 1974. However, the fiduciary's liability is not limited if 
(1) the fiduciary had preexisting liability, (2) the fiduciary 
fails to exercise due care or contributed to the release of a 
hazardous substance, or (3) the fiduciary established the trust 
for the purpose of avoiding or limiting liability under Federal 
environmental law.
    Lastly, new section 45(e) provides three limitations on 
environmental liability of Federal banking and lending agencies 
and their subsequent purchasers. First, new section 45(e)(1)(A) 
exempts Federal banking and lending agencies, their 
subsidiaries and subsequent purchasers from strict liability 
for the release of a hazardous substance on properties which 
were acquired in connection with (1) receivership, 
conservatorship, or through liquidation, (2) the provision of 
loans, discounts, advances, or other financial assistance, or 
(3) civil or criminal proceeding or administrative enforcement 
action, either by order or settlement under state law. However, 
if the party directly caused or materially contributed to the 
release of a hazardous substance, the party will be held liable 
for any remedial measures to cure the damages. Second, section 
45(e)(1)(B) limits the liability of these entities under State 
law to the value of the entity's interest in the property. 
Third, new section 45(e)(2) makes clear that government 
agencies and their subsequent purchasers are not subject to the 
environmental lien provisions at the time of transfer.
    While new section 45(e) provides the liability limitations 
for Federal banking and lending agencies and their subsequent 
purchasers, it specifically states in new section 45(e)(1)(B) 
that it does not preempt State law. It also does not immunize 
subsequent purchasers from liability if the purchaser (1) had 
preexisting liability to the property or is related to a party 
with such liability, (2) fails to agree to take reasonable 
steps necessary to abate the release or to protect public 
health and safety consistent with Federal environmental laws, 
or (3) directly causes or significantly and materially 
contributes to any additional release or threatened release on 
the property pursuant to new section 45(e)(1)(D)(iv). 
Furthermore, if the subsequent purchaser failed to take 
reasonable steps necessary to abate the release or to protect 
public health and safety under applicable Federal environmental 
laws, then the subsequent purchaser remains liable to the 
appropriate government agency for the costs of such remedial 
action, not exceeding the fair market value of the property, 
according to new section 45(e)(1)(E).
    Section 301(b) provides an effective date to occur upon the 
section's enactment and applies to any claim that has not 
reached final adjudication or settlement prior to enactment.

    TITLE IV--ANNUAL STUDY AND REPORT ON IMPACT ON LENDING TO SMALL 
                                BUSINESS

     SECTION 401. ANNUAL STUDY AND REPORT ON SMALL BUSINESS LENDING

    This section requires an annual study and report by the 
federal banking regulators on the impact this legislation has 
on lending to small businesses.
         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the 
bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed 
to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is 
printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed 
is shown in roman):

             REAL ESTATE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES ACT OF 1974

          * * * * * * *

                          findings and purpose

    Sec. 2. (a) * * *
    (b) It is the purpose of this Act to effect certain changes 
in the settlement process for residential real estate that will 
result--
          (1) in more effective advance disclosure to home 
        buyers and sellers of settlement costs;
          (2) in the elimination of kickbacks or referral fees 
        that tend to increase unnecessarily the costs of 
        certain settlement services without--
                  (A) directly regulating settlement services 
                prices; or
                  (B) directly regulating wages to bona fide 
                employees that are not designed as a subterfuge 
                to facilitate kickbacks among affiliated 
                companies;
          * * * * * * *

                              definitions

    Sec. 3. For purposes of this Act--
          (1) the term ``federally related mortgage loan'' 
        includes any loan (other than temporary financing such 
        as a construction loan) which--
                  (A) is secured by a first [or subordinate] 
                lien on residential real property (including 
                individual units of condominiums and 
                cooperatives) designed principally for the 
                occupancy of from one to four families, 
                including any such secured loan, the proceeds 
                of which are used to prepay or pay off an 
                existing loan secured by the same property; and
          * * * * * * *
          (7) the term ``[controlled business arrangement] 
        affiliated business arrangement'' means an arrangement 
        in which (A) a person who is in a position to refer 
        business incident to or a part of a real estate 
        settlement service involving a federally related 
        mortgage loan, or an associate of such person, has 
        either an affiliate relationship with or a direct or 
        beneficial ownership interest of more than 1 percent in 
        a provider of settlement services; and (B) either of 
        such persons directly or indirectly refers such 
        business to that provider or affirmately influences the 
        selection of that provider; [and]
          (8) the term ``associate'' means one who has one or 
        more of the following relationships with a person in a 
        position to refer settlement business: (A) a spouse, 
        parent, or child of such person; (B) a corporation or 
        business entity that controls, is controlled by, or is 
        under common control with such person; (C) an employer, 
        officer, director, partner, franchisor, or franchisee 
        of such person; or (D) anyone who has an agreement, 
        arrangement, or understanding, with such person, the 
        purpose or substantial effect of which is to enable the 
        person in a position to refer settlement business to 
        benefit financially from the referrals of such 
        business[.]; and
          (9) the term ``Board'' means the Board of Governors 
        of the Federal Reserve System.

                      uniform settlement statement

    Sec. 4. (a) The [Secretary] Board, in consultation with the 
Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, and the [Federal Home Loan Bank Board] 
Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, shall develop and 
prescribe a standard form for the statement of settlement costs 
which shall be used (with such variations as may be necessary 
to reflect differences in legal and administrative requirements 
or practices in different areas of the country) as the standard 
real estate settlement form in all transactions in the United 
States which involve federally related mortgage loans. Such 
form shall conspicuously and clearly itemize all charges 
imposed upon the borrower and all charges imposed upon the 
seller in connection with the settlement and shall indicate 
whether any title insurance premium included in such charges 
covers or insures the lender's interest in the property, the 
borrower's interest, or both. The [Secretary] Board may, by 
regulation, permit the deletion from the form prescribed under 
this section of items which are not, under local laws or 
customs, applicable in any locality, except that such 
regulation shall require that the numerical code prescribed by 
the [Secretary] Board be retained in forms to be used in all 
localities. Nothing in this section may be construed to require 
that that part of the standard form which relates to the 
borrower's transaction to be furnished to the seller, or to 
require that that part of the standard form which relates to 
the seller be furnished to the borrower.
    (b) The form prescribed under this section shall be 
completed and made available for inspection by the borrower at 
or before settlement by the person conducting the settlement, 
except that (1) the [Secretary] Board may exempt from the 
requirements of this section settlements occurring in 
localities where the final settlement statement is not 
customarily provided at or before the date of settlement, or 
settlements where such requirements are impractical and (2) the 
borrower may, in accordance with regulations of the [Secretary] 
Board, waive his right to have the form made available at such 
time. Upon the request of the borrower to inspect the form 
prescribed under this section during the business day 
immediately preceding the day of settlement, the person who 
will conduct the settlement shall permit the borrower to 
inspect those items which are known to such person during such 
preceding day.

                      special information booklets

    Sec. 5. (a) The [Secretary] Board shall prepare and 
distribute booklets to help persons borrowing money to finance 
the purchase of residential real estate better to understand 
the nature and costs of real estate settlement services. The 
[Secretary] Board shall distribute such booklets to all lenders 
which make federally related mortgage loans.
    (b) Each booklet shall be in such form and detail as the 
[Secretary] Board shall prescribe and, in addition to such 
other information as the [Secretary] Board may provide, shall 
include in clear and concise language--
          (1) a description and explanation of the nature and 
        purpose of each cost incident to a real estate 
        settlement;
          (2) an explanation and sample of the standard real 
        estate settlement form developed and prescribed under 
        section 4;
          (3) a description and explanation of the nature and 
        purpose of escrow accounts when used in connection with 
        loans secured by residential real estate;
          (4) an explanation of the choices available to buyers 
        of residential real estate in selecting persons to 
        provide necessary services incident to a real estate 
        settlement; and
          (5) an explanation of the unfair practices and 
        unreasonable or unnecessary charges to be avoided by 
        the prospective buyer with respect to a real estate 
        settlement.
    (c) Each lender shall include with the booklet a good faith 
estimate of the amount or range of charges for specific 
settlement services the borrower is likely to incur in 
connection with the settlement as prescribed by the [Secretary] 
Board. Such booklets shall take into consideration differences 
in real estate settlement procedures which may exist among the 
several States and territories of the United States and among 
separate political subdivisions within the same State and 
territory.
    (d) Each lender referred to in subsection (a) shall provide 
the booklet described in such subsection to each person from 
whom it receives or for whom it prepares a written application 
to borrow money to finance the purchase of residential real 
estate. Such booklet shall be provided by delivering it or 
placing it in the mail not later than 3 business days after the 
lender receives the application, but no booklet need be 
provided if the lender denies the application for credit before 
the end of the 3-day period.
    (e) Booklets may be printed and distributed by lenders if 
their form and content are approved by the [Secretary] Board as 
meeting the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.

   servicing of mortgage loans and administration of escrow accounts

  Sec. 6. [(a) Disclosure to Applicant Relating to Assignment, 
Sale, or Transfer of Loan Servicing.--
          [(1) In general.--Each person who makes a federally 
        related mortgage loan shall disclose to each person who 
        applies for any such loan, at the time of application 
        for the loan--
                  [(A) whether the servicing of any such loan 
                may be assigned, sold, or transferred to any 
                other person at any time while such loan is 
                outstanding;
                  [(B) at the choice of the person making a 
                federally related mortgage loan--
                          [(i) for each of the most recent 3 
                        calendar years completed (at the time 
                        of such application), the percentage 
                        (rounded to the nearest quartile) of 
                        loans made by such person for which the 
                        servicing has been assigned, sold, or 
                        transferred as of the end of the most 
                        recent calendar year completed, except 
                        that--
                                  [(I) for any loan application 
                                during the 12-month period 
                                beginning on the date of the 
                                enactment of the Cranston-
                                Gonzalez National Affordable 
                                Housing Act, the information 
                                disclosed under this 
                                subparagraph may be for only 
                                the most recent calendar year 
                                completed, and for any loan 
                                application during the 12-month 
                                period beginning 1 year after 
                                the date of the enactment of 
                                the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
                                Affordable Housing Act, the 
                                information disclosed under 
                                this subparagraph may be for 
                                the most recent 2 calendar 
                                years completed; and
                                  [(II) this subparagraph may 
                                not be construed to require the 
                                inclusion, in the percentage 
                                disclosed, of any loans the 
                                servicing of which has been 
                                assigned, sold, or transferred 
                                by the person making the loan 
                                to a transferee servicer that 
                                is an affiliate or subsidiary 
                                of such person; or
                          [(ii) a statement that the person 
                        making the loan has previously 
                        assigned, sold, or transferred the 
                        servicing of federally related mortgage 
                        loans; and
                  [(C) if the person who makes the loan does 
                not engage in the servicing of any federally 
                related mortgage loans, that there is a present 
                intent on the part of such person (at the time 
                of such application) to assign, sell, or 
                transfer the servicing of such loan to another 
                person.
          [(2) Model disclosure statements.--Not later than 90 
        days after the date of the enactment of the Cranston-
        Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, the Secretary 
        shall develop a model disclosure statement for 
        notification to applicants under paragraph (1) with 
        respect to servicing procedures, transfer practices and 
        requirements, and complaint resolution. The model 
        statement shall provide for the person originating the 
        loan to disclose their capacity to service loans and 
        the best available estimate of the percentage of all 
        loans made by such person for which the servicing will 
        be assigned, sold, or transferred during the 12-month 
        period beginning upon the origination. The estimate 
        shall be expressed as one of the following range of 
        possibilities--between 0 and 25 percent, between 26 and 
        50 percent, between 51 and 75 percent, or between 76 
        and 100 percent. This paragraph may not be construed to 
        require the inclusion, in the estimate disclosed, of 
        any loans the servicing of which will be assigned, 
        sold, or transferred by the person originating the loan 
        to a transferee servicer that is an affiliate or 
        subsidiary of such person.
          [(3) Signature of applicant.--Any disclosure of the 
        information required under paragraph (1) shall not be 
        effective for purposes of this section unless the 
        disclosure is accompanied by a written statement, in 
        such form as the Secretary shall develop before the 
        expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date 
        of the enactment of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
        Affordable Housing Act, that the applicant has read and 
        understood the disclosure  and  that  is  evidenced  by 
         the  signature  of  the applicant at the place where 
        such statement appears in the application.]
  (a) Disclosure to Applicant Relating to Assignment, Sale, or 
Transfer of Loan Servicing.--
          (1) In general.--Each person who makes a federally 
        related mortgage loan shall disclose to each person who 
        applies for any such loan, at the time of application 
        for the loan, whether the servicing of any such loan 
        may be assigned, sold, or transferred to any other 
        person at any time while such loan is outstanding.
          (2) Signature of applicant.--Any disclosure of the 
        information required under paragraph (1) shall not be 
        effective for purposes of this section unless the 
        disclosure is accompanied by a written statement, in 
        such form as the Secretary shall develop before the 
        expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date 
        of the enactment of the Financial Institutions 
        Regulatory Relief Act of 1995, that the applicant has 
        read and understood the disclosure and that is 
        evidenced by the signature of the applicant at the 
        place where such statement appears in the application.
          * * * * * * *
      (j) Transition.--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (3) Regulations and effective date.--The [Secretary] 
        Board shall, by regulations that shall take effect not 
        later than April 20, 1991, establish any requirements 
        necessary to carry out this section. Such regulations 
        shall include the model disclosure statement required 
        under subsection (a)(2).

SEC. 7. EXEMPTED TRANSACTIONS.

  (a) In General.--This Act does not apply to credit 
transactions involving extensions of credit--
          (1) primarily for business, commercial, or 
        agricultural purposes; or
          (2) to government or governmental agencies or 
        instrumentalities.
  (b) Interpretation.--In issuing regulations pursuant to 
section 19(a) of this Act, the Board shall ensure that, with 
regard to subsection (a), the exemption for business credit 
includes all business credit which is exempt from the Truth in 
Lending Act in accordance with section 226.3(a) of the 
regulations prescribed by the Board known as ``regulation Z'' 
(12 C.F.R. 226.3(a)), as in effect on the date of enactment of 
the Financial Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995.
            prohibition against kickbacks and unearned fees

      Sec. 8. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as 
prohibiting (1) the payment of a fee (A) to attorneys at law 
for services actually rendered or (B) by a title company to its 
duly appointed agent for services actually performed in the 
issuance of a policy of title insurance or (C) by a lender to 
its duly appointed agent for services actually performed in the 
making of a loan, (2) the payment to any person of a bona fide 
salary or compensation or other payment for goods or facilities 
actually furnished or for services actually performed, (3) 
payments pursuant to cooperative brokerage and referral 
arrangements or agreements between real estate agents and 
brokers, (4) [controlled business arrangements] affiliated 
business arrangements so long as (A) at or prior to the time of 
the referral a disclosure is made of the existence of such an 
arrangement to the person being referred and, in connection 
with the referral, such person is provided a written estimate 
of the charge or range of charges generally made by the 
provider to which the person is referred, except that where a 
lender makes the referral, this requirement may be satisfied as 
part of and at the time that the estimates of settlement 
charges required under section 5(c) are provided, (B) such 
person is not required to use any particular provider of 
settlement services, and (C) the only thing of value that is 
received from the arrangement, other than the payments 
permitted under this subsection, is a return on the ownership 
interest or franchise relationship, or (5) such other payments 
or classes of payments or other transfers as are specified in 
regulations prescribed by the Secretary, after consultation 
with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, and the Secretary of Agriculture. For purposes of the 
preceding sentence, the following shall not be considered a 
violation of clause (4)(B): (i) any arrangement that requires a 
buyer, borrower, or seller to pay for the services of an 
attorney, credit reporting agency, or real estate appraiser 
chosen by the lender to represent the lender's interest in a 
real estate transaction, or (ii) any arrangement where an 
attorney or law firm represents a client in a real estate 
transaction issues or arranges for the issuance of a policy of 
title insurance in the transaction directly as agent or through 
a separate corporate title insurance agency that may be 
established by that attorney or law firm and operated as an 
adjunct to his or its law practice.
    (d)(1) Any person or persons who willfully violate the 
provisions of this section shall be fined not more than $10,000 
or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
          * * * * * * *
    (3) No person or persons shall be liable for a violation of 
the provisions of section (8)(c)(4)(A) if such person or 
persons proves by a preponderance of the evidence that such 
violation [was not intentional and] resulted from a bona fide 
error notwithstanding maintenance of procedures that are 
reasonably adapted to avoid such error.
    (4) The Secretary, any other agency described in subsection 
(f)(1), the Attorney General of any State, or the insurance 
commissioner of any State may bring an action to enjoin 
violations of this section.
          * * * * * * *
    (6) No provision of State law or regulation that imposes 
more stringent limitations on [controlled business 
arrangements] affiliated business arrangements shall be 
construed as being inconsistent with this section.
          * * * * * * *
  (e) Negotiated Regulations.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary may not publish a 
        proposed or final regulation under this section and 
        section 9 after the date of the enactment of the 
        Financial Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995 
        unless the Secretary has used the negotiated rulemaking 
        procedure established under subchapter III of chapter 5 
        of title 5, United States Code, to attempt to negotiate 
        and develop the rule.
          (2) Consistency with purpose.--Any regulation 
        prescribed in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be 
        consistent with the purposes of this title as set forth 
        in section 2.
  (f) Administrative Enforcement.--
          (1) In general.--Compliance with the requirements of 
        this section and sections 9 and 12 shall be enforced 
        under this Act--
                  (A) in the case of an insured depository 
                institution (as defined in section 3 of the 
                Federal Deposit Insurance Act), by the 
                appropriate Federal banking agency (as defined 
                in such section);
                  (B) in the case of an insured credit union 
                (as defined in section 101(7) of the Federal 
                Credit Union Act), by the National Credit Union 
                Administration;
                  (C) in the case of a bank holding company (as 
                defined in section 2 of the Bank Holding 
                Company Act of 1956) and any affiliate of any 
                such holding company (other than an insured 
                depository institution), by the Board;
                  (D) in the case of a savings and loan holding 
                company (as defined in section 10 of the Home 
                Owners' Loan Act) and any affiliate of any such 
                holding company (other than an insured 
                depository institution), by the Director of the 
                Office of Thrift Supervision; and
                  (E) in the case of any other person, by the 
                Secretary.
          (2) Special rules relating to determination of 
        appropriate regulator.--
                  (A) Cases of more than 1 appropriate 
                regulator.--If, under paragraph (1), a company 
                may be regulated by more than 1 agency, the 
                Board shall determine which agency shall be the 
                responsible agency, notwithstanding paragraph 
                (1).
                  (B) Cases involving joint ventures, 
                partnerships, and other affiliated business 
                arrangements.--If any insured depository 
                institution is involved in a joint venture, 
                partnership, or other affiliated business 
                arrangement with any person who is not an 
                insured depository institution, the agency 
                responsible for enforcing this section and 
                sections 9 and 12 with respect to such insured 
                depository institution shall be the agency with 
                such responsibility with respect to such joint 
                venture, partnership, or other affiliated 
                business arrangement.
          (3) Interagency cooperation and enforcement 
        guidelines.--All the agencies referred to in any 
        subparagraph of paragraph (1) shall cooperate with each 
        other to develop enforcement guidelines and other means 
        for achieving effective compliance with this section 
        and sections 9 and 12.
          (4) Preference for civil enforcement over criminal 
        enforcement.--As part of the cooperative efforts 
        required under paragraph (3), the agencies referred to 
        in paragraph (1) shall consider means for achieving 
        compliance with this section and section 9 through the 
        exercise of administrative enforcement authority under 
        this subsection without resorting to criminal 
        enforcement actions under subsection (d) except in 
        appropriate cases.
          (5) Effective date.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not 
        take effect until joint interagency cooperation and 
        enforcement guidelines are adopted by all the agencies 
        to which paragraphs (1) and (2) apply and the 
        enforcement authority of the Secretary with respect to 
        this section and sections 9 and 12 shall continue until 
        such paragraphs take effect.
          * * * * * * *

                            escrow accounts

    Sec. 10. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    (c) Escrow Account Statements.--
          (1) Initial statement.--
                  (A) * * *
          * * * * * * *
                  (C) Initial statement at closing.--Any 
                servicer may submit the statement required 
                under subparagraph (A) to the borrower at 
                closing and may incorporate such statement in 
                the uniform settlement statement required under 
                section 4. [Not later than the expiration of 
                the 90-day period beginning on the date of the 
                enactment of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
                Affordable Housing Act, the] The Secretary 
                shall issue regulations prescribing any changes 
                necessary to the uniform settlement statement 
                under section 4 that specify how the statement 
                required under subparagraph (A) of this section 
                shall be incorporated in the uniform settlement 
                statement.
          * * * * * * *
    (d) Penalties.--
          (1) In general.--In the case of each failure to 
        submit a statement to a borrower as required under 
        subsection (c), the [Secretary] Board shall assess to 
        the lender or escrow servicer failing to submit the 
        statement a civil penalty of $50 for each such failure, 
        but the total amount imposed on such lender or escrow 
        servicer for all such failures during any 12-month 
        period referred to in subsection (b) may not exceed 
        $100,000.
          * * * * * * *

[establishment on demonstration basis of land parcel recordation system

    [Sec. 13. The Secretary shall establish and place in 
operation on a demonstration basis, in representative political 
subdivisions (selected by him) in various areas of the United 
States, a model system or systems for the recordation of land 
title information in a manner and form calculated to facilitate 
and simplify land transfers and mortgage transactions and 
reduce the cost thereof, with a view to the possible 
development (utilizing the information and experience gained 
under this section) of a nationally uniform system of land 
parcel recordation.

 [report of the secretary on necessity for further congressional action

    [Sec. 14. (a) The Secretary, after consultation with the 
Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, 
and after such study, investigation, and hearings (at which 
representatives of consumers' groups shall be allowed to 
testify) as he deems appropriate, shall, not less than three 
years nor more than five years from the effective date of this 
Act, report to the Congress on whether, in view of the 
implementation of the provisions of this Act imposing certain 
requirements and prohibiting certain practices in connection 
with real estate settlements, there is any necessity for 
further legislation in this area.
    [(b) If the Secretary concludes that there is necessity for 
futher legislation, he shall report to the Congress on the 
specific practices or problems that should be the subject of 
such legislation and the corrective measures that need to be 
taken. In addition, the Secretary shall include in his report--
          [(1) recommendations on the desirability of requiring 
        lenders of federally related mortgage loans to bear the 
        costs of particular real estate settlement services 
        that would otherwise be paid for by borrowers;
          [(2) recommendations on whether Federal regulation of 
        the charges for real estate settlement services in 
        federally related mortgage transactions is necessary 
        and desirable, and, if he concludes that such 
        regulation is necessary and desirable, a description 
        and analysis of the regulatory scheme he believes 
        Congress should adopt; and
          [(3) recommendations on the ways in which the Federal 
        Government can assist and encourage local governments 
        to modernize their methods for the recordation of land 
        title information, including the feasibility of 
        providing financial assistance or incentives to local 
        governments that seek to adopt one of the model systems 
        developed by the Secretary in accordance with the 
        provisons of section 13 of this Act.

 [demonstration to determine feasibility of including state- ments of 
            settlement costs in special information booklets

    [Sec. 15. The Secretary shall, on a demonstration basis in 
selected housing market areas, have prepared and included in 
the special information booklets required to be furnished under 
section 5 of this Act, statements of the range of costs for 
specific settlement services in such areas. Not later than June 
30, 1976, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a full 
report on the demonstration conducted under this section. Such 
report shall contain the Secretary's assessment of the 
feasibility of preparing and including settlement cost range 
statements for all housing market areas in the special 
information booklets for such areas.]

                         jurisdiction of courts

    Sec. 16. Any action pursuant to the provisions of section 8 
or 9 may be brought in the United States district court or in 
any other court of competent jurisdiction, for the district in 
which the property involved is located, or where the violation 
is alleged to have occurred, within one year from the date of 
the occurrence of the violation, except that actions brought by 
the [Secretary,] Board, an agency referred to in any 
subparagraph of section 8(f)(1), the Attorney General of any 
State, or the insurance commissioner of any State may be 
brought within 3 years from the date of the occurrence of the 
violation.
          * * * * * * *

                         relation to state laws

    Sec. 18. This Act does not annul, alter, or affect, or 
exempt any person subject to the provisions of this Act from 
complying with, the laws of any State with respect to 
settlement practices, except to the extent that those laws are 
inconsistent with any provision of this Act, and then only to 
the extent of the inconsistency. The [Secretary is authorized 
to] Board and Secretary may jointly determine whether such 
inconsistencies exist. The Board and Secretary may not 
determine that any State law is inconsistent with any provision 
of this Act if the Board and Secretary [determines] determine 
that such laws gives greater protection to the consumer. In 
making these determinations the Board and Secretary shall 
consult with the appropriate Federal agencies.

                      [authority of the secretary]
        authority of the secretary and the federal reserve board
    Sec. 19. [(a) The Secretary is authorized to prescribe such 
rules and regulations, to make such interpretations, and to 
grant such reasonable exemptions for classes of transactions, 
as may be necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act.] (a) 
Regulations.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
        Secretary and the Board may prescribe such regulations, 
        make such interpretations, and grant such reasonable 
        exemptions for classes of transactions, as may be 
        necessary to achieve the purposes of this Act.
          (2) Application.--
                  (A) Board.--The authority of the Board under 
                paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to--
                          (i) sections 4, 5, 6, 10, and 12; and
                          (ii) sections 3, 7, 17, and 18 to the 
                        extent such sections are applicable 
                        with respect to the sections described 
                        in clause (i).
                  (B) Secretary.--The authority of the 
                Secretary under paragraph (1) shall apply with 
                respect to--
                          (i) sections 8 and 9; and
                          (ii) sections 3, 7, 17, and 18 to the 
                        extent such sections are applicable 
                        with respect to the sections described 
                        in clause (i).
    (b) No provision of this Act or the laws of any State 
imposing any liability shall apply to any act done or omitted 
in good faith in conformity with any rule, regulation, or 
interpretation thereof by the Secretary, the Board, or the 
Attorney General, notwithstanding that after such act or 
omission has occurred, such rule, regulation, or interpretation 
is amended, rescinded, or determined by judicial or other 
authority to be invalid for any reason.
    (c)(1) The [Secretary] Board, with respect to any action to 
enforce section 4, 5, 6, or 10, and each agency referred to in 
any subparagraph of section 8(f)(1), with respect to any action 
to enforce section 8, 9, or 12, may investigate any facts, 
conditions, practices, or matters that may be deemed necessary 
or proper to aid in the enforcement of the provisions of this 
Act, in prescribing of rules and regulations thereunder, or in 
securing information to serve as a basis for recommending 
further legislation concerning real estate settlement 
practices. To aid in the investigations, the [Secretary] Board 
or such other agency is authorized to hold such hearings, 
administer such oaths, and require by subpena the attendance 
and testimony of such witnesses and production of such 
documents as the [Secretary] Board or such other agency deems 
advisable.
    (2) Any district court of the United States within the 
jurisdiction of which an inquiry is carried on may, in the case 
of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena of the [Secretary] 
Board or an agency referred to in any subparagraph of section 
8(f)(1) issued under this section, issue an order requiring 
compliance therewith; and any failure to obey such order of the 
court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

                          TRUTH IN LENDING ACT

                     TITLE I--CONSUMER CREDIT COST

          * * * * * * *
                     CHAPTER 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS

          * * * * * * *

Sec. 101. Short title

  This title may be cited as the Truth in Lending Act.
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 103. Definitions and rules of construction

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (aa)(1) A mortgage referred to in this subsection means a 
consumer credit transaction that is secured by a subordinate 
mortgage on the consumer's principal dwelling, other than [a 
residential mortgage transaction], a reverse mortgage 
transaction, or a transaction under an open end credit plan, 
if--
          (A) * * *
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 104. Exempted transactions

  This title does not apply to the following:
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (7) Transactions for which the Board, by regulation, 
        determines that coverage under the Act is not needed to 
        carry out the purposes of the Act.

Sec. 105. Regulations

  (a) * * *
  (b) Exemptive Authority.--
          (1) In general.--The Board shall exempt from all or 
        parts of this title any class of transactions for 
        which, in the Board's judgment, coverage under all or 
        part of this title does not provide a measurable 
        benefit to consumers in the form of useful information 
        or protection.
          (2) Factors to be considered.--In determining which 
        classes of transactions to exempt in whole or in part, 
        the Board shall consider, among other factors, the 
        following:
                  (A) The amount of the loan or closing costs 
                and whether the disclosures, right of 
                rescission, and other provisions are necessary, 
                particularly for small loans.
                  (B) Whether the requirements of this title 
                complicate, hinder, or make more expensive the 
                credit process for the class of transactions.
                  (C) The status of the borrower, including, 
                the borrowers' related financial arrangements, 
                the financial sophistication of the borrower 
                relative to the type of transaction, and the 
                importance of the credit and related supporting 
                property to the borrower.
  [(b)] (c) The Board shall publish model disclosure forms and 
clauses for common transactions to facilitate compliance with 
the disclosure requirements of this title and to aid the 
borrower or lessee in understanding the transaction by 
utilizing readily understandable language to simplify the 
technical nature of the disclosures. In devising such forms, 
the Board shall consider the use by creditors or lessors of 
data processing or similar automated equipment. Nothing in this 
title may be construed to require a creditor or lessor to use 
any such model form or clause prescribed by the Board under 
this section. A creditor or lessor shall be deemed to be in 
compliance with the disclosure provisions of this title with 
respect to other than numerical disclosures if the creditor or 
lessor (1) uses any appropriate model form or clause as 
published by the Board, or (2) uses any such model form or 
clause and changes it by (A) deleting any information which is 
not required by this title, or (B) rearranging the format, if 
in making such deletion or rearranging the format, the creditor 
or lessor does not affect the substance, clarity, or meaningful 
sequence of the disclosure.
  [(c)] (d) Model disclosure forms and clauses shall be adopted 
by the Board after notice duly given in the Federal Register 
and an opportunity for public comment in accordance with 
section 553 of title 5, United States Code.
  [(d)] (e) Any regulation of the Board, or any amendment or 
interpretation thereof, requiring any disclosure which differs 
from the disclosures previously required by this chapter, 
chapter 4, or chapter 5, or by any regulation of the Board 
promulgated thereunder shall have an effective date of that 
October 1 which follows by at least six months the date of 
promulgation, except that the Board may at its discretion take 
interim action by regulation, amendment, or interpretation to 
lengthen the period of time permitted for creditors or lessors 
to adjust their forms to accommodate new requirements or 
shorten the length of time for creditors or lessors to make 
such adjustments when it makes a specific finding that such 
action is necessary to comply with the findings of a court or 
to prevent unfair or deceptive disclosure practices. 
Notwithstanding the previous sentence, any creditor or lessor 
may comply with any such newly promulgated disclosure 
requirements prior to the effective date of the requirements.

Sec. 106. Determination of finance charge

  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the amount 
of the finance charge in connection with any consumer credit 
transaction shall be determined as the sum of all charges, 
payable directly or indirectly by the person to whom the credit 
is extended, and imposed directly or indirectly by the creditor 
as an incident to the extension of credit. The finance charge 
does not include charges of a type payable in a comparable cash 
transaction. The finance charge shall not include fees and 
amounts imposed by third party closing agents (including 
settlement agents, attorneys, and escrow and title companies) 
if the creditor does not expressly require the imposition of 
the charges or the services provided and does not retain the 
charges. Examples of charges which are included in the finance 
charge include any of the following types of charges which are 
applicable.
          (1) Interest, time price differential, and any amount 
        payable under a point, discount, or other system of 
        additional charges.
          (2) Service or carrying charge.
          (3) Loan fee, finder's fee, or similar charge.
          (4) Fee for an investigation or credit report.
          (5) Premium or other charge for any guarantee or 
        insurance protecting the creditor against the obligor's 
        default or other credit loss.
          (6) Mortgage broker fees.
          * * * * * * *
  [(c) Charges or premiums for insurance, written in connection 
with any consumer credit transaction, against loss of or damage 
to property or against liability arising out of the ownership 
or use of property, shall be included in the finance charge 
unless a clear and specific statement in writing is furnished 
by the creditor to the person to whom the credit is extended, 
setting forth the cost of the insurance if obtained from or 
through the creditor, and stating that the person to whom the 
credit is extended may choose the person through which the 
insurance is to be obtained.]
  (c) Treatment of Certain Debt Cancellation and Deficiency 
Waiver Contracts.--Charges or premiums for any insurance or for 
any voluntary noninsurance product, written in connection with 
any consumer credit transaction, that provides protections 
against loss of or damage to property or against part or all of 
the debtor's liability for amounts in excess of the value of 
the collateral securing the debtor's obligation, or against 
liability arising out of the ownership or use of property, 
shall be included in the finance charge unless a clear and 
specific statement in writing is furnished by the creditor to 
the person to whom the credit is extended, setting forth the 
cost of the insurance or product if obtained from or through 
the creditor, and stating that the person to whom credit is 
extended may choose the person through which the insurance or 
product is to be obtained.
  (d) If any of the following items is itemized and disclosed 
in accordance with the regulations of the Board in connection 
with any transaction, then the creditor need not include that 
item in the computation of the finance charge with respect to 
that transaction:
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (3) Any tax levied on security instruments or on 
        documents evidencing indebtedness if the payment of 
        such taxes is a precondition for recording the 
        instrument securing the evidence of indebtedness.
  (e) The following items, when charged in connection with any 
extension of credit secured by an interest in real property, 
shall not be included in the computation of the finance charge 
with respect to that transaction:
          (1) * * *
          [(2) Fees for preparation of a deed, settlement 
        statement, or other documents.]
          (2) Fees for preparation of loan-related documents 
        and for attending or conducting settlement.
          (3) Escrows for future payments of taxes and 
        insurance.
          (4) Fees for notarizing deeds and other documents.
          (5) Appraisal fees, including fees related to pest 
        infestations, premises and structural inspections, and 
        flood hazards.
          (6) Credit reports.
  (f) Tolerances for Accuracy.--In connection with credit 
transactions not under an open end credit plan that are secured 
by real property or a dwelling, the disclosure of the finance 
charge and other disclosures affected by any finance charge--
          (1) except as provided in paragraph (2), shall be 
        treated as being accurate for purposes of this title if 
        the amount disclosed as the finance charge--
                  (A) does not vary from the actual finance 
                charge by more than an amount equal to \1/2\ of 
                the numerical tolerance corresponding to, and 
                generated by, the tolerance provided by section 
                107(c) with respect to the annual percentage 
                rate, but in no case may the tolerance under 
                this paragraph be less than $25 or greater than 
                $200; or
                  (B) is greater than the amount required to be 
                disclosed under this title; and
          (2) shall be treated as being accurate for purposes 
        of section 125 if the amount disclosed as the finance 
        charge does not vary from the actual finance charge by 
        more than an amount equal to 0.5 percent of the total 
        amount of credit extended.
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 108. Administrative enforcement

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (e)(1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), no adjustment shall be 
ordered (A) if it would have a significantly adverse impact 
upon the safety or soundness of the creditor, but [in any such 
case, the agency may require] in any such case, the agency may 
(i) require a partial adjustment in an amount which does not 
have such an impact[, except that with respect to any 
transaction consummated after the effective date of section 608 
of the Truth in Lending Simplification and Reform Act, the 
agency shall]; or (ii) require the full adjustment, but permit 
the creditor to make the required adjustment in partial 
payments over an extended period of time which the agency 
considers to be [reasonable,] reasonable if, in the case of an 
agency referred to in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection 
(a), the agency determines that a partial adjustment or the 
making of partial payments over an extended period is necessary 
to avoid causing the creditor to become undercapitalized (as 
determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by such 
agency under section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act); 
(B) if the amount of the adjustment would be less than $1, 
except that if more than one year has elapsed since the date of 
the violation, the agency may require that such amount be paid 
into the Treasury of the United States, or (C) except where 
such disclosure error resulted from a willful violation which 
was intended to mislead the person to whom credit was extended, 
in the case of an open-end credit plan, more than two years 
after the violation, or in the case of any other extension of 
credit, as follows:
          (i) * * *
          * * * * * * *

                     CHAPTER 2--CREDIT TRANSACTIONS
Sec.
121. General requirement of disclosure.
122. Form of disclosure; additional information.
     * * * * * * *
139. Certain limitations on liability.
Sec. 121. General requirement of disclosure

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (c) The Board may provide by regulation that any portion of 
the information required to be disclosed by this title may be 
given in the form of estimates where the provider of such 
information is not in a position to know exact information. In 
the case of any consumer credit transaction a portion of the 
interest on which is determined on a per diem basis and is to 
be collected upon the consummation of such transaction, any 
disclosure with respect to such portion of interest shall be 
deemed to be accurate for purposes of this title if the 
disclosure is based on information actually known to the 
creditor at the time that the disclosure documents are being 
prepared for the consummation of the transaction.
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 125. Right of rescission as to certain transactions

  (a) * * *
  (b) When an obligor exercises his right to rescind under 
subsection (a), he is not liable for any finance or other 
charge, except any charge for an appraisal report or credit 
report, and any security interest given by the obligor, 
including any such interest arising by operation of law, 
becomes void upon such a rescission. Within 20 days after 
receipt of a notice of rescission, the creditor shall return to 
the obligor any money or property given as earnest money, 
downpayment, or [otherwise] as otherwise required under this 
subsection, and shall take any action necessary or appropriate 
to reflect the termination of any security interest created 
under the transaction. If the creditor has delivered any 
property to the obligor, the obligor may retain possession of 
it. Upon the performance of the creditor's obligations under 
this section, the obligor shall tender the property to the 
creditor, except that if return of the property in kind would 
be impracticable or inequitable, the obligor shall tender its 
reasonable value. Tender shall be made at the location of the 
property or at the residence of the obligor, at the option of 
the obligor. If the creditor does not take possession of the 
property within 20 days after tender by the obligor, ownership 
of the property vests in the obligor without obligation on his 
part to pay for it. The procedures prescribed by this 
subsection shall apply except when otherwise ordered by a 
court.
          * * * * * * *
  (e) This section does not apply to--
          (1) a residential mortgage transaction as defined in 
        section 103(w);
          (2) a transaction which constitutes a refinancing or 
        consolidation (with no new advances), other than a 
        transaction described in subsection (e)(5), of the 
        principal balance then due and any accrued and unpaid 
        finance charges of an existing extension of credit by 
        the same creditor secured by an interest in the same 
        property;
          (3) a transaction in which an agency of a State is 
        the creditor; [or]
          (4) advances under a preexisting open end credit plan 
        if a security interest has already been retained or 
        acquired and such advances are in accordance with a 
        previously established credit limit for such plan[.]; 
        or
          (5) a transaction, other than a mortgage referred to 
        in section 103(aa), which--
                  (A) is a refinancing of the principal balance 
                then due and any accrued and unpaid finance 
                charges of a residential mortgage transaction 
                as defined in section 103(w), or is any 
                subsequent refinancing of such a transaction; 
                and
                  (B) does not provide any new consolidation or 
                new advance.
          * * * * * * *
  (h) Limitation on Rescission.--An obligor shall have no 
rescission rights arising from the form of written notice used 
by the creditor to inform the obligor of the rights of the 
obligor under this section, if the creditor provided the 
obligor the appropriate form of written notice published and 
adopted by the Board, or a comparable written notice of the 
rights of the obligor, that was properly completed by the 
creditor.
  (i) Rescission Rights in Foreclosure.--
          (1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 139, and 
        subject to the time period provided in subsection (f), 
        in addition to any other right of rescission available 
        under this section for a transaction, upon an action of 
        a creditor to execute foreclosure on the primary 
        dwelling of an obligor securing an extension of credit, 
        the obligor shall have a right to rescind the 
        transaction equivalent to other rescission rights 
        provided by this section, if--
                  (A) a mortgage brokers fee is not included in 
                the finance charge in accordance with the laws 
                and regulations in effect at the time the 
                consumer credit transaction was consummated; or
                  (B) the form of notice of rescission for the 
                transaction is not the appropriate form of 
                written notice published and adopted by the 
                Board or a comparable written notice, or was 
                not properly completed by the creditor.
          (2) Tolerance for disclosures.--Notwithstanding 
        section 106(f), and subject to the time period provided 
        in subsection (f), for the purposes of exercising any 
        rescission rights following an action by a creditor to 
        foreclose on the principal dwelling of the obligor 
        securing an extension of credit, the disclosure of the 
        finance charge and other disclosures affected by any 
        finance charge shall be treated as being accurate for 
        purposes of this section if the amount disclosed as the 
        finance charge does not vary from the actual finance 
        charge by more than $35 or is greater than the amount 
        required to be disclosed under this title.
          * * * * * * *

SEC. 127A.  DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR OPEN END CONSUMER CREDIT PLANS 
                    SECURED BY THE CONSUMER'S PRINCIPAL DWELLING.

  (a) Application Disclosures.--In the case of any open end 
consumer credit plan which provides for any extension of credit 
which is secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, the 
creditor shall make the following disclosures in accordance 
with subsection (b):
          (1) Fixed annual percentage rate.--Each annual 
        percentage rate imposed in connection with extensions 
        of credit under the plan and a statement that such rate 
        does not include costs other than interest.
          (2) Variable percentage rate.--In the case of a plan 
        which provides for variable rates of interest on credit 
        extended under the plan--
                  (A) * * *
          * * * * * * *
                  (G) subject to subsection (b)(3), a table, 
                based on a $10,000 extension of credit, showing 
                how the annual percentage rate and the minimum 
                periodic payment amount under each repayment 
                option of the plan would have been affected 
                during the preceding 15-year period by changes 
                in any index used to compute such rate, or a 
                statement that the monthly payment may increase 
                or decrease significantly due to increases in 
                the annual percentage rate;
          * * * * * * *
  (b) Time and Form of Disclosures.--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (3) Requirement for historical table.--In preparing 
        the table [required under] referred to in subsection 
        (a)(2)(G), the creditor shall consistently select one 
        rate of interest for each year and the manner of 
        selecting the rate from year to year shall be 
        consistent with the plan.
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 128. Consumer credit not under open end credit plans

  (a) For each consumer credit transaction other than under an 
open end credit plan, the creditor shall disclose each of the 
following items, to the extent applicable:
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (14) In any variable rate transaction secured by the 
        consumer's principal dwelling with a term greater than 
        1 year, at the creditors' option, a statement that the 
        monthly payment may increase or decrease substantially, 
        or a historical example illustrating the effects of 
        interest rate changes implemented according to the loan 
        program.
  (b)(1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (3) In the case of a residential mortgage transaction, the 
disclosures under subsection (a) shall include the following:
          (A) The note rate and points, and a statement, if 
        applicable, that these terms are subject to change.
          (B) A statement that the creditor must include the 
        disclosed note rate and points in the credit agreement 
        unless, in relation to either or both of those terms--
                  (i) the disclosure clearly and conspicuously 
                indicates that the term is subject to change, 
                or
                  (ii) in the case of any term to which clause 
                (i) does not apply--
                          (I) the creditor has clearly and 
                        conspicuously indicated that the term 
                        is conditioned on closing the 
                        transaction within a prescribed time;
                          (II) the creditor has promptly and 
                        clearly communicated to the consumer 
                        the information and documentation that 
                        the consumer is required to provide to 
                        the creditor; and
                          (III) the consumer has failed to 
                        provide such information and 
                        documentation within a reasonable time 
                        after receiving that communication.
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 130. Civil liability

  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, any 
creditor who fails to comply with any requirement imposed under 
this chapter, including any requirement under section 125, or 
chapter 4 or 5 of this title with respect to any person is 
liable to such person in an amount equal to the sum of--
          (1) any actual damage sustained by such person as a 
        result of the failure;
          (2)(A)(i) in the case of an individual action twice 
        the amount of any finance charge in connection with the 
        transaction, [or] (ii) in the case of an individual 
        action relating to a consumer lease under chapter 5 of 
        this title, 25 per centum of the total amount of 
        monthly payments under the lease, except that the 
        liability under this subparagraph shall not be less 
        than $100 nor greater than $1,000, or (iii) in the case 
        of an individual action relating to a credit 
        transaction not under an open end credit plan that is 
        secured by real property or a dwelling, not less than 
        $250 or greater than $2,500; or
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 131. Liability of assignees

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (e) Liability of Assignee for Consumer Credit Transactions 
Secured by Real Property.--
          (1) In general.--Except as otherwise specifically 
        provided in this title, any civil action against a 
        creditor for a violation of this title, and any 
        proceeding under section 108 against a creditor, with 
        respect to a consumer credit transaction secured by 
        real property may be maintained against any assignee of 
        such creditor only if--
                  (A) the violation for which such action or 
                proceeding is brought is apparent on the face 
                of the disclosure statement provided in 
                connection with such transaction pursuant to 
                this title; and
                  (B) the assignment to the assignee was 
                voluntary.
          (2) Violation apparent on the face of the disclosure 
        described.--For the purpose of this section, a 
        violation is apparent on the face of the disclosure 
        statement if--
                  (A) the disclosure can be determined to be 
                incomplete or inaccurate from the face of the 
                disclosure statement, any itemization of the 
                amount financed, or any other disclosure of 
                disbursement; or
                  (B) the disclosure statement does not use the 
                terms or format required to be used by this 
                title.
  (f) Treatment of Servicer.--
          (1) In general.--A servicer of a consumer obligation 
        arising from a consumer credit transaction shall not be 
        treated as an assignee of such obligation for purposes 
        of this section unless the servicer is the owner of the 
        obligation.
          (2) Servicer not treated as owner on basis of 
        assignment for administrative convenience.--A servicer 
        of a consumer obligation arising from a consumer credit 
        transaction shall not be treated as the owner of the 
        obligation for purposes of this section on the basis of 
        an assignment of the obligation from the creditor or 
        another assignee to the servicer solely for the 
        administrative convenience of the servicer in servicing 
        the obligation. Upon written request by the obligor, 
        the servicer shall provide the obligor, to the best 
        knowledge of the servicer, with the name, address, and 
        telephone number of the owner of the obligation or the 
        master servicer of the obligation.
          (3) Servicer defined.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term ``servicer'' has the same meaning 
        as in section 6(i)(2) of the Real Estate Settlement 
        Procedures Act of 1974.
          * * * * * * *

SEC. 139. CERTAIN LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY.

  (a) Limitations on Liability.--For any consumer credit 
transaction subject to this title that is consummated before 
the date of the enactment of the Financial Institutions 
Regulatory Relief Act of 1995, a creditor or any assignee of a 
creditor shall have no civil, administrative, or criminal 
liability under this title for, and a consumer shall have no 
extended rescission rights under section 125(f) with respect 
to--
          (1) the creditor's treatment, for disclosure 
        purposes, of--
                  (A) taxes described in section 106(d)(3);
                  (B) fees and amounts described in section 
                106(e) (2) and (5);
                  (C) fees and amounts referred to in the 3rd 
                sentence of section 106(a); or
                  (D) mortgage broker fees referred to in 
                section 106(a)(6);
          (2) the form of written notice used by the creditor 
        to inform the obligor of the rights of the obligor 
        under section 125 if the creditor provided the obligor 
        with a properly dated form of written notice published 
        and adopted by the Board or a comparable written 
        notice; or
          (3) any disclosure relating to the finance charge 
        imposed with respect to the transaction if the amount 
        or percentage actually disclosed--
                  (A) may be treated as accurate pursuant to 
                section 106(f), or
                  (B) is greater than the amount or percentage 
                required to be disclosed under this title.
  (b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to--
          (1) any individual action or counterclaim brought 
        under this title which was filed before June 1, 1995;
          (2) any class action brought under this title for 
        which a final order certifying a class was entered 
        before January 1, 1995;
          (3) the named individual plaintiffs in any class 
        action brought under this title which was filed before 
        June 1, 1995; or
          (4) any consumer credit transaction with respect to 
        which a timely notice of rescission was sent to the 
        creditor before June 1, 1995.
                              ----------                              

      SECTION 106 OF THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1968

 technical assistance, counseling to tenants and homeowners, and loans 
            to sponsors of low- and moderate-income housing

    Sec. 106. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    (c) Grants for Homeownership Counseling Organizations.--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          [(5) Notification of availability of homeownership 
        counseling.--
                  [(A) Notification of availability of 
                homeownership counseling.--
                          [(i) Requirement.--Except as provided 
                        in subparagraph (C), the creditor of a 
                        loan (or proposed creditor) shall 
                        provide notice under clause (ii) to (I) 
                        any eligible homeowner who fails to pay 
                        any amount by the date the amount is 
                        due under a home loan, and (II) any 
                        applicant for a mortgage described in 
                        paragraph (4).
                          [(ii) Content.--Notification under 
                        this subparagraph shall--
                                  [(I) notify the homeowner or 
                                mortgage applicant of the 
                                availability of any 
                                homeownership counseling 
                                offered by the creditor (or 
                                proposed creditor);
                                  [(II) if provided to an 
                                eligible mortgage applicant, 
                                state that completion of a 
                                counseling program is required 
                                for insurance pursuant to 
                                section 203 of the National 
                                Housing Act; and
                                  [(III) notify the homeowner 
                                or mortgage applicant of the 
                                availability of homeownership 
                                counseling provided by 
                                nonprofit organizations 
                                approved by the Secretary and 
                                experienced in the provision of 
                                homeownership counseling, or 
                                provide the toll-free telephone 
                                number described in 
                                subparagraph (D)(i).
                  [(B) Deadline for notification.--The 
                notification required in subparagraph (A) shall 
                be made--
                          [(i) in a manner approved by the 
                        Secretary; and
                          [(ii) before the expiration of the 
                        45-day period beginning on the date on 
                        which the failure referred to in such 
                        subparagraph occurs.
                  [(C) Exceptions.--Notification under 
                subparagraph (A) shall not be required with 
                respect to any loan--
                          [(i) insured or guaranteed under 
                        chapter 37 of title 38, United States 
                        Code; or
                          [(ii) for which the eligible 
                        homeowner pays the amount overdue 
                        before the expiration of the 45-day 
                        period under subparagraph (B)(ii).
                  [(D) Administration and compliance.--The 
                Secretary shall, to the extent of amounts 
                approved in appropriation Acts, enter into an 
                agreement with an appropriate private entity 
                under which the entity will--
                          [(i) operate a toll-free telephone 
                        number through which any eligible 
                        homeowner can obtain a list of 
                        nonprofit organizations, which shall be 
                        updated annually, that--
                                  [(I) are approved by the 
                                Secretary and experienced in 
                                the provision of homeownership 
                                counseling; and
                                  [(II) serve the area in which 
                                the residential property of the 
                                homeowner is located;
                          [(ii) monitor the compliance of 
                        creditors with the requirements of 
                        subparagraphs (A) and (B); and
                          [(iii) report to the Secretary not 
                        less than annually regarding the extent 
                        of compliance of creditors with the 
                        requirements of subparagraphs (A) and 
                        (B).
                  [(E) Report.--The Secretary shall submit a 
                report to the Congress not less than annually 
                regarding the extent of compliance of creditors 
                with the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and 
                (B) and the effectiveness of the entity 
                monitoring such compliance. The Secretary shall 
                also include in the report any recommendations 
                for legislative action to increase the 
                authority of the Secretary to penalize 
                creditors who do not comply with such 
                requirements.]
          * * * * * * *
                  HOME MORTGAGE DISCLOSURE ACT OF 1975

                  TITLE III--HOME MORTGAGE DISCLOSURE

                              short title

    Sec. 301. This title may be cited as the ``Home Mortgage 
Disclosure Act of 1975''.
          * * * * * * *

              maintenance of records and public disclosure

    Sec. 304. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (m) Opportunity To Reduce Compliance Burden.--
          (1) A depository institution will have satisfied the 
        public availability requirements of subsection (a) if 
        such institution keeps the information required under 
        that subsection at its home office and provides notice 
        at the branch locations specified in such subsection 
        that such information is available upon request from 
        the home office of the institution. A home office of 
        the depository institution receiving a request for such 
        information pursuant to this subsection shall provide 
        the information pertinent to the location of the branch 
        in question within fifteen days of the receipt of the 
        written request.
          (2) In complying with paragraph (1), a depository 
        institution may provide the individual requesting such 
        information, at the institution's choice, with--
                  (A) a paper copy of the information 
                requested; or
                  (B) if acceptable to the individual, the 
                information through a form of electronic 
                medium, such as computer disc.
          * * * * * * *

                             effective date

    Sec. 309. This title shall take effect on the one hundred 
and eightieth day beginning after the date of its enactment. 
Any institution specified in section 303(2)(A) which has total 
assets as of its last full fiscal year of [$10,000,000] 
$50,000,000 or less is exempt from the provisions of this 
title. The Board, in consultation with the Secretary, may 
exempt institutions described in section 303(2)(B) that are 
comparable within their respective industries to institutions 
that are exempt under the preceding sentence. The Board may 
also, by regulation, exempt from the provisions of this Act 
institutions specified in section 303(2)(A) which have total 
assets as of their last full fiscal year of $50,000,000 or 
greater where the burden of complying with this Act on such 
institutions outweighs the usefulness of the information 
required to be disclosed. The exemptions provided under this 
section shall not be applicable to an institution which the 
Board, by order, has found a reasonable basis to believe is not 
fulfilling its obligations to serve the housing needs of the 
communities and neighborhoods in which it located. An 
institution subject to such an order shall be required to 
comply with the requirements of this Act for loans made after 
the time that the order is issued at such time and for such 
period as the Board deems appropriate. The dollar amount in 
this section shall be adjusted annually after December 31, 
1994, by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price 
Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers published by 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

                   COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT OF 1977

                   TITLE VIII--COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT

    Sec. 801. This title may be cited as the ``Community 
Reinvestment Act of 1977''.
  Sec. 802. (a) * * *
    [(b) It is the purpose of this title to require each 
appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency to use its 
authority when examining financial institutions, to encourage 
such institutions to help meet the credit needs of the local 
communities in which they are chartered consistent with the 
safe and sound operation of such institutions.]
  (b) It is the purpose of this title to require each 
appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency to use its 
authority, when examining financial institutions, to encourage 
such institutions to help meet the credit needs of the local 
communities in which they are chartered consistent with the 
safe and sound operation of such institutions. When examining 
financial institutions, a supervisory agency shall not impose 
additional burden, recordkeeping, or reporting upon such 
institutions.
    Sec. 803. For the purposes of this title--
          (1) the term ``appropriate Federal financial 
        supervisory agency'' means--
                  (A) the Comptroller of the Currency with 
                respect to national banks;
          * * * * * * *
          [(2) section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 
        by the Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision, in 
        the case of a savings association (the deposits of 
        which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance 
        Corporation) and a savings and loan holding company;]
                  (D) the Director of the Office of Thrift 
                Supervision with respect to any savings 
                association (the deposits of which are insured 
                by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) 
                and any savings and loan holding company (other 
                than a company which is a bank holding 
                company);
          * * * * * * *
          (5) Special purpose institutions.--The term ``special 
        purpose institution'' means a financial institution 
        that does not generally accept deposits from the public 
        in amounts of less than $100,000, such as wholesale, 
        credit card, and trust institutions.
          (6) State bank supervisor.--The term ``State bank 
        supervisor'' has the same meaning as in section 3(r) of 
        the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
    Sec. 804. (a) In General.--In connection with its 
examination of a financial institution, conducted in accordance 
with section 806A, the appropriate Federal financial 
supervisory agency shall--
          (1) assess the institution's record of meeting the 
        credit needs of its entire community, including low- 
        and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with the 
        safe and sound operation of such institution; and
          [(2) take such record into account in its evaluation 
        of an application for a deposit facility by such 
        institution.]
          (2) take such record into account in the overall 
        evaluation of the condition of the institution by the 
        appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency.
  [(b) Majority-Owned Institutions.--In assessing and taking 
into account, under subsection (a), the record of a 
nonminority-owned and nonwomen-owned financial institution, the 
appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency may consider 
as a factor capital investment, loan participation, and other 
ventures undertaken by the institution in cooperation with 
minority- and women-owned financial institutions and low-income 
credit unions provided that these activities help meet the 
credit needs of local communities in which such institutions 
and credit unions are chartered.]
  (b) Positive Consideration of Certain Loans and 
Investments.--In assessing and taking into account the records 
of a regulated financial institution under subsection (a), the 
appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency shall--
          (1) consider as a positive factor, consistent with 
        the safe and sound operation of the institution, the 
        institution's investment in or loan to--
                  (A) any minority depository institution or 
                women's depository institution (as such terms 
                are defined in section 808(b)) or any low-
                income credit union;
                  (B) any joint venture or other entity or 
                project which promotes the public welfare in 
                any distressed community (as defined by such 
                agency) whether or not the distressed community 
                is located in the local community in which the 
                regulated financial institution is chartered to 
                do business; and
                  (C) targeted low- and moderate-income 
                communities, including real property loans to 
                such communities; and
          (2) consider equally with other factors capital 
        investment, loan participation, and other ventures 
        undertaken by the institution in cooperation with--
                  (A) minority- and women-owned financial 
                institutions and low-income credit unions to 
                the extent that these activities help meet the 
                credit needs of the local communities in which 
                such institutions are chartered; and
                  (B) community development corporations in 
                extending credit and other financial services 
                principally to low- and moderate-income persons 
                and small businesses to the extent that such 
                community development corporations help meet 
                the credit needs of the local communities 
                served by the majority-owned institution.
  (c) Self-Certification of CRA Compliance.--
          (1) Certification.--In lieu of being evaluated under 
        section 806A and receiving a written evaluation under 
        section 807, a qualifying financial institution may 
        elect to self-certify to the appropriate Federal 
        financial supervisory agency that such institution is 
        in compliance with the goals of this title.
          (2) Qualifying institution.--
                  (A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph 
                (1), the term ``qualifying institution'' means 
                a financial institution which--
                          (i) has not more than $250 million in 
                        assets;
                          (ii) has not been found to have 
                        engaged in a pattern or practice of 
                        illegal discrimination under the Fair 
                        Housing Act or the Equal Credit 
                        Opportunity Act for the preceding 5-
                        year calendar period; and
                          (iii) received rating under section 
                        807(b)(2) of ``satisfactory'' or 
                        ``outstanding'' in the most recent 
                        evaluation of such institution under 
                        this title.
                  (B) Annual adjustment.--The dollar amount in 
                subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted annually 
                after December 31, 1994, by the annual 
                percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index 
                for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers 
                published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
          (3) Public notice.--
                  (A) In general.--A qualifying institution 
                shall maintain in every branch a public notice 
                stating that--
                          (i) the institution has self-
                        certified that the institution is 
                        satisfactorily helping to meet the 
                        credit needs of its community; and
                          (ii) the institution maintains--
                                  (I) at the main office of 
                                such institution, a public file 
                                which contains a copy of the 
                                self-certification to the 
                                appropriate Federal financial 
                                supervisory agency; and
                                  (II) a map delineating the 
                                community served by the 
                                institution;
                          (iii) a list of the types of credit 
                        and services that the institution 
                        provides to the community served by the 
                        institution;
                          (iv) such other information that the 
                        institution believes demonstrates the 
                        institution's record of helping to meet 
                        the credit needs of its community; and
                          (v) every public comment or letter to 
                        the institution (and any response by 
                        the institution) received within the 
                        previous 2-year period about the record 
                        of the institution of helping to meet 
                        the credit needs of its community.
                  (B) Public file.--A qualifying institution 
                shall maintain a public file containing the 
                contents described in this paragraph at the 
                institution's main office
          (4) Rating.--
                  (A) In general.--A qualifying institution 
                shall be deemed to have a rating of a 
                ``satisfactory record of meeting community 
                credit needs'' for the purposes of this section 
                and section 806A(c).
                  (B) Publication.--Each Federal financial 
                supervisory agency shall publish in the Federal 
                Register once each month a list of institutions 
                that have self-certified during the previous 
                month.
                  (C) Publication constitutes disclosure.--
                Publication of the name of the institution in 
                the Federal Register as having self-certified 
                shall constitute disclosure of the rating of 
                the institution to the public for purposes of 
                sections 806A and 807.
          (5) Regulatory review.--
                  (A) Assessment.--During each examination for 
                safety and soundness, a qualifying 
                institution's supervisory agency shall, as part 
                of the agency's review of the institution's 
                loans, assess whether the institution's basis 
                for its self-certification is reasonable based 
                on the public notice and the information 
                contained in the public file pursuant to 
                paragraph (3).
                  (B) Examination if self-certification is not 
                reasonable.--If the agency determines that the 
                institution's basis for the institution's self-
                certification is not reasonable, the agency 
                shall schedule an examination of the 
                institution for the purpose of assessing the 
                institution's record of helping to meet the 
                credit needs of its community.
                  (C) Revocation of self-certification.--If an 
                assessment pursuant to subparagraph (B) results 
                in a less than ``satisfactory'' rating, the 
                agency shall revoke the institution's self-
                certification and substitute a written 
                evaluation as provided under section 807.
                  (D) Period of ineligibility for self-
                certification.--An institution whose self-
                certification has been revoked may not self-
                certify pursuant to this subsection during the 
                5 years succeeding the year in which the self-
                certification is revoked.
                  (E) Subsequent eligibility.--After the end of 
                the period of ineligibility described in 
                subparagraph (D), an institution which meets 
                the requirements for self-certification may 
                elect to self-certify.
          (6) Prohibition on additional requirements.--No 
        appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency may 
        impose any additional requirements, whether by 
        regulation or otherwise, relating to the self-
        certification procedure under this subsection.
  (d) Special Purpose Institutions.--
          (1) In general.--In conducting assessments pursuant 
        to this section at any special purpose institution, the 
        appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency 
        shall--
                  (A) consider the nature of business such 
                institution is involved in; and
                  (B) assess and take into account the record 
                of the institution commensurate with the amount 
                of deposits (as defined in section 3(1) of the 
                Federal Deposit Insurance Act) received by such 
                institution.
          (2) Standards.--Each appropriate Federal financial 
        supervisory agency shall develop standards under which 
        special purpose institutions may be deemed to have 
        complied with the requirements of this title which are 
        consistent with the specific nature of such businesses.
          * * * * * * *
    [Sec. 806. Regulations to carry out the purposes of this 
title shall be published by each appropriate Federal financial 
supervisory agency, and shall take effect no later than 390 
days after the date of enactment of this title.]
SEC. 806. REGULATIONS.

  (a) In General.--
          (1) Publication requirement.--Regulations to carry 
        out the purposes of this title shall be published by 
        each appropriate Federal financial supervisory agency.
          (2) Prohibition on additional recordkeeping.--
        Regulations prescribed and policy statements, 
        commentary, examiner guidance, or other supervisory 
        material issued under this title shall not impose any 
        additional recordkeeping on a financial institution.
          (3) Prohibition on loan data collection.--No loan 
        data may be required to be collected and reported by a 
        financial institution and no such data may be made 
        public by any Federal financial supervisory agency 
        under this title.
  (b) Limitation on Regulations.--No regulation may be 
prescribed under this title by any Federal agency which would--
          (1) require any regulated financial institution to--
                  (A) make any loan or enter into any other 
                agreement on the basis of any discriminatory 
                criteria prohibited under any law of the United 
                States; or
                  (B) make any loan to, or enter into any other 
                agreement with, any uncreditworthy person that 
                would jeopardize the safety and soundness of 
                such institution; or
          (2) prevent or hinder in any way a financial 
        institution's full responsibility to provide credit to 
        all segments of the community.
  (c) Encourage Loans to Creditworthy Borrowers.--Regulations 
prescribed under this title shall encourage regulated financial 
institutions to make loans and extend credit to all 
creditworthy persons, consistent with safety and soundness.
          * * * * * * *
SEC. 806A. COMMUNITY INPUT AND CONCLUSIVE RATING.

  (a) Publication of Exam Schedule and Opportunity for 
Comment.--
          (1) Publication of notice.--Each appropriate Federal 
        financial supervisory agency shall
                  (A) publish in the Federal Register, 30 days 
                before the beginning of a calendar quarter, a 
                listing of institutions scheduled for 
                evaluation for compliance with this title 
                during such calendar quarter; and
                  (B) provide opportunity for written comments 
                from the community on the performance, under 
                this title, of each institution scheduled for 
                evaluation.
          (2) Comment period.--Written comments may not be 
        submitted to an appropriate Federal financial 
        supervisory agency pursuant to paragraph (1) after the 
        end of the 30-day period beginning on the first day of 
        the calendar quarter.
          (3) Copy of comments.--The agency shall provide a 
        copy of such comments to the institution.
  (b) Evaluation.--The appropriate Federal financial 
supervisory agency shall--
          (1) evaluate the institution in accordance with the 
        standards contained in section 804; and
          (2) prepare and publish a written evaluation of the 
        institution as required under section 807.
  (c) Reconsideration of Rating.--
          (1) Request for reconsideration.--A reconsideration 
        of an institution's rating referred to in section 
        807(b)(1)(C), may be requested within 30 days of the 
        rating's disclosure to the public.
          (2) Procedures for request.--Any such request shall 
        be made in writing and filed with the appropriate 
        Federal financial supervisory agency, and may be filed 
        by the institution or a member of the community.
          (3) Basis for request.--Any request for 
        reconsideration under this subsection shall be based on 
        significant issues of a substantive nature which are 
        relevant to the delineated community of the institution 
        and, in the case of a request by a member of the 
        community, shall be limited to issues previously raised 
        in comments submitted pursuant to subsection (a).
          (4) Completion of review.--The appropriate Federal 
        financial supervisory agency shall complete any 
        requested reconsideration within 30 days of the filing 
        of the request.
  (d) Conclusive Rating.--
          (1) In general.--An institution's rating shall become 
        conclusive on the later of--
                  (A) 30 days after the rating is disclosed to 
                the public; or
                  (B) the completion of any requested 
                reconsideration by the Federal financial 
                supervisory agency.
          (2) Rating conclusive of meeting community credit 
        needs.--An institution's rating shall be the conclusive 
        assessment of the institution's record of meeting the 
        credit needs of its community for purposes of section 
        804 until the institution's next rating, developed 
        pursuant to an examination, becomes conclusive.
          (3) Safe harbor.--Institutions which have received a 
        ``satisfactory'' or ``outstanding'' rating shall be 
        deemed to have met the purposes of section 804.
          (4) Rule of construction.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, no provision of this section shall be 
        construed as granting a cause of action to any person.
SEC. 807. WRITTEN EVALUATIONS.

    (a) * * *
    (b) Public Section of Report.--
          (1) Findings and conclusions.--
                  (A) * * *
                  (B) Metropolitan area distinctions.--[The 
                information] In the case of a regulated 
                financial institution that maintains domestic 
                branches in 2 or more States, the information 
                required by clauses (i) and (ii) of 
                subparagraph (A) shall be presented separately 
                for each metropolitan area in which a regulated 
                depository institution maintains one or more 
                domestic branch offices.
          * * * * * * *
SEC. 809. EXAMINATION EXEMPTION.

  (a) In General.--A regulated financial institution shall not 
be subject to the examination requirements of this title or any 
regulations issued under this section if the institution and 
any bank holding company which controls such institution have 
aggregate assets of not more than $100,000,000.
  (b) Annual Adjustment.--The dollar amount in subsection (a) 
shall be adjusted annually after December 31, 1994, by the 
annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for 
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers published by the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics.
                              ----------                              

                       FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK ACT

          * * * * * * *

             eligibility of members and nonmember borrowers

  Sec. 4. (a) * * *
  [(b) An institution eligible to become a member under this 
section may become a member only of, or secure advances from, 
the Federal Home Loan Bank of the district in which is located 
the institution's principal place of business, or of the bank 
of a district adjoining such district, if demanded by 
convenience and then only with the approval of the Board.]
  (b) Membership Based on Conveniency.--An institution eligible 
to become a member of a Federal home loan bank under this 
section may become a member by submitting the institution's 
application for membership to the bank in the district where 
the applicant's principal place of business is located. An 
application for membership shall be approved by the bank if, in 
the judgment of the bank, the applicant meets the criteria for 
eligibility contained in this section. An institution eligible 
to become a member under this section may apply for membership 
in an adjoining district, if appropriate for the convenience of 
the institution and then only with the approval of the Board.
          * * * * * * *

                          advances to members

  Sec. 10. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (g) Community Support Requirements.--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (3) Special rule.--This subsection shall not apply to 
        members receiving a grade of ``outstanding'' or 
        ``satisfactory'' under section 807 of the Community 
        Reinvestment Act of 1977.
          * * * * * * *

                   general powers and duties of banks

  Sec. 11. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(j) Notwithstanding the provisions of the first sentence of 
section 202 of the Government Corporation Control Act, audits 
by the General Accounting Office of the financial transactions 
of a Federal Home Loan Bank shall not be limited to periods 
during which Government capital has been invested therein. The 
provisions of the first sentence of subsection (d) of section 
303 of the Government Corporation Control Act shall not apply 
to any Federal Home Loan Bank.]
  (j) Audits.--
          (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
        audits by the Comptroller General of the United States 
        of the financial transactions of a Federal home loan 
        bank shall not be limited to periods during which 
        Government capital has been invested in the bank. The 
        provisions of section 9107(c)(2) and 9108(d)(1) of 
        title 31, of such Code, shall not apply to any Federal 
        home loan bank.
          (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
        Board shall not participate in the hiring of an 
        external auditor by the banks; except, that the Board 
        may establish requirements for external audit contracts 
        and, that all 12 banks shall contract for an annual 
        audit with a single provider.
          * * * * * * *
                     FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE ACT

          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 3. As used in this Act--
  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(o) The term] (o) Definitions Relating to Branches.--
          (1) Domestic Branch.--
                  (A) In general.--The term ``domestic branch'' 
                includes any branch bank, branch office, branch 
                agency, additional office, or any branch place 
                of business located in any State of the United 
                States or in any Territory of the United 
                States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the 
                Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or the 
                Virgin Islands at which deposits are received 
                or checks paid or money [lent; and the term] 
                lent.
                  (B) Certain proprietary atms and remote 
                servicing units.--The term ``domestic branch'' 
                does not include any automated teller machine 
                or remote service unit which is owned and 
                operated by a depository institution--
                          (i) primarily for the benefit of the 
                        institution and the affiliates of the 
                        institution; and
                          (ii) which could operate a branch at 
                        the location of such machine or unit.
          (2) Foreign branch.--The term ``foreign branch'' 
        means any office or place of business located outside 
        the United States, its territories, Puerto Rico, Guam, 
        American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands, at which banking 
        operations are conducted.
          * * * * * * *
  (u) Institution-Affiliated Party.--The term ``institution-
affiliated party'' means--
          (1) any director (other than an outside director), 
        officer, employee, or controlling stockholder (other 
        than a bank holding company) of, or agent for, an 
        insured depository institution;
          * * * * * * *
          (3) any shareholder (other than a bank holding 
        company), consultant, joint venture partner, and any 
        other person (other than an outside director) as 
        determined by the appropriate Federal banking agency 
        (by regulation or case-by-case) who participates in the 
        conduct of the affairs of an insured depository 
        institution; and
          (4) any independent contractor (including any 
        attorney, appraiser, or accountant) or outside director 
        who knowingly or recklessly participates in--
                  (A)  * * *
          * * * * * * *

SEC. 5. DEPOSIT INSURANCE.

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (d) Insurance Fees.--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (3) Optional conversions subject to special rules on 
        deposit insurance payments.--
                  (A) Conversions allowed.--Notwithstanding 
                paragraph (2)(A), and subject to the 
                requirements of this paragraph, any insured 
                depository institution may participate in a 
                transaction described in clause (ii), (iii), or 
                (iv) of paragraph (2)(B) [with the prior 
                written approval of the responsible agency 
                under section 18(c)(2)].
          * * * * * * *
                  (E) Conditions [for approval, generally].--
                          [(i) Factors to be considered; 
                        approval process.--In reviewing any 
                        application for a proposed transaction 
                        under subparagraph (A), the responsible 
                        agency shall follow the procedures and 
                        consider the factors set forth in 
                        section 18(c).
                          [(ii) Information required.--An 
                        application to engage in any 
                        transaction under this paragraph shall 
                        contain such information relating to 
                        the factors to be considered for 
                        approval as the responsible agency may 
                        require, by regulation or by specific 
                        request, in connection with any 
                        particular application.
                          [(iii)] (i) No transfer of deposit 
                        insurance permitted.--This paragraph 
                        shall not be construed as authorizing 
                        transactions which result in the 
                        transfer of any insured depository 
                        institution's Federal deposit insurance 
                        from 1 Federal deposit insurance fund 
                        to the other Federal deposit insurance 
                        fund.
                          [(iv) Minimum capital.--The 
                        responsible agency shall disapprove any 
                        application for any transaction under 
                        this paragraph unless such agency 
                        determines that the acquiring, 
                        assuming, or resulting depository 
                        institution will meet all applicable 
                        capital requirements upon consummation 
                        of the transaction.]
                          (ii) A transaction shall not be 
                        authorized under this paragraph unless 
                        the acquiring, assuming, or resulting 
                        depository institution will meet all 
                        applicable capital requirements upon 
                        consummation of the transaction.
          * * * * * * *
                  [(G) Expedited approval of acquisitions.--
                          [(i) In general.--Any application by 
                        a State nonmember insured bank to 
                        acquire another insured depository 
                        institution that is required to be 
                        filed with the Corporation by 
                        subparagraph (A) or any other 
                        applicable law or regulation shall be 
                        approved or disapproved in writing by 
                        the Corporation before the end of the 
                        60-day period beginning on the date 
                        such application is filed with the 
                        Corporation.
                          [(ii) Extensions of period.--The 
                        period for approval or disapproval 
                        referred to in clause (i) may be 
                        extended for an additional 30-day 
                        period if the Corporation determines 
                        that--
                                  [(I) an applicant has not 
                                furnished all of the 
                                information required to be 
                                submitted; or
                                  [(II) in the Corporation's 
                                judgment, any material 
                                information submitted is 
                                substantially inaccurate or 
                                incomplete.
                  [(H)] (G) Allocation of costs in event of 
                default.--If any acquiring, assuming, or 
                resulting depository institution is in default 
                or danger of default at any time before this 
                paragraph ceases to apply, any loss incurred by 
                the Corporation shall be allocated between the 
                Bank Insurance Fund and the Savings Association 
                Insurance Fund, in amounts reflecting the 
                amount of insured deposits of such acquiring, 
                assuming, or resulting depository institution 
                assessed by the Bank Insurance Fund and the 
                Savings Association Insurance Fund, 
                respectively, under subparagraph (B).
                  [(I)] (H) Subsequent approval of conversion 
                transaction.--This paragraph shall cease to 
                apply if--
                          (i) after the end of the moratorium 
                        period established by paragraph (2)(A), 
                        the Corporation approves an application 
                        by any acquiring, assuming, or 
                        resulting depository institution to 
                        treat the transaction described in 
                        subparagraph (A) as a conversion 
                        transaction; and
                          (ii) the acquiring, assuming, or 
                        resulting depository institution pays 
                        the amount of any exit and entrance fee 
                        assessed by the Corporation under 
                        subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) with 
                        respect to such transaction.
                  [(J)] (I) Acquiring, assuming, or resulting 
                depository institution defined.--For purposes 
                of this paragraph, the term ``acquiring, 
                assuming, or resulting depository institution'' 
                means any insured depository institution 
                which--
                          (i) results from any transaction 
                        described in paragraph (2)(B)(ii) and 
                        approved under this paragraph;
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 7. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(k) The appropriate Federal banking agencies are authorized 
to issue rules and regulations, including definitions of terms, 
to require the reporting and public disclosure of information 
by a bank or any executive officer or prinicipal shareholder 
thereof concerning extensions of credit by the bank to any of 
its executive officers or principal shareholders, or the 
related interests of such persons.]
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 10. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (d) Annual On-Site Examinations of All Insured Depository 
Institutions Required.--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (8) Report.--At the time the system provided for in 
        paragraph (6) is established, the Federal banking 
        agencies shall submit a joint report describing the 
        system to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
        Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Banking, 
        Finance and Urban Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives. Thereafter, the Federal banking 
        agencies shall annually submit a joint report to the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban 
        Affairs of the House of Representatives regarding the 
        progress of the agencies in implementing the system and 
        indicating areas in which enhancements to the system, 
        including legislature improvements, would be 
        appropriate.
          [(8)] (9) Agencies authorized to increase maximum 
        asset amount of institutions for certain purposes.--At 
        any time after the end of the 2-year period beginning 
        on the date of enactment of the Riegle Community 
        Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, the 
        appropriate Federal banking agency, in the agency's 
        discretion, may increase the maximum amount limitation 
        contained in paragraph (4)(C)(ii), by regulation, from 
        $100,000,000 to an amount not to exceed [$175,000,000] 
        $250,000,000 for purposes of such paragraph, if the 
        agency determines that the greater amount would be 
        consistent with the principles of safety and soundness 
        for insured depository institutions.
          [(9)] (10) Standards for determining adequacy of 
        state examinations.--The Federal Financial Institutions 
        Examination Council shall issue guidelines establishing 
        standards to be used at the discretion of the 
        appropriate Federal banking agency for purposes of 
        making a determination under paragraph (3).
          (11) Annual cpi adjustment.--The dollar amount in 
        this section shall be adjusted annually after December 
        31, 1994, by the annual percentage increase in the 
        Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and 
        Clerical Workers published by the Bureau of Labor 
        Statistics.
          * * * * * * *
  (j) Consultation Among Examiners.--
          (1) In general.--Each appropriate Federal banking 
        agency shall take such action as may be necessary to 
        ensure that examiners employed by the agency--
                  (A) consult on examination activities with 
                respect to any depository institution; and
                  (B) achieve an agreement and resolve any 
                inconsistencies on the recommendations to be 
                given to such institution as a consequence of 
                any examinations.
          (2) Examiner-in-charge.--Each agency shall consider 
        appointing an examiner-in-charge with respect to a 
        depository institution to ensure consultation on 
        examination activities among all of the agency's 
        examiners involved in examinations of such institution.
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 18. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (c)(1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (12) The provisions of this subsection shall not 
        apply to any merger, consolidation, acquisition of 
        assets or assumption of liabilities involving only 
        insured depository institutions that are subsidiaries 
        of the same depository institution holding company if--
                  (A) the responsible agency would not be 
                prohibited from approving the transaction under 
                section 44, if applicable;
                  (B) the acquiring, assuming, or resulting 
                institution complies with all applicable 
                provisions of section 44, if any, as if the 
                merger, consolidation, or acquisition were 
                approved under this subsection;
                  (C) the acquiring, assuming, or resulting 
                institution provides written notification of 
                the transaction to the appropriate Federal 
                banking agency for the institution at least 10 
                days prior to consummation of the transaction; 
                and
                  (D) after receiving such notice, the agency 
                does not require the institution to submit an 
                application with respect to such transaction 
                and so notifies the institution.
  (d)(1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (5) Application exemption for certain banks.--
        Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the consent of the 
        Corporation shall not be required for a State nonmember 
        insured bank to establish and operate any domestic 
        branch if--
                  (A) the bank is well-capitalized (as defined 
                in section 38 and regulations prescribed by the 
                Corporation under such section);
                  (B) the bank received a composite CAMEL 
                rating of ``1'' or ``2'' under the Uniform 
                Financial Institutions Rating System (or an 
                equivalent rating under a comparable rating 
                system) as of its most recent examination;
                  (C) the bank did not receive a ``needs to 
                improve'' or ``substantial noncompliance'' 
                composite rating as result of the bank's most 
                recent examination under the Community 
                Reinvestment Act of 1977; and
                  (D) the Corporation is otherwise authorized 
                to give consent under this section to such bank 
                to establish and operate a domestic branch at 
                the proposed location.
          (6) Approval granted.--A branch established by a 
        State member bank under paragraph (5) shall be deemed 
        to have been established and operated pursuant to an 
        application approved under this section.
          * * * * * * *
  (s) Customer Access to Products.--
          (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of law, any depository institution, or any affiliate or 
        subsidiary of any depository institution, may share or 
        exchange information or otherwise transfer information 
        between or among themselves without any restriction or 
        limitation if it is clearly and conspicuously disclosed 
        that the information may be communicated among such 
        persons and the consumer is given the opportunity, 
        before the time that the information is initially 
        communicated, to direct that such information not be 
        communicated among such persons.
          (2) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
        term ``information'' means any and all data, records, 
        or other information and material obtained or 
        maintained by any depository institution or any 
        affiliate or subsidiary thereof in the ordinary course 
        of its business that relates in any way to a person (as 
        such term is defined in section 603(b) of the Fair 
        Credit Reporting Act) who applies for, maintains, or 
        has maintained an account or credit relationship with 
        or applied for, purchased or obtained other products or 
        services from any depository institution or any 
        affiliate or subsidiary of any depository institution, 
        regardless of the source of manner in which the 
        information is obtained or furnished.
          (3) Rule of construction.--Any depository 
        institution, or any affiliate or subsidiary of any 
        depository institution, relying on this subsection 
        shall not be deemed to be a consumer reporting agency, 
        user, or third party, and the information itself shall 
        not constitute a consumer report, within the meaning of 
        the Fair Credit Reporting Act or other similar law.
          * * * * * * *

SEC. 24. ACTIVITIES OF INSURED STATE BANKS.

  [(a) In General.--After the end of the 1-year period 
beginning on the date of the enactment of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, an insured State 
bank may not engage as principal in any type of activity that 
is not permissible for a national bank unless--
          [(1) the Corporation has determined that the activity 
        would pose no significant risk to the appropriate 
        deposit insurance fund; and
          [(2) the State bank is, and continues to be, in 
        compliance with applicable capital standards prescribed 
        by the appropriate Federal banking agency.]
  (a) Activities Generally.--
          (1) In general.--An insured State bank may not engage 
        as principal in any type of activity that is not 
        permissible for a national bank unless--
                  (A) the bank has given the Corporation 
                written notice of the bank's intention to 
                engage in such activity at least 60 days before 
                commencing to engage in the activity and within 
                such 60-day period (or within the extended 
                period provided under paragraph (2)) the 
                Corporation has not disapproved the activity; 
                and
                  (B) the State bank is, and continues to be, 
                in compliance with applicable capital standards 
                prescribed by the appropriate Federal banking 
                agency.
          (2) Extension of period.--The Corporation may extend 
        the 60-day period referred to in paragraph (1) for 
        issuing a notice of disapproval with respect to any 
        activity for an additional 30 days.
          (3) Contents of notice.--Any notice submitted by a 
        State bank under paragraph (1)(A) shall contain such 
        information as the Corporation may require.
          (4) Basis for disapproval.--The Corporation may 
        disapprove an activity for a State bank under this 
        subsection unless the Corporation determines that the 
        activity would pose no significant risk to the 
        appropriate insurance fund.
          * * * * * * *
  (d) Subsidiaries of Insured State Banks.--
          [(1) In general.--After the end of the 1-year period 
        beginning on the date of the enactment of the Federal 
        Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, 
        a subsidiary of an insured State bank may not engage as 
        principal in any type of activity that is not 
        permissible for a subsidiary of a national bank 
        unless--
                  [(A) the Corporation has determined that the 
                activity poses no significant risk to the 
                appropriate deposit insurance fund; and
                  [(B) the bank is, and continues to be, in 
                compliance with applicable capital standards 
                prescribed by the appropriate Federal banking 
                agency.]
          (1) Activities generally.--
                  (A) In general.--A subsidiary of an insured 
                State bank may not engage as principal in any 
                type of activity that is not permissible for a 
                subsidiary of a national bank unless--
                          (i) the subsidiary has given the 
                        Corporation written notice of the 
                        subsidiary's intention to engage in 
                        such activity at least 60 days before 
                        commencing to engage in the activity 
                        and within such 60-day period (or 
                        within the extended period provided 
                        under paragraph (2)) the Corporation 
                        has not disapproved the activity; and
                          (ii) the bank is, and continues to 
                        be, in compliance with applicable 
                        capital standards prescribed by the 
                        appropriate Federal banking agency.
                  (B) Extension of period.--The Corporation may 
                extend the 60-day period referred to in 
                subparagraph (A) for issuing a notice of 
                disapproval with respect to any activity for an 
                additional 30 days.
                  (C) Contents of notice.--Any notice submitted 
                by a subsidiary of an insured State bank under 
                subparagraph (A)(i) shall contain such 
                information as the Corporation may require.
                  (D) Basis for disapproval.--The Corporation 
                may disapprove an activity for a subsidiary of 
                an insured State bank under this paragraph 
                unless the Corporation determines that the 
                activity would pose no significant risk to the 
                appropriate insurance fund.
          * * * * * * *

SEC. 32. AGENCY DISAPPROVAL OF DIRECTORS AND SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 
                    OF INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS OR DEPOSITORY 
                    INSTITUTION HOLDING COMPANIES.

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(d) Additional Information.--Any notice submitted to an 
appropriate Federal banking agency with respect to an 
individual by any insured depository institution or depository 
institution holding company pursuant to subsection (a) shall 
include--
          [(1) the information described in section 7(j)(6)(A) 
        about the individual; and
          [(2) such other information as the agency may 
        prescribe by regulation.]
  (d) Additional Information.--
          (1) In general.--Any notice submitted to an 
        appropriate Federal banking agency with respect to an 
        individual by any insured depository institution or 
        depository institution holding company pursuant to 
        subsection (a) shall include--
                  (A) the information described in section 
                7(j)(6)(A) about the individual; and
                  (B) such other information as the agency may 
                prescribe by regulation.
          (2) Waiver.--An appropriate Federal banking agency 
        may waive the requirement of this section by regulation 
        or on a case-by-case basis consistent with safety and 
        soundness.
          * * * * * * *

SEC. 36. EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS IN FINANCIAL 
                    MANAGEMENT.

  (a) Annual Report on Financial Condition and Management.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) Contents of report.--Any annual report required 
        under paragraph (1) shall contain--
                  (A) the information required to be provided 
                by--
                          (i) the institution's management 
                        under subsection (b); and
                          (ii) an independent public accountant 
                        under [subsections (c) and (d)] 
                        subsection (c); and
          (3) Public availability.--Any annual report required 
        under paragraph (1) shall be available for public 
        inspection. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the 
        Corporation and the appropriate Federal banking 
        agencies may designate certain information as 
        privileged and confidential and not available to the 
        public.
          * * * * * * *
  [(c) Internal Control Evaluation and Reporting Requirements 
for Independent Public Accountants.--
          [(1) In general.--With respect to any internal 
        control report required by subsection (b)(2) of any 
        institution, the institution's independent public 
        accountant shall attest to, and report separately on, 
        the assertions of the institution's management 
        contained in such report.
          [(2) Attestation requirements.--Any attestation 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance 
        with generally accepted standards for attestation 
        engagements.
  [(d)] (c) Annual Independent Audits of Financial 
Statements.--
          (1) Audits required.--The Corporation, in 
        consultation with the appropriate Federal banking 
        agencies, shall prescribe regulations requiring that 
        each insured depository institution shall have an 
        annual independent audit made of the institution's 
        financial statements by an independent public 
        accountant in accordance with generally accepted 
        auditing standards and section 37.
          * * * * * * *
  [(e) Detecting and Reporting Violations of Laws and 
Regulations.--
          [(1) In general.--An independent public accountant 
        shall apply procedures agreed upon by the Corporation 
        to objectively determine the extent of the compliance 
        of any insured depository institution or depository 
        institution holding company with laws and regulations 
        designated by the Corporation, in consultation with the 
        appropriate Federal banking agencies.
          [(2) Attestation requirements.--Any attestation 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made in accordance 
        with generally accepted standards for attestation 
        engagements.
  [(f)] (d) Form and Content of Reports and Auditing 
Standards.--
          (1) In general.--The scope of each report by an 
        independent public accountant pursuant to this section, 
        and the procedures followed in preparing such report, 
        shall meet or exceed the scope and procedures required 
        by generally accepted auditing standards and other 
        applicable standards recognized by the Corporation.
          * * * * * * *
  [(g)] (e) Improved Accountability.--
          (1) Independent audit committee.--
                  (A) Establishment.--Each insured depository 
                institution (to which this section applies) 
                shall have an independent audit committee 
                entirely made up of outside directors who are 
                independent of management of the institution, 
                and who satisfy any specific requirements the 
                Corporation may establish.
                  (B) Duties.--An independent audit committee's 
                duties shall include reviewing with management 
                and the independent public accountant the basis 
                for the reports issued under subsections 
                [(b)(2), (c), and (d)] (b)(2) and (c).
          * * * * * * *
  [(h)] (f) Exchange of Reports and Information.--
          (1) Report to the independent auditor.--
                  (A) In general.--Each insured depository 
                institution which has engaged the services of 
                an independent auditor to audit such 
                institution shall transmit to the auditor a 
                copy of the most recent report of condition 
                made by the institution (pursuant to this Act 
                or any other provision of law) and a copy of 
                the most recent report of examination received 
                by the institution.
          * * * * * * *
  [(i)] (g) Requirements for Insured Subsidiaries of Holding 
Companies.--
          (1) In general.--Except with respect to any audit 
        requirements established under or pursuant to 
        subsection [(d)] (c), the requirements of this section 
        may be satisfied for insured depository institutions 
        that are subsidiaries of a holding company, if--
                  (A)  * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(j)] (h) Exemption for Small Depository Institutions.--This 
section shall not apply with respect to any fiscal year of any 
insured depository institution the total assets of which, as of 
the beginning of such fiscal year, are less than the greater 
of--
          (1)  * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (i) Exemption for Well-Capitalized and Well-Managed Insured 
Depository Institutions.--No provision of this section other 
than subsection (c) shall apply with respect to any insured 
depository institution which is well-capitalized and well-
managed.
          * * * * * * *

SEC. 42. NOTICE OF BRANCH CLOSURE.

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (e) Scope of Application.--
          (1) In general.--This section shall not apply with 
        respect to--
                  (A) an automated teller machine;
                  (B) a branch which--
                          (i) has been acquired through merger, 
                        consolidation, purchase, assumption, or 
                        other method; and
                          (ii) is located--
                                  (I) within 2.5 miles of 
                                another branch of the acquiring 
                                institution; or
                                  (II) within a neighborhood 
                                currently being served by 
                                another branch of the acquiring 
                                institution,
                if such other branch of the acquiring 
                institution is expected to continue to provide 
                banking services to substantially all of the 
                customers currently served by the branch 
                acquired;
                  (C) a branch which is closing and reopening 
                at a location which is--
                          (i) within 2.5 miles of the location 
                        of the branch being closed; or
                          (ii) within the same neighborhood as 
                        the branch being closed,
                if the branch at the new location is expected 
                to continue to provide banking services to 
                substantially all of the customers served by 
                the branch at the former location;
                  (D) a branch that is closed in connection 
                with--
                          (i) an emergency acquisition under--
                                  (I) section 11(n); or
                                  (II) subsections (f) or (k) 
                                of section 13; or
                          (ii) any assistance provided by the 
                        Corporation under section 13(c); and
                  (E) any other branch closure whose exemption 
                from the notice requirements of this section 
                would not produce a result inconsistent with 
                the purposes of this section.
          (2) Regulations.--The appropriate Federal banking 
        agency shall, by regulation, determine the 
        circumstances under which any exemption under 
        paragraph(1)(E) may be granted.
          * * * * * * *
SEC. 45. LENDER, FIDUCIARY, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCY ENVIRONMENTAL 
                    LIABILITIES.

  (a) Lender Environmental Liability.--
          (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        or rule of Federal law, no lender, acting as defined in 
        this section, shall be liable pursuant to a Federal 
        environmental law, except as provided in this section.
          (2) Actual participation required.--A lender shall 
        only be liable pursuant to a Federal environmental law 
        when the lender actually participates in management of 
        another person's activities which create liability 
        under the same Federal environmental law.
          (3) Definitions.--The following definitions shall 
        apply for purposes of this section:
                  (A) Participate in management.--The term 
                ``participate in management'' means actually 
                participating in the management or operational 
                affairs of other persons' activities, and does 
                not include merely having the capacity to 
                influence, or the unexercised right to control 
                such activities;
                  (B) Participate in management.--A person 
                shall be considered to ``participate in 
                management'' while a borrower is still in 
                possession of property, only if such person--
                          (i) exercises decisionmaking control 
                        over the environmental compliance of a 
                        borrower, such that the person has 
                        undertaken responsibility for the 
                        hazardous substance handling or 
                        disposal practices of the borrower; or
                          (ii) exercises control at a level 
                        comparable to that of a manager of the 
                        enterprise of the borrower, such that 
                        the person has assumed or manifested 
                        responsibility for the overall 
                        management of the enterprise 
                        encompassing day-to-day decisionmaking 
                        with respect to environmental 
                        compliance, or with respect to 
                        substantially all of the operational 
                        aspects (as distinguished from 
                        financial or administrative aspects) of 
                        the enterprise, other than 
                        environmental compliance.
                  (C) Participate in management.--The term 
                ``participate in management'' does not include 
                engaging in an act or failing to act before the 
                time that an extension of credit is made or a 
                security interest is created in property.
                  (D) Participate in management.--The term 
                ``participate in management'' does not include, 
                unless such actions rise to the level of 
                participating in management (as defined in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B))--
                          (i) holding an extension of credit or 
                        a security interest or abandoning or 
                        releasing an extension of credit or a 
                        security interest;
                          (ii) including in the terms of an 
                        extension of credit, or in a contract 
                        or security agreement relating to such 
                        an extension, covenants, warranties, or 
                        other terms and conditions that relate 
                        to environmental compliance;
                          (iii) monitoring or enforcing the 
                        terms and conditions of an extension of 
                        credit or security interest;
                          (iv) monitoring or undertaking 1 or 
                        more inspections of property, except 
                        that monitoring or undertaking any such 
                        inspection, although not required by 
                        this subsection, shall provide 
                        probative evidence that a holder of a 
                        security interest is acting to preserve 
                        and protect the property during the 
                        time the holder may have possession or 
                        control of such property;
                          (v) requiring or conducting a 
                        response action or other lawful means 
                        of addressing the release or threatened 
                        release of a hazardous substance in 
                        connection with property prior to, 
                        during, or upon the expiration of the 
                        term of an extension of credit;
                          (vi) providing financial or other 
                        advice or counseling in an effort to 
                        mitigate, prevent, or cure default or 
                        diminution in the value of the 
                        property;
                          (vii) restructuring, renegotiating, 
                        or otherwise agreeing to alter the 
                        terms and conditions of an extension of 
                        credit or security interest, or 
                        exercising forbearance; or
                          (viii) exercising other remedies that 
                        may be available under applicable law 
                        for the breach of any term or condition 
                        of the extension of credit or security 
                        agreement.
                  (E) When a lender did not participate in 
                management of property prior to foreclosure, 
                then the lender shall not be liable even if 
                such person forecloses on property, sells, re-
                leases, or liquidates property, maintains 
                business activities, winds up operations, or 
                undertakes any response action with respect to 
                property, or takes other measures to preserve, 
                protect, or prepare property prior to sale or 
                disposition, if such person seeks to sell, 
                release, or otherwise divest the property at 
                the earliest practical, commercially reasonable 
                time, on commercially reasonable terms, taking 
                into account market conditions and legal and 
                regulatory requirements.
          (4) Limitation on liability.--The liability of any 
        lender that is liable under any Federal environmental 
        law shall be limited to only the cost of any response 
        action or corrective action to the extent and in the 
        amount that the lender actively and directly 
        contributed to the hazardous substance release. A 
        lender shall not be liable for the cost of any response 
        action or corrective action relating to the release of 
        a hazardous substance which commences before and 
        continues after the lender obtains a security interest 
        in the property so long as the lender does not actively 
        and directly contribute to the hazardous substance 
        release.
  (b) Fiduciary Environmental Liability.--
          (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        or rule of Federal law, no fiduciary, acting as defined 
        in this section, shall be liable pursuant to any 
        Federal environmental law, except as provided in this 
        section.
          (2) Liability of fiduciary.--
                  (A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), a 
                fiduciary holding title to property or 
                otherwise affiliated with property solely in a 
                fiduciary capacity shall be personally subject 
                to the obligations and liabilities of any 
                person under any Federal environmental law, to 
                the same extent as if the property were held by 
                the fiduciary free of trust.
                  (B) The personal obligations and liabilities 
                of a fiduciary referred to in subparagraph (A) 
                shall be limited to the extent to which the 
                assets of the trust or estate are sufficient to 
                indemnify the fiduciary, unless--
                          (i) the obligations and liabilities 
                        would have arisen even if the person 
                        had not served as a fiduciary;
                          (ii) the fiduciary's own failure to 
                        exercise due care with respect to 
                        property caused or contributed to the 
                        release of hazardous substances 
                        following establishment of the trust, 
                        estate, or fiduciary relationship; or
                          (iii) the fiduciary had a role in 
                        establishing the trust, estate, or 
                        fiduciary relationship, and such trust, 
                        estate, or fiduciary relationship has 
                        no objectively reasonable or 
                        substantial purpose apart from the 
                        avoidance or limitation of liability 
                        under an environmental law.
                Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be 
                construed as requiring indemnification by an 
                employee benefit plan (within the meaning of 
                paragraph (3) of section 3 of Employee 
                Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), or by 
                any trust forming a part thereof, of any 
                fiduciary of such plan contrary to the terms of 
                the plan or in an amount in excess of the 
                amount permitted under the terms of such plan.
                  (C) A fiduciary shall not be personally 
                liable for undertaking or directing another to 
                undertake a response action.
          (3) Rule of construction.--No provision of this 
        subsection shall be construed as affecting the 
        liability, if any, of any person who--
                  (A)(i) acts in a capacity other than a 
                fiduciary capacity; and
                  (ii) directly or indirectly benefits from a 
                trust or fiduciary relationship; or
                  (B)(i) is a beneficiary and a fiduciary with 
                respect to the same fiduciary estate; and
                  (ii) as a fiduciary, receives benefits that 
                exceed customary or reasonable compensation, 
                and incidental benefits, permitted under other 
                applicable laws.
  (c) Definitions.--For purposes of subsections (a) and (b), 
the following definitions shall apply:
          (1) Federal environmental law.--The term ``Federal 
        environmental law'' means any Federal statute or rule 
        of common law with the purpose of protection of the 
        environment and any Federal regulation promulgated 
        thereunder and any State statute or regulation created 
        as a federally approved or delegated program 
        implementing these laws, including the following:
                  (A) The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
                Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.).
                  (B) The Toxic Substances Control Act (15 
                U.S.C. 2601 et seq.).
                  (C) The Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
                (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
                  (D) The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 
                2701 et seq.).
                  (E) The Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et 
                seq.).
                  (F) The Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 
                6901 et seq.).
                  (G) The Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
                Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 
                U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).
                  (H) The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (42 
                U.S.C. 13101 et seq.).
          (2) Extension of credit.--The term ``extension of 
        credit'' means the making or renewal of any loan, a 
        granting of a line of credit or extending credit in any 
        manner, such as an advance by means of an overdraft or 
        the issuance of a standby letter of credit, and a lease 
        finance transaction--
                  (A) in which the lessor does not initially 
                select the leased property and does not, during 
                the lease term, control the daily operation or 
                maintenance of the property; or
                  (B) that conforms with regulations issued by 
                the appropriate Federal banking agency or the 
                appropriate State bank supervisory (as these 
                terms are defined in section 3 of the Federal 
                Deposit Insurance Act or with regulations 
                issued by the National Credit Union 
                Administration Board, as appropriate.
          (3) Fiduciary.--The term ``fiduciary'' means a person 
        who acts for the exclusive benefit of another person as 
        a bona fide fiduciary within the meaning of section 
        3(21) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 
        1974, trustee, executor, administrator, custodian, 
        guardian, conservator, receiver, committee of estates 
        of lunatics or other disabled persons, or personal 
        representative; except, that the term ``fiduciary'' 
        does not include any person--
                  (A) who owns, or controls, is affiliated 
                with, or takes any action with respect to 
                property on behalf of or for the benefit of a 
                lender or takes any action to protect a 
                lender's extension of credit or security 
                interest (any such person shall be treated as a 
                lender under subsection (a) of this section); 
                or
                  (B) who is acting as a fiduciary with respect 
                to a trust or other fiduciary estate that--
                          (i) was not created as part of, or to 
                        facilitate, one or more estate plans or 
                        pursuant to the incapacity of a natural 
                        person; and
                          (ii) was organized for the primary 
                        purpose of, or is engaged in, actively 
                        carrying on a trade or business for 
                        profit.
          (4) Financial or administrative aspect.--The term 
        ``financial or administrative aspect'' means a function 
        such as a credit manager, accounts payable officer, 
        accounts receivable officer, personnel manager, 
        comptroller, or chief financial officer, or any similar 
        function.
          (5) Foreclosure, foreclose.--The terms 
        ``foreclosure'' and ``foreclose'' means, respectively, 
        acquiring, and to acquire, property through--
                  (A) purchase at sale under a judgment or 
                decree, a power of sale, a nonjudicial 
                foreclosure sale, or from a trustee, deed in 
                lieu of foreclosure, or similar conveyance, or 
                through repossession, if such property was 
                security for an extension of credit previously 
                contracted;
                  (B) conveyance pursuant to an extension of 
                credit previously contracted, including the 
                termination of a lease agreement; or
                  (C) any other formal or informal manner by 
                which the person acquires, for subsequent 
                disposition, possession of collateral in order 
                to protect the security interest of the person.
          (6) Hazardous substance.--The term ``hazardous 
        substance'' means any chemical, biological, organic, 
        inorganic, or radioactive pollutants, contaminants, 
        materials, waste, or other substances regulated under, 
        defined, listed, or included in any Federal 
        environmental law.
          (7) Lender.--The term ``lender'' means--
                  (A) a person that makes a bona fide extension 
                of credit to or takes a security interest from 
                another person and includes a successor or 
                assign of the person which makes the extension 
                of credit or takes the security interest;
                  (B) the Federal National Mortgage 
                Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
                Corporation, the Federal Agricultural Mortgage 
                Corporation, or other entity that in a bona 
                fide manner is engaged in the business of 
                buying or selling loans on interests therein;
                  (C) any person engaged in the business of 
                insuring or guaranteeing against a default in 
                the repayment of an extension of credit, or 
                acting as a surety with respect to an extension 
                of credit, to other persons; or
                  (D) any person regularly engaged in the 
                business of providing title insurance who 
                acquires property as a result of assignment or 
                conveyance in the course of underwriting claims 
                and claims settlement.
          (8) Operational aspect.--The term ``operational 
        aspect'' means a function such as a facility or plant 
        manager, operations manager, chief operating officer, 
        or chief executive officer.
          (9) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual, 
        firm, corporation, association, partnership, 
        consortium, joint venture, commercial entity, United 
        States Government, State, municipality, commission, 
        political subdivision of a State, or any interstate 
        body.
          (10) Property.--The term ``property'' means real, 
        personal, and mixed property.
          (11) Response action.--The term ``response action'' 
        shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in 
        section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental 
        Response, Compensation and Liability Act.
          (12) Security interest.--The term ``security 
        interest'' means a right under a mortgage, deed of 
        trust, assignment, judgment lien, pledge, security 
        agreement, factoring agreement, or lease, or any other 
        right accruing to a person to secure the repayment of 
        money, the performance of a duty, or some other 
        obligation.
  (d) Savings Clause.--Nothing in subsections (a) (b), or (c), 
shall--
          (1) affect the rights or immunities or other defenses 
        that are already available to lenders or fiduciaries 
        under any Federal environmental law;
          (2) be construed to create any liability for any 
        lender or fiduciary; or
          (3) create a private right of action against any 
        lender or fiduciary.
  (e) Federal Banking and Lending Agency Environmental 
Liability.--
          (1) Governmental entities.--
                  (A) Banking and lending agencies.--Except as 
                provided in paragraph (C), a Federal banking or 
                lending agency shall not be liable under any 
                law imposing strict liability for the release 
                or threatened release of petroleum or a 
                hazardous substance at or from property 
                (including any right or interest therein) 
                acquired--
                          (i) in connection with the exercise 
                        of receivership or conservatorship 
                        authority, or the liquidation or 
                        winding up of the affairs of an insured 
                        depository institution, including any 
                        of its subsidiaries, and bridge bank;
                          (ii) in connection with the provision 
                        of loans, discounts, advances, 
                        guarantees, insurance, or other 
                        financial assistance; or
                          (iii) in connection with property 
                        received in any civil or criminal 
                        proceeding, or administrative 
                        enforcement action, whether by 
                        settlement or order.
                  (B) Application of state law.--Nothing in 
                paragraph (e) shall be construed as preempting, 
                affecting, applying to, or modifying any State 
                law, or any rights, actions, cause of action, 
                or obligations under State law, except that 
                liability under State law shall not exceed the 
                value of the agency's interest in the asset 
                giving rise to such liability. Nothing in this 
                section shall be construed to prevent a Federal 
                banking or lending agency from agreeing with a 
                State to transfer property to such State in 
                lieu of any liability that might otherwise be 
                imposed under State law.
                  (C) Limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraph 
                (A), and subject to section 107(d) of the 
                Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
                Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, a 
                Federal banking or lending agency that directly 
                caused or materially contributed to the release 
                of petroleum or a hazardous substance may be 
                liable for removal, remedial, or other response 
                action pertaining to that release.
                  (D) Subsequent purchaser.--The immunity 
                provided by paragraphs (A) and (B) shall extend 
                to the first subsequent purchaser of property 
                described in such paragraph from a Federal 
                banking or lending agency, unless such 
                purchaser--
                          (i) would otherwise be liable or 
                        potentially liable for all or part of 
                        the costs of the removal, remedial, or 
                        other response action due to a prior 
                        relationship with the property;
                          (ii) is or was affiliated with or 
                        related to a party described in 
                        subparagraph (i);
                          (iii) fails to agree to take 
                        reasonable steps necessary to abate the 
                        release or threatened release or to 
                        protect public health and safety in a 
                        manner consistent with the purposes of 
                        applicable Federal environmental laws; 
                        or
                          (iv) directly causes or significantly 
                        and materially contributes to any 
                        additional release or threatened 
                        release on the property.
                  (E) Federal or state action.--Notwithstanding 
                subparagraph (D), if a Federal agency or State 
                environmental agency is required to take 
                remedial action due to the failure of a 
                subsequent purchaser to carry out, in good 
                faith, the agreement described in subparagraph 
                (D)(iii), such subsequent purchaser shall 
                reimburse the Federal or State environmental 
                agency for the costs of such remedial action. 
                Any such reimbursement shall not exceed the 
                increase in the fair market value of the 
                property attributable to the remedial action.
          (2) Lien exemption.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, any property held by a subsequent 
        purchaser referred to in paragraph (1)(D) or held by a 
        Federal banking or lending agency shall not be subject 
        to any lien for costs or damages associated with the 
        release or threatened release of petroleum or a 
        hazardous substance existing at the time of the 
        transfer.
          (3) Exemption from covenants to remediate.--A Federal 
        banking or lending agency shall be exempt from any law 
        requiring such agency to grant covenants warranting 
        that a removal, remedial, or other response action has 
        been, or will in the future be, taken with respect to 
        property acquired in the manner described in paragraph 
        (e)(1)(A).
          (4) Definitions.--For purposes of subsection (e), the 
        following definitions shall apply:
                  (A) Federal banking or lending agency.--The 
                term ``Federal banking or lending agency'' 
                means the Corporation, the Resolution Trust 
                Corporation, the Board of Governors of the 
                Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the 
                Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, a 
                Federal Reserve Bank, a Federal Home Loan Bank, 
                the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development, the National Credit Union 
                Administration Board, the Farm Credit 
                Administration, the Farm Credit System 
                Insurance Corporation, the Farm Credit System 
                Assistance Board, the Farmers Home 
                Administration, the Rural Electrification 
                Administration, the Small Business 
                Administration, and any other Federal agency 
                acting in a similar capacity, in any of their 
                capacities, and their agents or appointees.
                  (B) Hazardous substance.--The term 
                ``hazardous substance'' has the same meaning as 
                in section 101(14) of the Comprehensive 
                Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
                Liability Act of 1980.
                  (C) Release.--The term ``release'' has the 
                same meaning as in section 101(22) of the 
                Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
                Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, and 
                includes the use, storage, disposal, treatment, 
                generation, or transportation of a hazardous 
                substance.
          (5) Savings clause.--Nothing in subsection (e) 
        shall--
                  (A) affect the rights or immunities or other 
                defenses that are available under this Act or 
                other applicable law to any party, subject to 
                the provisions of this section;
                  (B) be construed to create any liability for 
                any party; or
                  (C) create a private right of action against 
                an insured depository institution or lender or 
                against a Federal banking or lending agency.
                              ----------                              

                          TRUTH IN SAVINGS ACT

                      Subtitle F--Truth in Savings

SEC. 261. SHORT TITLE.

  This subtitle may be cited as the ``Truth in Savings Act''.

[SEC. 262. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

  [(a) Findings.--The Congress hereby finds that economic 
stability would be enhanced, competition between depository 
institutions would be improved, and the ability of the consumer 
to make informed decisions regarding deposit accounts, and to 
verify accounts, would be strengthened if there was uniformity 
in the disclosure of terms and conditions on which interest is 
paid and fees are assessed in connection with such accounts.
  [(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this subtitle to require 
the clear and uniform disclosure of--
          [(1) the rates of interest which are payable on 
        deposit accounts by depository institutions; and
          [(2) the fees that are assessable against deposit 
        accounts,
so that consumers can make a meaningful comparison between the 
competing claims of depository institutions with regard to 
deposit accounts.

[SEC. 263. DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST RATES AND TERMS OF ACCOUNTS.

  [(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsections (b) and 
(c), each advertisement, announcement, or solicitation 
initiated by any depository institution or deposit broker 
relating to any demand or interest-bearing account offered by 
an insured depository institution which includes any reference 
to a specific rate of interest payable on amounts deposited in 
such account, or to a specific yield or rate of earnings on 
amounts so deposited, shall state the following information, to 
the extent applicable, in a clear and conspicuous manner:
          [(1) The annual percentage yield.
          [(2) The period during which such annual percentage 
        yield is in effect.
          [(3) All minimum account balance and time 
        requirements which must be met in order to earn the 
        advertised yield (and, in the case of accounts for 
        which more than 1 yield is stated, each annual 
        percentage yield and the account minimum balance 
        requirement associated with each such yield shall be in 
        close proximity and have equal prominence).
          [(4) The minimum amount of the initial deposit which 
        is required to open the account in order to obtain the 
        yield advertised, if such minimum amount is greater 
        than the minimum balance necessary to earn the 
        advertised yield.
          [(5) A statement that regular fees or other 
        conditions could reduce the yield.
          [(6) A statement that an interest penalty is required 
        for early withdrawal.
  [(b) Broadcast and Electronic Media and Outdoor Advertising 
Exception.--The Board may, by regulation, exempt 
advertisements, announcements, or solicitations made by any 
broadcast or electronic medium or outdoor advertising display 
not on the premises of the depository institution from any 
disclosure requirements described in paragraph (4) or (5) of 
subsection (a) if the Board finds that any such disclosure 
would be unnecessarily burdensome.
  [(c) Disclosure Required for On-Premises Displays.--
          [(1) In general.--The disclosure requirements 
        contained in this section shall not apply to any sign 
        (including a rate board) disclosing a rate or rates of 
        interest which is displayed on the premises of the 
        depository institution if such sign contains--
                  [(A) the accompanying annual percentage 
                yield; and
                  [(B) a statement that the consumer should 
                request further information from an employee of 
                the depository institution concerning the fees 
                and terms applicable to the advertised account.
          [(2) Definition.--For purposes of paragraph (1), a 
        sign shall only be considered to be displayed on the 
        premises of a depository institution if the sign is 
        designed to be viewed only from the interior of the 
        premises of the depository institution.
  [(d) Misleading Descriptions of Free or No-Cost Accounts 
Prohibited.--No advertisement, announcement, or solicitation 
made by any depository institution or deposit broker may refer 
to or describe an account as a free or no-cost account (or 
words of similar meaning) if--
          [(1) in order to avoid fees or service charges for 
        any period--
                  [(A) a minimum balance must be maintained in 
                the account during such period; or
                  [(B) the number of transactions during such 
                period may not exceed a maximum number; or
          [(2) any regular service or transaction fee is 
        imposed.
  [(e) Misleading or Inaccurate Advertisements, Etc., 
Prohibited.--No depository institution or deposit broker shall 
make any advertisement, announcement, or solicitation relating 
to a deposit account that is inaccurate or misleading or that 
misrepresents its deposit contracts.

[SEC. 264. ACCOUNT SCHEDULE.

  [(a) In General.--Each depository institution shall maintain 
a schedule of fees, charges, interest rates, and terms and 
conditions applicable to each class of accounts offered by the 
depository institution, in accordance with the requirements of 
this section and regulations which the Board shall prescribe. 
The Board shall specify, in regulations, which fees, charges, 
penalties, terms, conditions, and account restrictions must be 
included in a schedule required under this subsection. A 
depository institution need not include in such schedule any 
information not specified in such regulation.
  [(b) Information on Fees and Charges.--The schedule required 
under subsection (a) with respect to any account shall contain 
the following information:
          [(1) A description of all fees, periodic service 
        charges, and penalties which may be charged or assessed 
        against the account (or against the account holder in 
        connection with such account), the amount of any such 
        fees, charge, or penalty (or the method by which such 
        amount will be calculated), and the conditions under 
        which any such amount will be assessed.
          [(2) All minimum balance requirements that affect 
        fees, charges, and penalties, including a clear 
        description of how each such minimum balance is 
        calculated.
          [(3) Any minimum amount required with respect to the 
        initial deposit in order to open the account.
  [(c) Information on Interest Rates.--The schedule required 
under subsection (a) with respect to any account shall include 
the following information:
          [(1) Any annual percentage yield.
          [(2) The period during which any such annual 
        percentage yield will be in effect.
          [(3) Any annual rate of simple interest.
          [(4) The frequency with which interest will be 
        compounded and credited.
          [(5) A clear description of the method used to 
        determine the balance on which interest is paid.
          [(6) The information described in paragraphs (1) 
        through (4) with respect to any period after the end of 
        the period referred to in paragraph (2) (or the method 
        for computing any information described in any such 
        paragraph), if applicable.
          [(7) Any minimum balance which must be maintained to 
        earn the rates and obtain the yields disclosed pursuant 
        to this subsection and a clear description of how any 
        such minimum balance is calculated.
          [(8) A clear description of any minimum time 
        requirement which must be met in order to obtain the 
        yields disclosed pursuant to this subsection and any 
        information described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), or 
        (4) that will apply if any time requirement is not met.
          [(9) A statement, if applicable, that any interest 
        which has accrued but has not been credited to an 
        account at the time of a withdrawal from the account 
        will not be paid by the depository institution or 
        credited to the account by reason of such withdrawal.
          [(10) Any provision or requirement relating to 
        nonpayment of interest, including any charge or penalty 
        for early withdrawal, and the conditions under which 
        any such charge or penalty may be assessed.
  [(d) Other Information.--The schedule required under 
subsection (a) shall include such other disclosures as the 
Board may determine to be necessary to allow consumers to 
understand and compare accounts, including frequency of 
interest rate adjustments, account restrictions, and renewal 
policies for time accounts.
  [(e) Style and Format.--Schedules required under subsection 
(a) shall be written in clear and plain language and be 
presented in a format designed to allow consumers to readily 
understand the terms of the accounts offered.

[SEC. 265. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN ACCOUNTS.

  [The Board shall require, in regulations which the Board 
shall prescribe, such modification in the disclosure 
requirements under this Act relating to annual percentage yield 
as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act in 
the case of--
          [(1) accounts with respect to which determination of 
        annual percentage yield is based on an annual rate of 
        interest that is guaranteed for a period of less than 1 
        year;
          [(2) variable rate accounts;
          [(3) accounts which, pursuant to law, do not 
        guarantee payment of a stated rate;
          [(4) multiple rate accounts; and
          [(5) accounts with respect to which determination of 
        annual percentage yield is based on an annual rate of 
        interest that is guaranteed for a stated term.

[SEC. 266. DISTRIBUTION OF SCHEDULES.

  [(a) In General.--A schedule required under section 264 for 
an appropriate account shall be--
          [(1) made available to any person upon request;
          [(2) provided to any potential customer before an 
        account is opened or a service is rendered; and
          [(3) provided to the depositor, in the case of any 
        time deposit which is renewable at maturity without 
        notice from the depositor, at least 30 days before the 
        date of maturity.
  [(b) Distribution in Case of Certain Initial Deposits.--If--
          [(1) a depositor is not physically present at an 
        office of a depository institution at the time an 
        initial deposit is accepted with respect to an account 
        established by or for such person; and
          [(2) the schedule required under section 264(a) has 
        not been furnished previously to such depositor,
the depository institution shall mail the schedule to the 
depositor at the address shown on the records of the depository 
institution for such account no later than 10 days after the 
date of the initial deposit.
  [(c) Distribution of Notice of Certain Changes.--If--
          [(1) any change is made in any term or condition 
        which is required to be disclosed in the schedule 
        required under section 264(a) with respect to any 
        account; and
          [(2) the change may reduce the yield or adversely 
        affect any holder of the account,
all account holders who may be affected by such change shall be 
notified and provided with a description of the change by mail 
at least 30 days before the change takes effect.
  [(d) Distribution in Case of Accounts Established by More 
Than 1 Individual or by a Group.--If an account is established 
by more than 1 individual or for a person other than an 
individual, any distribution described in this section with 
respect to such account meets the requirements of this section 
if the distribution is made to 1 of the individuals who 
established the account or 1 individual representative of the 
person on whose behalf such account was established.
  [(e) Notice to Account Holders as of the Effective Date of 
Regulations.--For any account for which the depository 
institution delivers an account statement on a quarterly or 
more frequent basis, the depository institution shall include 
on or with any regularly scheduled mailing posted or delivered 
within 180 days after publication of regulations issued by the 
Board in final form, a statement that the account holder has 
the right to request an account schedule containing the terms, 
charges, and interest rates of the account, and that the 
account holder may wish to request such an account schedule.]
SEC. 262. PURPOSE.

  It is the purpose of this subtitle to ensure that consumers 
can make a meaningful comparison between the competing claims 
of depository institutions with regard to deposit accounts by 
requiring that institutions offering interest-bearing accounts 
pay interest on the full amount of principal each day in a 
consumer deposit account at the rate agreed to be paid by the 
institution.

SEC. 263. PROHIBITION ON MISLEADING OR INACCURATE ADVERTISEMENTS AND 
                    DISCLOSURES.

  No depository institution or deposit broker shall make any 
advertisement, announcement, solicitation or disclosure 
relating to a deposit account that is inaccurate or misleading, 
including any inaccurate or misleading description of a free or 
no-cost account, or that misrepresents its deposit contracts.

SEC. 264. ACCOUNT INFORMATION.

  (a) In General.--Each depository institution shall disclose 
fees, charges, penalties, and interest rates applicable to each 
class of accounts offered by the institution in accordance with 
this section.
  (b) Information on Fees and Charges.--Each depository 
institution shall disclose the following information with 
respect to any account to a consumer at the time the account is 
opened, or at such earlier time as a consumer may request (and 
no additional information may be required to be disclosed under 
this subtitle by regulation or otherwise with respect to such 
account):
          (1) A description of all fees, periodic service 
        charges, penalties, and interest rates which may be 
        charged or assessed against the account (or against the 
        account holder in connection with such account), the 
        amount of any such fees, charges, or penalties (or the 
        method by which such amount will be calculated), and 
        the conditions under which any such amount will be 
        assessed.
          (2) All minimum balance requirements that affect 
        fees, charges, and penalties, including a clear 
        description of how each such minimum balance is 
        calculated.
          (3) Any minimum amount required with respect to the 
        initial deposit in order to open the account.
  (c) Information on Interest Rates.--The disclosures required 
under subsections (a) and (b) with respect to any account shall 
include the following information:
          (1) Any annual rate of simple interest.
          (2) The frequency with which interest will be 
        compounded and credited.
  (d) No Regulations Authorized.--No regulations may be 
prescribed with respect to this section by the Board or any 
agency referred to in this title, including any regulation to 
define any terms used in this section.

SEC. 265. DISCLOSURE OF CHANGE IN TERMS.

  If any change is made in any item required to be disclosed 
under section 264, all account holders who may be affected by 
such change shall be notified by mail and provided with a 
description of such change at least 30 days before the 
effective date of the change.
SEC. [267.] 266. PAYMENT OF INTEREST.

  (a) Calculated on Full Amount of Principal.--Interest on an 
interest-bearing account at any depository institution shall be 
calculated by such institution on the full amount of principal 
in the account for each day of the stated calculation period at 
the rate or rates of interest disclosed pursuant to this Act.
  (b) No Particular Method of Compounding Interest Required.--
Subsection (a) shall not be construed as prohibiting or 
requiring the use of any particular method of compounding or 
crediting of interest.
  (c) Date by Which Interest Must Accrue.--Interest on accounts 
that are subject to this Act shall begin to accrue not later 
than the business day specified for interest-bearing accounts 
in section 606 of the Expedited Funds Availability Act, subject 
to subsections (b) and (c) of such section.

[SEC. 268. PERIODIC STATEMENTS.

  [Each depository institution shall include on or with each 
periodic statement provided to each account holder at such 
institution a clear and conspicuous disclosure of the following 
information with respect to such account:
          [(1) The annual percentage yield earned.
          [(2) The amount of interest earned.
          [(3) The amount of any fees or charges imposed.
          [(4) The number of days in the reporting period.
[SEC. 269. REGULATIONS.

  [(a) In General.--
          [(1) Regulations required.--Before the end of the 9-
        month period beginning on the date of the enactment of 
        this Act, the Board, after consultation with each 
        agency referred to in section 270(a) and public notice 
        and opportunity for comment, shall prescribe 
        regulations to carry out the purpose and provisions of 
        this Act.
          [(2) Effective date of regulations.--The regulations 
        prescribed under paragraph (1) shall take effect not 
        later than 9 months after publication in final form.
          [(3) Contents of regulations.--The regulations 
        prescribed under paragraph (1) may contain such 
        classifications, differentiations, or other provisions, 
        and may provide for such adjustments and exceptions for 
        any class of accounts as, in the judgment of the Board, 
        are necessary or proper to carry out the purposes of 
        this Act, to prevent circumvention or evasion of the 
        requirements of this Act, or to facilitate compliance 
        with the requirements of this Act.
          [(4) Date of applicability.--The provisions of this 
        Act shall not apply with respect to any depository 
        institution before the effective date of regulations 
        prescribed by the Board under this subsection (or by 
        the National Credit Union Administration Board under 
        section 12(b), in the case of any depository 
        institution described in clause (iv) of section 
        19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act).
  [(b) Model Forms and Clauses.--
          [(1) In general.--The Board shall publish model forms 
        and clauses for common disclosures to facilitate 
        compliance with this Act. In devising such forms, the 
        Board shall consider the use by depository institutions 
        of data processing or similar automated machines.
          [(2) Use of forms and clauses deemed in compliance.--
        Nothing in this Act may be construed to require a 
        depository institution to use any such model form or 
        clause prescribed by the Board under this subsection. A 
        depository institution shall be deemed to be in 
        compliance with the disclosure provisions of this Act 
        if the depository institution--
                  [(A) uses any appropriate model form or 
                clause as published by the Board; or
                  [(B) uses any such model form or clause and 
                changes it by--
                          [(i) deleting any information which 
                        is not required by this Act; or
                          [(ii) rearranging the format,
                if in making such deletion or rearranging the 
                format, the depository institution does not 
                affect the substance, clarity, or meaningful 
                sequence of the disclosure.
          [(3) Public notice and opportunity for comment.--
        Model disclosure forms and clauses shall be adopted by 
        the Board after duly given notice in the Federal 
        Register and an opportunity for public comment in 
        accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States 
        Code.]
SEC. 267. REGULATIONS.

  (a) In General.--The Board, after consultation with each 
agency referred to in section 265(a) and public notice and 
opportunity for comment, shall prescribe regulations to carry 
out the purpose and provisions of this subtitle.
  (b) Effective Date of Regulations.--The provisions of this 
subtitle shall not apply with respect to any depository 
institution before the effective date of regulations prescribed 
by the Board under this subsection.
SEC. [270.] 268. ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT.

  (a) In General.--Compliance with the requirements imposed 
under this Act shall be enforced under--
          (1) section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act--
                  (A) by the appropriate Federal banking agency 
                (as defined in section 3(q) of the Federal 
                Deposit Insurance Act) in the case of insured 
                depository institutions (as defined in section 
                3(c)(2) of such Act);
                  (B) by the Federal Deposit Insurance 
                Corporation in the case of depository 
                institutions described in clause (i), (ii), or 
                (iii) of section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal 
                Reserve Act which are not insured depository 
                institutions (as defined in section 3(c)(2) of 
                the Federal Deposit Insurance Act); and
                  (C) by the Director of the Office of Thrift 
                Supervision in the case of depository 
                institutions described in clause (v) and or 
                (vi) of section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal 
                Reserve Act which are not insured depository 
                institutions (as defined in section 3(c)(2) of 
                the Federal Deposit Insurance Act); and
          (2) the Federal Credit Union Act, by the National 
        Credit Union Administration Board in the case of 
        depository institutions described in clause (iv) of 
        section 19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act.
  (b) Additional Enforcement Powers.--
          (1) Violation of this act treated as violation of 
        other acts.--For purposes of the exercise by any agency 
        referred to in subsection (a) of such agency's powers 
        under any Act referred to in such subsection, a 
        violation of a requirement imposed under this Act shall 
        be deemed to be a violation of a requirement imposed 
        under that Act.
          (2) Enforcement authority under other acts.--In 
        addition to the powers of any agency referred to in 
        subsection (a) under any provision of law specifically 
        referred to in such subsection, each such agency may 
        exercise, for purposes of enforcing compliance with any 
        requirement imposed under this Act, any other authority 
        conferred on such agency by law.
  (c) Regulations by Agencies Other Than the Board.--The 
authority of the Board to issue regulations under this Act does 
not impair the authority of any other agency referred to in 
subsection (a) to make rules regarding its own procedures in 
enforcing compliance with the requirements imposed under this 
Act.

[SEC. 271. CIVIL LIABILITY.

  [(a) Civil Liability.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
section, any depository institution which fails to comply with 
any requirement imposed under this Act or any regulation 
prescribed under this Act with respect to any person who is an 
account holder is liable to such person in an amount equal to 
the sum of--
          [(1) any actual damage sustained by such person as a 
        result of the failure;
          [(2)(A) in the case of an individual action, such 
        additional amount as the court may allow, except that 
        the liability under this subparagraph shall not be less 
        than $100 nor greater than $1,000; or
          [(B) in the case of a class action, such amount as 
        the court may allow, except that--
                  [(i) as to each member of the class, no 
                minimum recovery shall be applicable; and
                  [(ii) the total recovery under this 
                subparagraph in any class action or series of 
                class actions arising out of the same failure 
                to comply by the same depository institution 
                shall not be more than the lesser of $500,000 
                or 1 percent of the net worth of the depository 
                institution involved; and
          [(3) in the case of any successful action to enforce 
        any liability under paragraph (1) or (2), the costs of 
        the action, together with a reasonable attorney's fee 
        as determined by the court.
  [(b) Class Action Awards.--In determining the amount of any 
award in any class action, the court shall consider, among 
other relevant factors--
          [(1) the amount of any actual damages awarded;
          [(2) the frequency and persistence of failures of 
        compliance;
          [(3) the resources of the depository institution;
          [(4) the number of persons adversely affected; and
          [(5) the extent to which the failure of compliance 
        was intentional.
  [(c) Bona Fide Errors.--
          [(1) General rule.--A depository institution may not 
        be held liable in any action brought under this section 
        for a violation of this Act if the depository 
        institution demonstrates by a preponderance of the 
        evidence that the violation was not intentional and 
        resulted from a bona fide error, notwithstanding the 
        maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid 
        any such error.
          [(2) Examples.--Examples of a bona fide error include 
        clerical, calculation, computer malfunction and 
        programming, and printing errors, except that an error 
        of legal judgment with respect to a depository 
        institution's obligation under this Act is not a bona 
        fide error.
  [(d) No Liability for Overpayment.--A depository institution 
may not be held liable in any action under this section for a 
violation of this Act if the violation has resulted in--
          [(1) an interest payment to the account holder in an 
        amount greater than the amount determined under any 
        disclosed rate of interest applicable with respect to 
        such payment; or
          [(2) a charge to the consumer in an amount less than 
        the amount determined under the disclosed charge or fee 
        schedule applicable with respect to such charge.
  [(e) Jurisdiction.--Any action under this section may be 
brought in any United States district court, or in any other 
court of competent jurisdiction, within 1 year after the date 
of the occurrence of the violation involved.
  [(f) Reliance on Board Rulings.--No provision of this section 
imposing any liability shall apply to any act done or omitted 
in good faith in conformity with any regulation or order, or 
any interpretation of any regulation or order, of the Board, or 
in conformity with any interpretation or approval by an 
official or employee of the Board duly authorized by the Board 
to issue such interpretation or approval under procedures 
prescribed by the Board, notwithstanding, the fact that after 
such act or omission has occurred, such regulation, order, 
interpretation, or approval is amended, rescinded, or 
determined by judicial or other authority to be invalid for any 
reason.
  [(g) Notification of and Adjustment for Errors.--A depository 
institution shall not be liable under this section or section 
270 for any failure to comply with any requirement imposed 
under this Act with respect to any account if--
          [(1) before--
                  [(A) the end of the 60-day period beginning 
                on the date on which the depository institution 
                discovered the failure to comply;
                  [(B) any action is instituted against the 
                depository institution by the account holder 
                under this section with respect to such failure 
                to comply; and
                  [(C) any written notice of such failure to 
                comply is received by the depository 
                institution from the account holder,
        the depository institution notifies the account holder 
        of the failure of such institution to comply with such 
        requirement; and
          [(2) the depository institution makes such 
        adjustments as may be necessary with respect to such 
        account to ensure that--
                  [(A) the account holder will not be liable 
                for any amount in excess of the amount actually 
                disclosed with respect to any fee or charge;
                  [(B) the account holder will not be liable 
                for any fee or charge imposed under any 
                condition not actually disclosed; and
                  [(C) interest on amounts in such account will 
                accrue at the annual percentage yield, and 
                under the conditions, actually disclosed (and 
                credit will be provided for interest already 
                accrued at a different annual percentage yield 
                and under different conditions than the yield 
                or conditions disclosed).
  [(h) Multiple Interests in 1 Account.--If more than 1 person 
holds an interest in any account--
          [(1) the minimum and maximum amounts of liability 
        under subsection (a)(2)(A) for any failure to comply 
        with the requirements of this Act shall apply with 
        respect to such account; and
          [(2) the court shall determine the manner in which 
        the amount of any such liability with respect to such 
        account shall be distributed among such persons.
  [(i) Continuing Failure to Disclose.--
          [(1) Certain continuing failures treated as 1 
        violation.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        continuing failure of any depository institution to 
        disclose any particular term required to be disclosed 
        under this Act with respect to a particular account 
        shall be treated as a single violation for purposes of 
        determining the amount of any liability of such 
        institution under subsection (a) for such failure to 
        disclose.
          [(2) Subsequent failure to disclose.--The continuing 
        failure of any depository institution to disclose any 
        particular term required to be disclosed under this Act 
        with respect to a particular account after judgment has 
        been rendered in favor of the account holder in 
        connection with a prior failure to disclose such term 
        with respect to such account shall be treated as a 
        subsequent violation for purposes of determining 
        liability under subsection (a).
          [(3) Coordination with section 270.--This subsection 
        shall not limit or otherwise affect the enforcement 
        power under section 270 of any agency referred to in 
        subsection (a) of such section.]

SEC. [272.] 269. CREDIT UNIONS.

  (a) In General.--No regulation prescribed by the Board under 
this Act shall apply directly with respect to any depository 
institution described in clause (iv) of section 19(b)(1)(A) of 
the Federal Reserve Act.
  (b) Regulations Prescribed by the NCUA.--Within 90 days of 
the effective date of any regulation prescribed by the Board 
under this Act, the National Credit Union Administration Board 
shall prescribe a regulation substantially similar to the 
regulation prescribed by the Board taking into account the 
unique nature of credit unions and the limitations under which 
they may pay dividends on member accounts.

[SEC. 273. EFFECT ON STATE LAW.

  [The provisions of this Act do not supersede any provisions 
of the law of any State relating to the disclosure of yields 
payable or terms for accounts to the extent such State law 
requires the disclosure of such yields or terms for accounts, 
except to the extent that those laws are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, and then only to the extent of the 
inconsistency. The Board may determine whether such 
inconsistencies exist.

[SEC. 274. DEFINITIONS.

  [For the purposes of this Act--
          [(1) Account.--The term ``account'' means any account 
        intended for use by and generally used by consumers 
        primarily for personal, family, or household purposes 
        that is offered by a depository institution into which 
        a consumer deposits funds, including demand accounts, 
        time accounts, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, 
        and share draft accounts.
          [(2) Annual percentage yield.--The term ``annual 
        percentage yield'' means the total amount of interest 
        that would be received on a $100 deposit, based on the 
        annual rate of simple interest and the frequency of 
        compounding for a 365-day period, expressed as a 
        percentage calculated by a method which shall be 
        prescribed by the Board in regulations.
          [(3) Annual rate of simple interest.--The term 
        ``annual rate of simple interest''--
                  [(A) means the annualized rate of interest 
                paid with respect to each compounding period, 
                expressed as a percentage; and
                  [(B) may be referred to as the ``annual 
                percentage rate''.
          [(4) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Board of 
        Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
          [(5) Deposit broker.--The term ``deposit broker''--
                  [(A) has the meaning given to such term in 
                section 29(f)(1) of the Federal Deposit 
                Insurance Act; and
                  [(B) includes any person who solicits any 
                amount from any other person for deposit in an 
                insured depository institution.
          [(6) Depository institution.--The term ``depository 
        institution'' has the meaning given such term in 
        clauses (i) through (vi) of section 19(b)(1)(A) of the 
        Federal Reserve Act.
          [(7) Interest.--The term ``interest'' includes 
        dividends paid with respect to share draft accounts 
        which are accounts within the meaning of paragraph (3).
          [(8) Multiple rate account.--The term ``multiple rate 
        account'' means any account that has 2 or more annual 
        rates of simple interest which take effect at the same 
        time or in succeeding periods and which are known at 
        the time of disclosure.]
SEC. 270. DEFINITIONS.

  For the purposes of this subtitle, the following definitions 
shall apply:
          (1) Accounts.--The term ``account'' means any account 
        intended for use by and generally used by a consumer 
        primarily for personal, family, or household purposes 
        that is offered by a depository institution.
          (2) Deposit broker.--The term ``deposit broker''--
                  (A) has the meaning given to such term in 
                section 29(f)(1) of the Federal Deposit 
                Insurance Act; and
                  (B) includes any person who solicits any 
                amount from any other person for deposit in an 
                insured depository institution.
          (3) Depository institution.--The term ``depository 
        institution''--
                  (A) means an institution described in clause 
                (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of section 
                19(b)(1)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act; and
                  (B) does not include nonautomated credit 
                unions which were not required to comply with 
                the requirements of this title as of the date 
                of the enactment of the Financial Institutions 
                Regulatory Relief Act of 1995 pursuant to the 
                determination of the National Credit Union 
                Administration Board.
          (4) Interest.--The term ``interest'' includes 
        dividends paid with respect to share accounts which are 
        accounts within the meaning of paragraph (1).
          (5) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the Board of 
        Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
                              ----------                              

            SECTION 903 OF THE ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER ACT

Sec. 903. [15 U.S.C. 1693a] Definitions

  As used in this title--
          (1) the term ``accepted card or other means of 
        access'' means a card, code, or other means of access 
        to a consumer's account for the purpose of initiating 
        electronic fund transfers when the person to whom such 
        card or other means of access was issued has requested 
        and received or has signed or has used, or authorized 
        another to use, such card or other means of access for 
        the purpose of transferring money between accounts or 
        obtaining money, property, labor, or services, but such 
        term does not include a card, device, or computer that 
        a person may use to pay for transactions through use of 
        value stored on, or assigned to, the card, device, or 
        computer itself, except for those transactions where 
        such card, device, or computer is actually used to 
        access an account to effect such transaction;
          (2) the term ``account'' means a demand deposit, 
        savings deposit, or other asset account (other than an 
        occasional or incidental credit balance in an open end 
        credit plan as defined in section 103(i) of this Act), 
        as described in regulations of the Board, established 
        primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, 
        but such term does not include an account held by a 
        financial institution pursuant to a bona fide trust 
        agreement and does not include any value which is 
        stored on, or assigned to, a card, device, or computer 
        itself that enables a person to pay for transactions 
        through use of that stored value;
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

                      EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT

                  TITLE VII--EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY
Sec.
701. Prohibited discrimination.
     * * * * * * *
704A. Incentives for self-testing and self-correction.
     * * * * * * *
Sec. 701. Prohibited discrimination; reasons for adverse action

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (d)(1) Within thirty days (or such longer reasonable time as 
specified in regulations of the Board for any class of credit 
transaction) after receipt of a completed application for 
credit, a creditor shall notify the applicant of its action on 
the application.
  (2) Each applicant against whom adverse action is taken shall 
be entitled to a statement of reasons for such action from the 
creditor. A creditor satisfies this obligation by--
          (A) providing statements of reasons in writing as a 
        matter of course to applicants against whom adverse 
        action is taken; or
          [(B) giving written notification of adverse action 
        which discloses (i) the applicant's right to a 
        statement of reasons within thirty days after receipt 
        by the creditor of a request made within sixty days 
        after such notification, and (ii) the identity of the 
        person or office from which such statement may be 
        obtained. Such statement may be given orally, if the 
        written notification advises the applicant of his right 
        to have the statement of reasons confirmed in writing 
        on written request.]
                  (B) giving written notification of adverse 
                action which discloses--
                          (i) the applicant's right to a 
                        statement of reasons within 30 days 
                        after receipt by the creditor of a 
                        request made within 60 days after such 
                        notification;
                          (ii) if credit is denied or the 
                        charge for such credit is increased 
                        either wholly or partly because of 
                        information contained in a consumer 
                        report from a consumer reporting 
                        agency--
                                  (I) that fact and the name, 
                                address, and telephone number 
                                of the consumer reporting 
                                agency making the report;
                                  (II) the consumer's right to 
                                obtain, under section 612, a 
                                free copy of a consumer report 
                                on the consumer, from the 
                                consumer reporting agency 
                                referred to in subclause (I) 
                                within the 30-day period 
                                provided under such section; 
                                and
                                  (III) the consumer's right to 
                                dispute, under section 611, 
                                with a consumer reporting 
                                agency the accuracy or 
                                completeness of any information 
                                in a consumer report furnished 
                                by the agency.
                          (iii) if credit is denied or the 
                        charge for credit is increased either 
                        wholly or partly because of information 
                        obtained from a person other than a 
                        consumer reporting agency bearing upon 
                        the consumer's credit worthiness, 
                        credit standing, credit capacity, 
                        character, general reputation, personal 
                        characteristics or mode of living, that 
                        fact and the right to receive 
                        disclosure of the nature of the 
                        information so received, within a 
                        reasonable period of time, upon the 
                        consumer's written request for 
                        information within 60 days after 
                        learning of such adverse action; and
                          (iv) the identity of the person or 
                        office from which such notification may 
                        be obtained.
                Such statement of reasons may be given orally 
                if the written notification advises the 
                applicant of his right to have the statement of 
                reasons confirmed in writing on written 
                request.
          * * * * * * *
  (3) A statement of reasons meets the requirements of this 
section only if it contains the specific reasons for the 
adverse action taken[.] and, to the extent applicable, the name 
and address, and telephone number of the consumer reporting 
agency identified in accordance with the requirements of 
subsection (d)(3)(ii) and a statement of the right to obtain 
disclosure of the nature of the information upon which adverse 
action was taken as required by such subsection.
          * * * * * * *
SEC. 704A. INCENTIVES FOR SELF-TESTING AND SELF-CORRECTION.

  (a) In General.--If a creditor--
          (1) conducts, or authorizes an independent third 
        party to conduct, a self-test of the creditor's lending 
        or any part of the creditor's lending operations in 
        order to determine the level or effectiveness of 
        compliance with this title by the creditor; and
          (2) has identified discriminatory practices and has 
        taken or is taking appropriate corrective actions to 
        address the discrimination,
any report or results of such a self-test may not be obtained 
or used by any applicant, department, or agency in any 
proceeding or civil action brought under this title.
  (b) Results of Self-Testing.--No provision of this section 
shall be construed as preventing an applicant, department, or 
agency from obtaining and using the results of any self-testing 
in any proceeding or civil action brought under this title if--
          (1) the creditor or any other entity conducted such 
        activity at the request of a department or agency;
          (2) the creditor or any other entity, or any person 
        acting on behalf of the creditor or other entity--
                  (A) voluntarily releases or discloses all, or 
                any part of, such results; or
                  (B) refers to or describes such results as a 
                defense to charges of unlawful discrimination 
                against such creditor, person, or entity; or
          (3) the results are sought by the applicant, 
        department, or agency by means of a discovery request 
        for the purposes of determining an appropriate penalty 
        or remedy for a violation of this title.
  (c) Regulations.--The appropriate Federal department or 
agency shall prescribe regulations, after notice and 
opportunity for comment, which determine what types of ``self-
tests'' are sufficiently extensive so as to constitute a 
determination of the level or effectiveness of a creditor's 
compliance with this title.
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 706. Civil liability

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(g) The agencies] (g) Referrals to the Attorney General.--
          (1) In general.--The agencies having responsibility 
        for administrative enforcement under section 704, if 
        unable to obtain compliance with section 701, are 
        authorized to refer the matter to the Attorney General 
        with a recommendation that an appropriate civil action 
        be instituted. Each agency referred to in paragraphs 
        (1), (2), and (3) of section 704(a) shall refer the 
        matter to the Attorney General whenever the agency has 
        reason to believe that 1 or more creditors has engaged 
        in a pattern or practice of discouraging or denying 
        applications for credit in violation of section 701(a). 
        Each such agency may refer the matter to the Attorney 
        General whenever the agency has reason to believe that 
        1 or more creditors has violated section 701(a).
          (2) Limitation on referrals of self-testing 
        results.--
                  (A) In general.--No agency shall be required 
                to refer any report or results of a self-test 
                relating to any creditor to the Attorney 
                General if the creditor--
                          (i) has already identified 
                        discriminatory practices as the result 
                        of self-testing instituted by the 
                        creditor to determine compliance with 
                        this title; and
                          (ii) has taken or is taking 
                        appropriate corrective actions to 
                        address the discrimination.
          (3) Enforcement under other laws.--No provision of 
        this section shall be construed as limiting the 
        authority of the agency to enforce the provisions of 
        this Act under any other provision of law.
          * * * * * * *
  (k) Notice to HUD of Violations.--Whenever an agency referred 
to in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 704(a)--
          (1) has reason to believe, as a result of receiving a 
        consumer complaint, conducting a consumer compliance 
        examination, or otherwise, that a violation of this 
        title has occurred;
          (2) has reason to believe that the alleged violation 
        would be a violation of the Fair Housing Act; and
          (3) does not refer the matter to the Attorney General 
        pursuant to subsection (g),
the agency shall notify the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development of the violation, and shall notify the applicant 
that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development has been 
notified of the alleged violation and that remedies for the 
violation may be available under the Fair Housing Act. No such 
agency shall be required to notify the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development or the applicant that the agency has reason 
to believe that a violation of this title or the Fair Housing 
Act occurred if the reason is based on a result of self-testing 
instituted by the creditor to determine compliance with this 
title, and the creditor has already identified the possible 
violation and has taken or is taking appropriate corrective 
actions to address the possible violation. No provisions of 
this section shall be construed as limiting the authority of 
the agency to enforce the provisions of this title under any 
other provision of law.
  (l) Reasonable Procedures to Assure Compliance.--No person 
shall be held liable for any violation of subsection 701(d) if 
such person shows by a preponderance of the evidence that at 
the time of the alleged violation the person maintained 
reasonable procedures to assure compliance with the provisions 
of the subsection.
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 709. Short title

  This title may be cited as the ``Equal Credit Opportunity 
Act''.
                              ----------                              

              SECTION 615 OF THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT

Sec. 615. Requirements on users of consumer reports

  (a) Whenever [credit or] insurance for personal, family, or 
household purposes, or employment involving a consumer is 
denied or the charge for such [credit or] insurance is 
increased either wholly or partly because of information 
contained in a consumer report from a consumer reporting 
agency, the user of the consumer report shall so advise the 
consumer against whom such adverse action has been taken and 
supply the name and address of the consumer reporting agency 
making the report.
  [(b) Whenever credit for personal, family, or household 
purposes involving a consumer is denied or the charge for such 
credit is increased either wholly or partly because of 
information obtained from a person other than a consumer 
reporting agency bearing upon the consumer's credit worthiness, 
credit standing, credit capacity, character, general 
reputation, personal characteristics, or mode of living, the 
user of such information shall, within a reasonable period of 
time, upon the consumer's written request for the reasons for 
such adverse action received within sixty days after learning 
of such adverse action, disclose the nature of the information 
to the consumer. The user of such information shall clearly and 
accurately disclose to the consumer his right to make such 
written request at the time such adverse action is communicated 
to the consumer.]
  [(c)] (b) No person shall be held liable for any violation of 
this section if he shows by a preponderance of the evidence 
that at the time of the alleged violation he maintained 
reasonable procedures to assure compliance with the provisions 
of [subsections (a) and (b)] subsection (a).
                              ----------                              

                            FAIR HOUSING ACT

                        TITLE VIII--FAIR HOUSING

                              short title

    Sec. 800. This title may be cited as the ``Fair Housing 
Act''.
          * * * * * * *

                  enforcement by the attorney general

    Sec. 814. (a) Pattern or Practice Cases.--Whenever the 
Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any 
person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern or practice 
of resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights 
granted by this title, or that any group of persons has been 
denied any of the rights granted by this title and such denial 
raises an issue of general public importance, the Attorney 
General may commence a civil action in any appropriate United 
States district court. Before bringing a civil action under the 
preceding sentence against any person or group of persons 
described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of section 704(a) of 
the Equal Credit Opportunity Act with respect to a violation of 
805(a) of this title, the Attorney General shall consult with 
the appropriate agency under such paragraph.
          * * * * * * *
SEC. 814A. SELF-TESTING ENHANCEMENT.

  (a) In General.--If any person--
          (1) conducts, or authorizes an independent third 
        party to conduct, a self-test of that person's 
        residential real estate related lending activities, or 
        any part of such activities, in order to determine the 
        level or effectiveness of compliance with this title by 
        the person; and
          (2) has identified discriminatory practices and has 
        taken or is taking appropriate corrective actions to 
        address the discrimination,
any report or results of such a self-test may not be obtained 
or used by any aggrieved person, complainant, department, or 
agency in any proceeding or civil action brought under this 
title.
  (b) Results of Self-Testing.--No provision of this section 
shall be construed as preventing an aggrieved person, 
complainant, department, or agency from obtaining and using the 
results of any self-testing as described in subsection (a) in 
any proceeding or civil action brought under this title if--
          (1) the creditor or any other entity conducted such 
        activity at the request of a department or agency;
          (2) the creditor or any other entity, or any person 
        acting on behalf of the creditor or other entity--
                  (A) voluntarily releases or discloses all, or 
                any part of, such results; or
                  (B) refers to or describes such results as a 
                defense to charges of unlawful discrimination 
                against such creditor, person, or entity; or
          (3) the results are sought by the aggrieved person, 
        complainant, department, or agency by means of a 
        discovery request for the purposes of determining an 
        appropriate penalty or remedy for a violation of this 
        title.
  (c) Regulations.--The appropriate Federal department or 
agency shall prescribe regulations, after notice and 
opportunity for comment, which determine what types of ``self-
tests'' are sufficiently extensive so as to constitute a 
determination of the level or effectiveness of a creditor's 
compliance with this title.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

                      EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY ACT

                  TITLE VII--EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY

          * * * * * * *

Sec. 701. Prohibited discrimination; reasons for adverse action

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (f) Credit Scoring System.--
          (1) In general.--A creditor shall be deemed to be in 
        compliance with subsection (a) with respect to any 
        credit decision made by the creditor which is based 
        solely on the use of an empirically derived, 
        demonstrably and statistically sound, credit scoring 
        system (as defined by the Board in regulations 
        prescribed under this title) if such system--
                  (A) does not utilize any category protected 
                under subsection (a);
                  (B) does not use as a factor in such system 
                any criterion which is so directly associated 
                with such a category as to be the functional 
                equivalent of such a category; and
                  (C) does not use as a factor in such system 
                any criterion that has a disparate impact on a 
                category protected under subsection (a) unless 
                use of the criterion is justified by business 
                necessity and there is no less discriminatory 
                alternative available.
          (2) Age as a factor.--No provision of this subsection 
        shall be construed as precluding a creditor from using 
        age as a factor in a credit scoring system under 
        paragraph (1) to the extent otherwise permitted under 
        this title.
          * * * * * * *

Sec. 706. Civil liability

  (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (h) When a matter is referred to the Attorney General 
pursuant to subsection (g), or whenever he has reason to 
believe that one or more creditors are engaged in a pattern or 
practice in violation of this title, the Attorney General may 
bring a civil action in any appropriate United States district 
court for such relief as may be appropriate, including actual 
and punitive damages and injunctive relief. Before bringing a 
civil action against any creditor described in paragraph (1), 
(2), or (3) of section 704(a), the Attorney General shall 
consult with the appropriate agency under such paragraph.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              


                     CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION ACT

          * * * * * * *

                     TITLE I--CONSUMER CREDIT COST
                               DISCLOSURE

          * * * * * * *

                       CHAPTER 5--CONSUMER LEASES
Sec.
181. Definitions.
     * * * * * * *
187. Regulations.
          * * * * * * *

[Sec. 184. Consumer lease advertising

  [(a) No advertisement to aid, promote, or assist directly or 
indirectly any consumer lease shall state the amount of any 
payment, the number of required payments, or that any or no 
downpayment or other payment is required at inception of the 
lease unless the advertisement also states clearly and 
conspicuously and in accordance with regulations issued by the 
Board each of the following items of information which is 
applicable:
          [(1) That the transaction advertised is a lease.
          [(2) The amount of any payment required at the 
        inception of the lease or that no such payment is 
        required if that is the case.
          [(3) The number, amounts, due dates or periods of 
        scheduled payments, and the total of payments under the 
        lease.
          [(4) That the lessee shall be liable for the 
        differential, if any, between the anticipated fair 
        market value of the leased property and its appraised 
        actual value at the termination of the lease, if the 
        lessee has such liability.
          [(5) A statement of the amount or method of 
        determining the amount of any liabilities the lease 
        imposes upon the lessee at the end of the term and 
        whether or not the lessee has the option to purchase 
        the leased property and at what price and time.
  [(b)  Radio Advertisements.--
          [(1) In general.--An advertisement by radio broadcast 
        to aid, promote, or assist, directly or indirectly, any 
        consumer lease shall be deemed to be in compliance with 
        the requirements of subsection (a) if such 
        advertisement clearly and conspicuously--
                  [(A) states the information required by 
                paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a);
                  [(B) states the number, amounts, due dates or 
                periods of scheduled payments, and the total of 
                such payments under the lease;
                  [(C) includes--
                          [(i) a referral to--
                                  [(I) a toll-free telephone 
                                number established in 
                                accordance with paragraph (2) 
                                that may be used by consumers 
                                to obtain the information 
                                required under subsection (a); 
                                or
                                  [(II) a written advertisement 
                                that--
                                          [(aa) appears in a 
                                        publication in general 
                                        circulation in the 
                                        community served by the 
                                        radio station on which 
                                        such advertisement is 
                                        broadcast during the 
                                        period beginning 3 days 
                                        before any such 
                                        broadcast and ending 10 
                                        days after such 
                                        broadcast; and
                                          [(bb) includes the 
                                        information required to 
                                        be disclosed under 
                                        subsection (a); and
                          [(ii) the name and dates of any 
                        publication referred to in clause 
                        (i)(II); and
                  [(D) includes any other information which the 
                Board determines necessary to carry out this 
                chapter.
          [(2) Establishment of toll-free number.--
                  [(A) In general.--In the case of a radio 
                broadcast advertisement described in paragraph 
                (1) that includes a referral to a toll-free 
                telephone number, the lessor who offers the 
                consumer lease shall--
                          [(i) establish such a toll-free 
                        telephone number not later than the 
                        date on which the advertisement 
                        including the referral is broadcast;
                          [(ii) maintain such telephone number 
                        for a period of not less than 10 days, 
                        beginning on the date of any such 
                        broadcast; and
                          [(iii) provide the information 
                        required under subsection (a) with 
                        respect to the lease to any person who 
                        calls such number.
                  [(B) Form of information.--The information 
                required to be provided under subparagraph 
                (A)(iii) shall be provided verbally or, if 
                requested by the consumer, in written form.
          [(3) No effect on other law.--Nothing in this 
        subsection shall affect the requirements of Federal law 
        as such requirements apply to advertisement by any 
        medium other than radio broadcast.
  [(c) There is no liability under this section on the part of 
any owner or personnel, as such, of any medium in which an 
advertisement appears or through which it is disseminated.]
SEC. 184. CONSUMER LEASE ADVERTISING.

  (a) In General.--If an advertisement for a consumer lease 
states the amount of any payment or states that any or no 
initial payment is required, the advertisement must also 
clearly and conspicuously state the following terms, as 
applicable:
          (1) That the transaction advertised is a lease.
          (2) The total of initial payments required at or 
        before consummation of the lease or delivery of the 
        property, whichever is later.
          (3) That a security deposit is required.
          (4) The number, amounts, and timing of scheduled 
        payments.
          (5) For a lease in which the consumer's liability at 
        the end of the lease term is based on the anticipated 
        residual value of the property, that an extra charge 
        may be imposed at the end of the lease term.
  (b) Advertising Medium Not Liable.--Any owner or personnel of 
any medium in which an advertisement appears or through which 
it is disseminated shall not be liable under this section.
Sec. 185. Civil liability

  (a) Any lessor who fails to comply with any requirement 
imposed under section 182 or 183 of this chapter with respect 
to any person is liable to such person as provided in section 
130. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a creditor shall 
only have liability determined under section 130(a)(2) for 
failing to comply with the requirements of paragraph (2), (8), 
(9), or (10) of section 182 or for failing to comply with 
disclosure requirements under State law for any term which the 
Board has determined to be substantially the same in meaning 
under section 186 as any of the terms referred to in section 
182.
          * * * * * * *
SEC. 187. REGULATIONS.

  (a) Regulations Authorized.--
          (1) In general.--The Board shall write regulations or 
        staff commentary, if appropriate, to update and clarify 
        the requirements and definitions for lease disclosures, 
        contracts, and any other specific issues related to 
        consumer leasing which would carry out the purposes of 
        this chapter, to prevent any circumvention of the 
        chapter, and to facilitate compliance with the 
        requirements of the chapter.
          (2) Classifications, adjustments.--The regulations 
        prescribed under paragraph (1) may contain 
        classifications and differentiations and may provide 
        for adjustments and exceptions for any class of 
        transaction.
  (b) Model Disclosures.--The Board shall publish model 
disclosure forms and clauses to facilitate compliance with the 
disclosure requirements and to aid the consumer in 
understanding the transaction. In designing forms, the Board 
shall consider the use by lessors of data processing or similar 
automated equipment. Use of the models shall be optional. A 
lessor who properly uses the material aspects of the models 
shall be deemed to be in compliance with the disclosure 
requirements.
  (c) Effective Dates.--
          (1) In general.--Any regulation of the Board, or any 
        amendment or interpretation thereof, that requires a 
        disclosure different from the disclosures previously 
        required shall have an effective date of the October 1 
        that follows the date of promulgation by at least 6 
        months.
          (2) Longer period.--The Board may, in the Board's 
        discretion, lengthen the period of time referred to in 
        paragraph (1) to permit lessors to adjust their forms 
        to accommodate new requirements.
          (3) Shorter period.--The Board may also shorten the 
        period of time referred to in paragraph (1) if the 
        Board makes a specific finding that such action is 
        necessary to comply with the findings of a court or to 
        prevent unfair or deceptive practices.
          (4) Compliance before effective date.--Lessors may 
        comply with any newly promulgated disclosure 
        requirement before the effective date of such 
        requirement.
                              ----------                              

                    BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF 1956

                              definitions

  Sec. 2. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (g) For the purposes of this Act--
          (1) shares owned or controlled by any subsidiary of a 
        bank holding company shall be deemed to be indirectly 
        owned or controlled by such bank holding company; and
          (2) shares held or controlled directly or indirectly 
        by trustees for the benefit of (A) a company, (B) the 
        shareholders or members of a company, or (C) the 
        employees (whether exclusively or not) of a company, 
        shall be deemed to be controlled by such company[; 
        and].
          [(3) shares transferred after January 1, 1966, by any 
        bank holding company (or by any company which, but for 
        such transfer, would be a bank holding company) 
        directly or indirectly to any transferee that is 
        indebted to the transferor, or has one or more 
        officers, directors, trustees, or beneficiaries in 
        common with or subject to control by the transferor, 
        shall be deemed to be indirectly owned or controlled by 
        the transferor unless the Board, after opportunity for 
        hearing, determines that the transferor is not in fact 
        capable of controlling the transferee.]
          * * * * * * *
  (o) Other Definitions.--For purposes of this Act, the 
following definitions shall apply:
          [(1) Adequately capitalized.--The term ``adequately 
        capitalized'' means a level of capitalization which 
        meets or exceeds all applicable Federal regulatory 
        capital standards.]
          (1) Capital terms.--
                  (A) Insured depository institutions.--With 
                respect to insured depository institutions, the 
                terms ``well-capitalized'', ``adequately 
                capitalized'', and ``uncapitalized'' have the 
                meaning given those terms in section 38(b) of 
                the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
                  (B) Bank holding company.--
                          (i) Adequately capitalized.--The term 
                        ``adequately capitalized'' means a 
                        level of capitalization which meets or 
                        exceeds all applicable Federal 
                        regulatory capital standards.
                          (ii) Well capitalized.--A bank 
                        holding company is ``well capitalized'' 
                        if it meets the required capital levels 
                        for well capitalized bank holding 
                        companies established by the Board.
                  (C) Other capital terms.--The terms ``Tier 
                1'' and ``risk-weighted assets'' have the 
                meaning given those terms in the capital 
                guidelines or regulations established by the 
                Board for bank holding companies.
          * * * * * * *
          (8) Lead insured depository institutions.--
                  (A) In general.--The term ``lead insured 
                depository institution'' means the largest 
                insured depository institution controlled by 
                the bank holding company at any time, based on 
                a comparison of the average total risk-weighted 
                assets controlled by each insured depository 
                institution during the previous 12-month 
                period.
                  (B) Branch or agency.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph and section 4(j)(4), the term 
                `insured depository institution' shall also 
                include any branch or agency operated in the 
                United States by a foreign bank.
          (9) Well managed.--The term ``well managed'' means--
                  (A) in the case of any company or depository 
                institution which receives examinations, the 
                achievement of--
                          (i) a CAMEL composite rating of 1 or 
                        2 (or an equivalent rating under an 
                        equivalent rating system) in connection 
                        with the most recent examination or 
                        subsequent review of such company or 
                        institution; and
                          (ii) at least a satisfactory rating 
                        for management, if such rating is 
                        given; or
                  (B) in the case of a company or depository 
                institution that has not received an 
                examination rating, the existence and use of 
                managerial resources which the Board determines 
                are satisfactory.
          * * * * * * *

                  acquisition of bank shares or assets

  Sec. 3. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (h) No Approval Required for Certain Transactions.--
          (1) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (3) or (5) 
        of subsection (a) and subject to paragraphs (5) and 
        (6), an acquisition of shares by a registered bank 
        holding company, or a merger or consolidation between 
        registered bank holding companies, shall be deemed 
        approved at the conclusion of the period specified in 
        subparagraph (G) if all of the following conditions 
        have been met:
                  (A) Financial and managerial criteria.--
                          (i) Well capitalized bank holding 
                        company.--Both at the time of and 
                        immediately after the proposed 
                        transaction, the acquiring bank holding 
                        company is well capitalized.
                          (ii) Well capitalized lead insured 
                        depository institution.--Both at the 
                        time of and immediately after the 
                        proposed transaction, the lead insured 
                        depository institution of the acquiring 
                        bank holding company is well 
                        capitalized.
                          (iii) Capital of other insured 
                        depository institutions.--At the time 
                        of the transaction, well capitalized 
                        insured depository institutions control 
                        at least 80 percent of the aggregate 
                        total risk-weighted assets of insured 
                        depository institutions controlled by 
                        the acquiring bank holding company.
                          (iv) No undercapitalized insured 
                        depository institutions.--At the time 
                        of the transaction, no insured 
                        depository institution controlled by 
                        the acquiring bank holding company is 
                        undercapitalized.
                          (v) Well managed.--
                                  (I) In general.--At the time 
                                of the transaction, the 
                                acquiring bank holding company, 
                                its lead insured depository 
                                institution, and insured 
                                depository institutions that 
                                control at least 90 percent of 
                                the aggregate total risk-
                                weighted assets of insured 
                                depository institutions 
                                controlled by such holding 
                                company are well managed.
                                  (II) No poorly managed 
                                institutions.--Except with 
                                respect to insured depository 
                                institutions described in 
                                paragraph (2), no insured 
                                depository institution 
                                controlled by the acquiring 
                                bank holding company has 
                                received 1 of the 2 lowest 
                                composite ratings at the later 
                                of the institution's most 
                                recent examination or 
                                subsequent review.
                  (B) No unsatisfactory cra ratings.--Except 
                with respect to insured depository institutions 
                described in paragraph (3), no insured 
                depository institution controlled by the 
                acquiring bank holding company has received a 
                ``needs to improve'' or ``substantial 
                noncompliance'' composite rating as a result of 
                the institution's most recent examination under 
                the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977.
                  (C) Competitive criteria.--Consummation of 
                the proposal complies with guidelines 
                established by the Board by regulation, after 
                consultation with the Attorney General, that 
                identify proposals that are not likely to have 
                a significantly adverse effect on competition 
                in any relevant market.
                  (D) Size of acquisition.--
                          (i) Asset size.--The book value of 
                        the total assets to be acquired does 
                        not exceed 10 percent of the 
                        consolidated total risk weighted assets 
                        of the acquiring bank holding company.
                          (ii) Consideration.--The gross 
                        consideration to be paid for the 
                        securities or assets does not exceed 15 
                        percent of the consolidated Tier 1 
                        capital of the acquiring bank holding 
                        company.
                  (E) Interstate acquisitions.--Board approval 
                of the transaction is not prohibited under 
                subsection (d).
                  (F) Compliance criterion.--During the 12-
                month period ending on the date of the 
                transaction, no administrative enforcement 
                action has been commenced, and no cease and 
                desist order has been issued pursuant to 
                section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 
                against any bank holding company involved in 
                the transaction or any depository institution 
                subsidiary of any such holding company and no 
                such enforcement action, order, or other 
                administrative enforcement proceeding is 
                pending as of such date.
                  (G) Other considerations.--Board approval of 
                the transaction is not prohibited under 
                subsection (c)(3).
                  (H) Notification.--The acquiring bank holding 
                company provides written notice of the 
                transaction, including a description of the 
                terms of the transaction, to the Board and the 
                Attorney General, simultaneously, at least 15 
                business days (or such shorter period as 
                permitted by the Board) before the transaction 
                is consummated.
                  (I) No board disapproval.--Before the end of 
                the 15-day period (or the shorter period) 
                referred to in subparagraph (H), the Board has 
                not required an application under subsection 
                (a).
          (2) Special rule relating to the requirement for well 
        managed institutions.--Insured depository institutions 
        which have been acquired by a bank holding company 
        during the 12-month period preceding the date of the 
        transaction may be excluded for purposes of paragraph 
        (1)(A)(v)(II) if--
                  (A) the bank holding company has developed a 
                plan for the institution to restore the capital 
                and management of the institution which is 
                acceptable to the appropriate Federal banking 
                agency; and
                  (B) all such insured depository institutions 
                represent, in the aggregate, less than 10 
                percent of the aggregate total risk-weighted 
                assets of all insured depository institutions 
                controlled by the holding company.
          (3) Special rule relating to the requirement for 
        community investment.--Insured depository institutions 
        acquired during the 12-month period preceding the date 
        of the transaction may be excluded for purposes of 
        paragraph (1)(B) if the bank holding company has 
        developed a plan to restore the performance of the 
        institution to at least a ``satisfactory'' rating under 
        the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 which is 
        acceptable to the appropriate Federal banking agency.
          (4) Adjustment of percentages.--The Board may by 
        regulation adjust the percentages and the manner in 
        which the percentages of insured depository 
        institutions are calculated under subparagraph 
        (A)(v)(I) or (D) of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2)(B) 
        if the Board determines that such adjustment is 
        consistent with safety and soundness and the purposes 
        of this Act.
          (5) Advice of attorney general.--The Attorney General 
        shall advise the Board during the period referred to in 
        paragraph (1)(H) in writing if any competitive concerns 
        exist with respect to the transaction.
          (6) Waiver of postapproval waiting period.--If the 
        Attorney General advises the Board that no competitive 
        concerns exist with respect to the transaction, the 
        provisions of section 11(b) relating to a postapproval 
        waiting shall not apply with respect to such 
        transaction.
                 interests in nonbanking organizations

  Sec. 4. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (c) The prohibitions in this section shall not apply to (i) 
any company that was on January 4, 1977, both a bank holding 
company and a labor, agricultural, or horticultural 
organization exempt from taxation under section 501 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or to any labor, agricultural, 
or horticultural organization to which all or substantially all 
of the assets of such company are hereafter transferred, or 
(ii) a company covered in 1970 more than 85 per centum of the 
voting stock of which was collectively owned on June 30, 1968, 
and continuously thereafter, directly or indirectly, by or for 
members of the same family, or their spouses, who are lineal 
descendants of common ancestors; and such prohibitions shall 
not, with respect to any other bank holding company, apply to--
          (1) shares of any company engaged or to be engaged 
        solely in one or more of the following activities: (A) 
        holding or operating properties used wholly or 
        substantially by any banking subsidiary of such bank 
        holding company in the operations of such banking 
        subsidiary or acquired for such future use; or (B) 
        conducting a safe deposit business; or (C) furnishing 
        services to or performing services for such bank 
        holding company or its banking subsidiaries; or (D) 
        liquidating assets acquired from such bank holding 
        company or its banking subsidiaries or acquired from 
        any other source prior to May 9, 1956, or the date on 
        which such company became a bank holding company, 
        whichever is later;
          (2) shares acquired by a bank holding company or any 
        of its subsidiaries in satisfaction of a debt 
        previously contracted in good faith, but such shares 
        shall be disposed of within a period of two years from 
        the date on which they were acquired, except that the 
        Board is authorized upon application by such bank 
        holding company to extend such period of two years from 
        time to time as to such holding company [for not more 
        than one year at a time] if, in its judgment, such an 
        extension would not be detrimental to the public 
        interest, [but no such extensions shall extend beyond a 
        date five years] and, in the case of a bank holding 
        company which has not disposed of such shares within 5 
        years of the date such shares were acquired, the Board 
        may, upon the application of such company, grant 
        additional exemptions if, in the Board's judgment, such 
        extension would not be detrimental to the public 
        interest and either the bank holding company has made a 
        good faith attempt to dispose of such shares during 
        such 5-year period or the disposal of such shares 
        during such 5-year period would have been detrimental 
        to the company, but the aggregate duration of such 
        extensions shall not extend 10 years after the date on 
        which such shares were acquired;
          * * * * * * *
          (8) shares of any company the activities of which the 
        Board after due notice [and opportunity for hearing] 
        has determined (by order or regulation) to be so 
        closely related to banking or managing or controlling 
        banks as to be a proper incident thereto, but for 
        purposes of this subsection it is not closely related 
        to banking or managing or controlling banks for a bank 
        holding company to provide insurance as a principal, 
        agent, or broker except (A) where the insurance is 
        limited to assuring repayment of the outstanding 
        balance due on a specific extension of credit by a bank 
        holding company or its subsidiary in the event of the 
        death, disability, or involuntary unemployment of the 
        debtor; (B) in the case of a finance company which is a 
        subsidiary of a bank holding company, where the 
        insurance is also limited to assuring repayment of the 
        outstanding balance on an extension of credit in the 
        event of loss or damage to any property used as 
        collateral on such extention of credit and, during the 
        period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
        subparagraph and ending on December 31, 1982, such 
        extension of credit is not more than $10,000 ($25,000 
        in the case of an extension of credit which is made to 
        finance the purchase of a residential manufactured home 
        and which is secured by such residential manufactured 
        home) and for any given year after 1982, such extension 
        of credit is not more than an amount equal to $10,000 
        ($25,000 in the case of an extension of credit which is 
        made to finance the purchase of a residential 
        manufactured home and which is secured by such 
        residential manufactured home) increased by the 
        percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for 
        Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers published 
        monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the 
        period beginning on January 1, 1982, and ending on 
        December 31 of the year preceding the year in which 
        such extension of credit is made; (C) any insurance 
        agency activity in a place that (i) has a population 
        not exceeding five thousand (as shown by the last 
        preceding decennial census), or (ii) the bank holding 
        company, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, 
        demonstrates has inadequate insurance agency 
        facilities; (D) any insurance agency activity which was 
        engaged in by the bank holding company or any of its 
        subsidiaries on May 1, 1982, or which the Board 
        approved for such company or any of its subsidiaries on 
        or before May 1, 1982, including (i) sales of insurance 
        at new locations of the same bank holding company or 
        the same subsidiary or subsidiaries with respect to 
        which insurance was sold on May 1, 1982, or approved to 
        be sold on or before May 1, 1982, if such new locations 
        are confined to the State in which the principal place 
        of business of the bank holding company is located, any 
        State or States immediately adjacent to such State, and 
        any State or States in which insurance activities were 
        conducted by the bank holding company or any of its 
        subsidiaries on May 1, 1982, or were approved to be 
        conducted by the bank holding company or any of its 
        subsidiaries on or before May 1, 1982, and (ii) sales 
        of insurance coverages which may become available after 
        May 1, 1982, so long as those coverages insure against 
        the same types of risks as, or are otherwise 
        functionally equivalent to, coverages sold on May 1, 
        1982, or approved to be sold on or before May 1, 1982 
        (for purposes of this subparagraph, activities engaged 
        in or approved by the Board on May 1, 1982, shall 
        include activities carried on subsequent to that date 
        as the result of an application to engage in such 
        activities pending on May 1, 1982, and approved 
        subsequent to that date or of the acquisition by such 
        company pursuant to a binding written contract entered 
        into on or before May 1, 1982, of another company 
        engaged in such activities at the time of the 
        acquisition); (E) any insurance activity where the 
        activity is limited solely to supervising on behalf of 
        insurance underwriters the activities of retail 
        insurance agents who sell (i) fidelity insurance and 
        property and casualty insurance on the real and 
        personal property used in the operations of the bank 
        holding company or any of its subsidiaries, and (ii) 
        group insurance that protects the employees of the bank 
        holding company or any of its subsidiaries; (F) any 
        insurance agency activity engaged in by a bank holding 
        company, or any of its subsidiaries, which bank holding 
        company has total assets of $50,000,000 or less: 
        Provided, however, That such a bank holding company and 
        its subsidiaries may not engage in the sale of life 
        insurance or annuities except as provided in 
        subparagraph (A), (B), or (C); or (G) where the 
        activity is performed, or shares of the company 
        involved are owned, directly or indirectly, by a bank 
        holding company which is registered with the Board of 
        Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which, 
        prior to January 1, 1971, was engaged, directly or 
        indirectly, in insurance agency activities as a 
        [consequence of approval by the Board prior to January 
        1, 1971.] consequence of approval by the Board prior to 
        January 1, 1971, except that, after March 30, 1997, it 
        shall be closely related to banking or managing or 
        controlling banks and a proper incident thereto to 
        provide insurance as a principal, agent, or broker in 
        any State, in full compliance with the laws and 
        regulations of such State that apply uniformly to each 
        type of insurance license or authorization in that 
        State, including laws that restrict a bank in that 
        State from having an affiliate, agent, or employee in 
        that State licensed to provide insurance as principal, 
        agent, or broker. The Board shall prescribe regulations 
        concerning insurance affiliations that provide 
        equivalent treatment for all stock and mutual fund 
        insurance companies that control or are affiliated with 
        a bank, and fully accommodate and are consistent with 
        State law. In determining whether a particular activity 
        is a proper incident to banking or managing or 
        controlling banks the Board shall consider whether its 
        performance by an affiliate of a holding company can 
        reasonably be expected to produce benefits to the 
        public, such as greater convenience, increased 
        competition, or gains in efficiency, that outweigh 
        possible adverse effects, such as undue concentration 
        of resources, decreased or unfair competition, 
        conflicts of interests, or unsound banking practices. 
        In orders and regulation under this subsection, the 
        Board may differentiate between activities commenced de 
        novo and activities commenced by the acquisition, in 
        whole or in part, of a going concern. Notwithstanding 
        any other provision of this Act, if the Board finds 
        that an emergency exists which requires the Board to 
        act immediately on any application under this 
        subsection involving a thrift institution, and the 
        primary Federal regulator of such institution concurs 
        in such finding, the Board may dispense with the notice 
        and hearing requirement of this subsection and the 
        Board may approve or deny any such application without 
        notice or hearing. If an application is filed under 
        this paragraph in connection with an application to 
        make an acquisition pursuant to section 13(f) of the 
        Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the Board may dispense 
        with the notice and hearing requirement of this 
        paragraph and the Board may approve or deny the 
        application under this paragraph without notice or 
        hearing. If an application described in the preceding 
        sentence is approved, the Board shall publish in the 
        Federal Register, not later than 7 days after such 
        approval is granted, the order approving the 
        application and a description of the nonbanking 
        activities involved in the acquisition;
          * * * * * * *
  (i) Acquisition of Savings Associations.--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (4) Solicitation of views.--
                  (A) Notice to director.--Upon receiving any 
                application or notice by a bank holding company 
                to acquire directly or indirectly a savings 
                association under subsection (c)(8), the Board 
                shall solicit the Director's comments and 
                recommendations with respect to such 
                acquisition.
                  (B) Comment period.--The comments and views 
                of the Director under subparagraph (A) with 
                respect to any acquisition subject to such 
                subparagraph shall be transmitted to the Board 
                within 30 days of the receipt by the Director 
                of the notice relating to such acquisition (or 
                such shorter period as the Board may specify if 
                the Board advises the Director that an 
                emergency exists which requires expeditious 
                action).
          (5) Examination.--
                  (A) Scope.--The Board shall consult with the 
                Director, as appropriate, in establishing the 
                scope of an examination by the Board of a bank 
                holding company that controls directly or 
                indirectly a savings association.
                  (B) Access to inspection reports.--Upon the 
                request of the Director, the Board shall 
                furnish the Director with a copy of any 
                inspection report, additional examination 
                materials, or supervisory information relating 
                to any bank holding company which directly or 
                indirectly controls a savings association.
          (6)  Coordination of enforcement efforts.--The Board 
        and the Director shall cooperate in any enforcement 
        action against any bank holding company which controls 
        a savings association, if the relevant conduct involves 
        such association.
          (7) Director defined.--For purposes of this section, 
        the term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office 
        of Thrift Supervision.
  (j) Notice Procedures for Nonbanking Activities.--
          (1) General notice procedure.--
                  (A) Notice requirement.--[No] Except as 
                provided in paragraph (3), no bank holding 
                company may engage in any nonbanking activity 
                or acquire or retain ownership or control of 
                the shares of a company engaged in activities 
                based on subsection (c)(8) or (a)(2) without 
                providing the Board with written notice of the 
                proposed transaction or activity at least 60 
                days before the transaction or activity is 
                proposed to occur or commence.
          * * * * * * *
          (3) No notice required for certain transactions.--No 
        notice under paragraph (1) or subsections (c)(8) or 
        (a)(2)(B) is required for a proposal by a bank holding 
        company to engage in any activity or acquire the shares 
        or assets of any company if the proposal qualifies 
        under paragraph (4).
          (4) Criteria for statutory approval.--A proposal 
        qualifies under this paragraph if all of the following 
        criteria are met:
                  (A) Financial criteria.--Both before and 
                immediately after the proposed transaction--
                          (i) the acquiring bank holding 
                        company is well capitalized;
                          (ii) the lead insured depository 
                        institution of such holding company is 
                        well capitalized;
                          (iii) well capitalized insured 
                        depository institutions control at 
                        least 80 percent of the aggregate total 
                        risk-weighted assets of insured 
                        depository institutions controlled by 
                        such holding company; and
                          (iv) no insured depository 
                        institution controlled by such holding 
                        company is undercapitalized.
                  (B) Managerial criteria.--
                          (i) Well managed.--At the time of the 
                        transaction, the acquiring bank holding 
                        company, its lead insured depository 
                        institution, and insured depository 
                        institutions that control at least 90 
                        percent of the aggregate total risk-
                        weighted assets of insured depository 
                        institutions controlled by such holding 
                        company are well managed.
                          (ii) Limitation on poorly managed 
                        institutions.--Except with respect to 
                        insured depository institutions 
                        described in paragraph (6), no insured 
                        depository institution controlled by 
                        the acquiring bank holding company has 
                        received 1 of the 2 lowest composite 
                        ratings at the later of the 
                        institution's most recent examination 
                        or subsequent review.
                  (C) Activities permissible.--Following 
                consummation of the proposal, the bank holding 
                company engages directly or through a 
                subsidiary solely in--
                          (i) activities that are permissible 
                        under subsection (c)(8), as determined 
                        by the Board by regulation or order 
                        thereunder, subject to all of the 
                        restrictions, terms and conditions of 
                        such subsection and such regulation or 
                        order; and
                          (ii) such other activities as are 
                        otherwise permissible under this 
                        section, subject to the restrictions, 
                        terms and conditions, including any 
                        prior notice or approval requirements, 
                        provided in this section.
                  (D) Size of acquisition.--
                          (i) Asset size.--The book value of 
                        the total assets to be acquired does 
                        not exceed 10 percent of the 
                        consolidated total risk-weighted assets 
                        of the acquiring bank holding company; 
                        and
                          (ii) Consideration.--The gross 
                        consideration to be paid for the 
                        securities or assets does not exceed 15 
                        percent of the consolidated Tier 1 
                        capital of the acquiring bank holding 
                        company.
                  (E) Notice not otherwise warranted.--For 
                proposals described in paragraph (5)(B), the 
                Board has not, before the conclusion of the 
                period provided in paragraph (5)(B), advised 
                the bank holding company that a notice under 
                paragraph (1) is required.
                  (F) Compliance criterion.--During the 12-
                month period ending on the date on which the 
                bank holding company proposes to commence an 
                activity or acquisition, no administrative 
                enforcement action has been commenced, and no 
                cease and desist order has been issued pursuant 
                to section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
                Act, against the bank holding company or any 
                depository institution subsidiary of the 
                holding company and no such enforcement action, 
                order, or other administrative enforcement 
                proceeding is pending as of such date.
          (5) Notification.--
                  (A) Commencement of activities approved by 
                rule.--A bank holding company that qualifies 
                under paragraph (4) and that proposes to engage 
                de novo, directly or through a subsidiary, in 
                any activity that is permissible under 
                subsection (c)(8), as determined by the Board 
                by regulation, may commence that activity 
                without prior notice to the Board and must 
                provide written notification to the Board no 
                later than ten business days after commencing 
                the activity.
                  (B) Activities permitted by order and 
                acquisitions.--
                          (i) In general.--At least 12 business 
                        days before commencing any activity 
                        pursuant to paragraph (3) (other than 
                        an activity described in subparagraph 
                        (A)) or acquiring shares or assets of 
                        any company pursuant to paragraph (3), 
                        the bank holding company shall provide 
                        the written notification of the 
                        proposal to the Board, unless the Board 
                        determines that no notice or a shorter 
                        notice period is appropriate.
                          (ii) Description of activities and 
                        terms.--A notification under this 
                        subparagraph shall include a 
                        description of the proposed activities 
                        and the terms of any proposed 
                        acquisition.
          (6) Recently acquired institutions.--Insured 
        depository institutions which have been acquired by a 
        bank holding company during the 12-month period 
        preceding the date on which the company proposes to 
        commence an activity or acquisition pursuant to 
        paragraph (3) may be excluded for purposes of paragraph 
        (4)(B)(ii) if--
                  (A) the bank holding company has developed a 
                plan for the institution to restore the capital 
                and management of the institution which is 
                acceptable to the appropriate Federal banking 
                agency; and
                  (B) all such insured depository institutions 
                represent, in the aggregate, less than 10 
                percent of the aggregate total risk-weighted 
                assets of all insured depository institutions 
                controlled by the bank holding company.
          (7) Adjustment of percentages.--The Board may, by 
        regulation, adjust the percentages and the manner in 
        which the percentages of insured depository 
        institutions are calculated under paragraph (4)(B)(i), 
        (4)(D), or paragraph (6)(B) if the Board determines 
        that any such adjustment is consistent with safety and 
        soundness and the purposes of this Act.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

               NATIONAL BANK CONSOLIDATION AND MERGER ACT

          * * * * * * *

SEC. 2. CONSOLIDATION OF BANKS WITHIN THE SAME STATE.

  (a) In General.--Any national bank or any bank incorporated 
under the laws of any State may, with the approval of the 
Comptroller, be consolidated with one or more national banking 
associations located in the same State under the charter of a 
national banking association on such terms and conditions as 
may be lawfully agreed upon by a majority of the board of 
directors of each association or bank proposing to consolidate, 
and be ratified and confirmed by the affirmative vote of the 
shareholders of each such association or bank owning at least 
two-thirds of its capital stock outstanding, or by a greater 
proportion of such capital stock in the case of such State bank 
if the laws of the State where it is organized so require, at a 
meeting to be held on the call of the directors after 
publishing notice of the time, place, and object of the meeting 
for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general 
circulation published in the place where the association or 
bank is located, or, if there is no such newspaper, then in the 
paper of general circulation published nearest thereto, and 
after sending such notice to each shareholder of record by 
certified or registered mail at least ten days prior to the 
meeting, except to those shareholders who specifically waive 
notice, but any additional notice shall be given to the 
shareholders of such State bank which may be required by the 
laws of the State where it is organized. Publication of notice 
may be waived, in cases where the Comptroller determines that 
an emergency exists justifying such waiver, by unanimous action 
of the shareholders of the association or State bank. No 
approval by the Comptroller of the Currency is required under 
this subsection for a transaction which involves the 
consolidation of banks that, at the time of the consolidation, 
are all subsidiaries (as defined in section 3 of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Act) of the same company.
  (b) The consolidated association shall be liable for all 
liabilities of the respective consolidating banks or 
associations. The capital stock of such consolidated 
association shall not be less than that required under existing 
law for the organization of a national bank in the place in 
which it is located: Provided, That if such consolidation shall 
be voted for at such meetings by the necessary majorities of 
the shareholders of each association and State bank proposing 
to consolidate[, and thereafter the consolidation shall be 
approved by the Comptroller], any shareholder of any of the 
associations or State banks so consolidated who has voted 
against such consolidation at the meeting of the association or 
bank of which he is a stockholder, or who has given notice in 
writing at or prior to such meeting to the presiding officer 
that he dissents from the plan of consolidation, shall be 
entitled to receive the value of the shares so held by him 
[when such consolidation is approved by the Comptroller] upon 
written request made to the consolidated association at any 
time before thirty days after the date of consummation of the 
consolidation, accompanied by the surrender of his stock 
certificates.
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 3. (a) One or more national banking associations or one 
or more State banks, with the approval of the Comptroller, 
under an agreement not inconsistent with this Act, may merge 
into a national banking association located within the same 
State, under the charter of the receiving association. The 
merger agreement shall--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
No approval by the Comptroller of the Currency is required 
under this subsection for a transaction which involves the 
merger of banks that, at the time of the merger, are all 
subsidiaries (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act) of the same company.
  (b) If a merger shall be voted for at the called meetings by 
the necessary majorities of the shareholders of each 
association or State bank participating in the plan of merger[, 
and thereafter the merger shall be approved by the 
Comptroller], any shareholder of any association or State bank 
to be merged into the receiving association who has voted 
against such merger at the meeting of the association or bank 
of which he is a stockholder, or has given notice in writing at 
or prior to such meeting to the presiding officer that he 
dissents from the plan of merger shall be entitled to receive 
the value of the shares so held by him [when such merger shall 
be approved by the Comptroller] upon written request made to 
the receiving association at any time before thirty days after 
the date of consummation of the merger, accompanied by the 
surrender of his stock certificates.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

                            REVISED STATUTES

          * * * * * * *

                               TITLE LXII

                             NATIONAL BANKS

          * * * * * * *

                              CHAPTER ONE

                        ORGANIZATION AND POWERS
Sec.
5133. Formation of national banking associations.
5134. Requisites of organization certificate.
5135. How certificate shall be acknowledged and filed.
5136. Corporate powers of associations.
5136A. State supervision of insurance.
5136B. Insurance sales in empowerment zones.
[5136A.] 5136C. Participation in lotteries prohibited.
5137. Power to hold real property.
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 5136. [Upon duly making and filing articles of 
association] (a) In General.--Upon duly making and filing 
articles of association and an organization certificate, the 
association shall become, as from the date of the execution of 
its organization certificate, a body corporate, and as such, 
and in the name designated in the organization certificate, it 
shall have power--
  First. To adopt and use a corporate seal.
  Second. To have succession from the date of the approval of 
this Act, or from the date of its organization if organized 
after such date of approval until such time as it be dissolved 
by the act of its shareholders owning two-thirds of its stock, 
or until its franchise becomes forfeited by reason of violation 
of law, or until terminated by either a general or a special 
Act of Congress or until its affairs be placed in the hands of 
a receiver and finally wound up by him.
          * * * * * * *
  Seventh. To exercise by its board of directors or duly 
authorized officers or agents, [subject to law,] subject to 
subsection (b), section 5136A, and any other provision of law, 
all such incidental powers as shall be necessary to carry on 
the business of banking; by discounting and negotiating 
promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, and other 
evidences of debt; by receiving deposits; by buying and selling 
exchange, coin, and bullion; by loaning money on personal 
security; and by obtaining, issuing, and circulating notes 
according to the provisions of this title. The business of 
dealing in securities and stock by the association shall be 
limited to purchasing and selling such securities and stock 
without recourse, solely upon the order, and for the account 
of, customers, and in no case for its own account, and the 
association shall not underwrite any issue of securities or 
stock: Provided, That the association may purchase for its own 
account investment securities under such limitations and 
restrictions as the Comptroller of the Currency may by 
regulation prescribe. In no event shall the total amount of the 
investment securities of any one obligor or maker, held by the 
association for its own account, exceed at any time 10 per 
centum of its capital stock actually paid in and unimpaired and 
10 per centum of its unimpaired surplus fund, except that this 
limitation shall not require any association to dispose of any 
securities lawfully held by it on the date of enactment of the 
Banking Act of 1935. As used in this section the term 
``investment securities'' shall mean marketable obligations 
evidencing indebtedness of any person, copartnership, 
association, or corporation in the form of bonds, notes and/or 
debentures commonly known as investment securities under such 
further definition of the term ``investment securities'' as may 
by regulation be prescribed by the Comptroller of the Currency. 
Except as hereinafter provided or otherwise permitted by law, 
nothing herein contained shall authorize the purchase by the 
association for its own account of any shares of stock of any 
corporation. The limitations and restrictions herein contained 
as to dealing in, underwriting and purchasing for its own 
account, investment securities shall not apply to obligations 
of the United States, or general obligations of any State or of 
any political subdivision thereof, or obligations of the 
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority which are 
guaranteed by the Secretary of Transportation under section 9 
of the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969, or 
obligations issued under authority of the Federal Farm Loan 
Act, as amended, or issued by the thirteen banks for 
cooperatives or any of them or the Federal Home Loan Banks, or 
obligations which are insured by the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development under title XI of the National Housing Act, 
or obligations which are insured by the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development (hereafter in this sentence referred to 
as the ``Secretary'' pursuant to section 207 of the National 
Housing Act, if the debentures to be issued in payment of such 
insured obligations are guaranteed as to principal and interest 
by the United States, or obligations, participations, or other 
instruments of or issued by the Federal National Mortgage 
Association or the Government National Mortgage Association, or 
mortgages, obligations, or other securities which are or ever 
have been sold by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation 
pursuant to section 305 or section 306 of the Federal Home Loan 
Mortgage Corporation Act or obligations of the Federal 
Financing Bank or obligations of the Environmental Financing 
Authority or obligations or other instruments or securities of 
the Student Loan Marketing Association, or such obligations of 
any local public agency (as defined in section 110 (h) of the 
Housing Act of 1949) as are secured by an agreement between the 
local public agency and the Secretary in which the local public 
agency agrees to borrow from said Secretary and said Secretary 
agrees to lend to said local public agency, monies in an 
aggregate amount which (together with any other monies 
irrevocably committed to the payment of interest on such 
obligations) will suffice to pay, when due, the interest on and 
all installments (including the final installment) of the 
principal of such obligations, which monies under the terms of 
said agreement are required to be used for such payments, or 
such obligations of a public housing agency (as defined in the 
United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended) as are secured 
(1) by an agreement between the public housing agency and the 
Secretary in which the public housing agency agrees to borrow 
from the Secretary and the Secretary agrees to lend to the 
public housing agency, prior to the maturity of such 
obligations, monies in an amount which (together with any other 
monies irrevocably committed to the payment of interest on such 
obligations) will suffice to pay the principal of such 
obligations with interest to maturity thereon, which monies 
under the terms of said agreement are required to be used for 
the purpose of paying the principal of and the interest on such 
obligations at their maturity, (2) by a pledge of annual 
contributions under an annual contributions contract between 
such public housing agency and the Secretary if such contract 
shall contain the covenant by the Secretary which is authorized 
by subsection (b) of section 22 of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937, as amended, and if the maximum sum and the maximum 
period specified in such contract pursuant to said subsection 
22(b) shall not be less than the annual amount and the period 
for payment which are requisite to provide for the payment when 
due of all installments of principal and interest on such 
obligations, or (3) by a pledge or both annual contributions 
under an annual contributions contract containing the covenant 
by the Secretary which is authorized by section 6(g) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937, and a loan under an 
agreement between the local public housing agency and the 
Secretary in which the public housing agency agrees to borrow 
from the Secretary, and the Secretary agrees to lend to the 
public housing agency, prior to the maturity of the obligations 
involved, moneys in an amount which (together with any other 
moneys irrevocably committed under the annual contributions 
contract to the payment of principal and interest on such 
obligations) will suffice to provide for the payment when due 
of all installments of principal and interest on such 
obligations, which moneys under the terms of the agreement are 
required to be used for the purpose of paying the principal and 
interest on such obligations at their maturity: Provided, That 
in carrying on the business commonly known as the safe-deposit 
business the association shall not invest in the capital stock 
of a corporation organized under the law of any State to 
conduct a safe-deposit business in an amount in excess of 15 
per centum of the capital stock of the association actually 
paid in and unimpaired and 15 per centum of its unimpaired 
surplus. The limitations and restrictions herein contained as 
to dealing in and underwriting investment securities shall not 
apply to obligations issued by the International Bank for 
Reconstruction and Development, the European Bank for 
Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development 
Bank, the Asian Development Bank the African Development Bank, 
the Inter-American Investment Corporation, or the International 
Finance Corporation, or obligations issued by any State or 
political subdivision or any agency of a State or political 
subdivision for housing, university, or dormitory purposes, 
which are at the time eligible for purchase by a national bank 
for its own account, nor to bonds, notes and other obligations 
issued by the Tennessee Valley Authority or by the United 
States Postal Service,: Provided, That no association shall 
hold obligations issued by any of said organizations as a 
result of underwriting, dealing, or purchasing for its own 
account (and for this purpose obligations as to which it is 
under commitment shall be deemed to be held by it) in a total 
amount exceeding at any one time 10 per centum of its capital 
stock actually paid in and unimpaired and 10 per centum of its 
unimpaired surplus fund. Notwithstanding any other provision in 
this paragraph, the association may purchase for its own 
account shares of stock issued by a corporation authorized to 
be created pursuant to title IX of the Housing and Urban 
Development Act of 1968, and may make investments in a 
partnership, limited partnership, or joint venture formed 
pursuant to section 907(a) or 907(c) of that Act. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, the 
association may purchase for its own account shares of stock 
issued by any State housing corporation incorporated in the 
State in which the association is located and may make 
investments in loans and commitments for loans to any such 
corporation: Provided, That in no event shall the total amount 
of such stock held for its own account and such investments in 
loans and commitments made by the association exceed at any 
time 5 per centum of its capital stock actually paid in and 
unimpaired plus 5 per centum of its unimpaired surplus fund. 
Notwithstanding any other provision in this paragraph, the 
association may purchase for its own account shares of stock 
issued by a corporation organized solely for the purpose of 
making loans to farmers and ranchers for agricultural purposes, 
including the breeding, raising, fattening, or marketing of 
livestock. However, unless the association owns at least 80 per 
centum of the stock of such agricultural credit corporation the 
amount invested by the association at any one time in the stock 
of such corporation shall not exceed 20 per centum of the 
unimpaired capital and surplus of the association: Provided 
further, That notwithstanding any other provision of this 
paragraph, the association may purchase for its own account 
shares of stock of a bank insured by the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation or a holding company which owns or 
controls such an insured bank if the stock of such bank or 
company is owned exclusively (except to the extent directors' 
qualifying shares are required by law) by depository 
institutions or depository institution holding companies (as 
defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) and 
such bank or company and all subsidiaries thereof are engaged 
exclusively in providing services to or for other depository 
institutions, their holding companies, and the officers, 
directors, and employees of such institutions and companies, 
and in providing correspondent banking services at the request 
of other depository institutions or their holding companies 
(also referred to as a ``banker's bank''), but in no event 
shall the total amount of such stock held by the association in 
any bank or holding company exceed at any time 10 per centum of 
the associations capital stock and paid in and unimpaired 
surplus and in no event shall the purchase of such stock result 
in an association's acquiring more than 5 per centum of any 
class of voting securities of such bank or company. The 
limitations and restrictions contained in this paragraph as to 
an association purchasing for its own account investment 
securities shall not apply to securities that (A) are offered 
and sold pursuant to section 4(5) of the Securities Act of 1933 
(15 U.S.C. 77d(5)); (B) are small business related securities 
(as defined in section 3(a)(53) of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934); or (C) are mortgage related securities (as that term 
is defined in section 3(a)(41) of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(41)). The exception provided for the 
securities described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) shall 
be subject to such regulations as the Comptroller of the 
Currency may prescribe, including regulations prescribing 
minimum size of the issue (at the time of initial distribution) 
or minimum aggregate sales prices, or both. A national banking 
association may deal in, underwrite, and purchase for such 
association's own account qualified Canadian government 
obligations to the same extent that such association may deal 
in, underwrite, and purchase for such association's own account 
obligations of the United States or general obligations of any 
State or of any political subdivision thereof. For purposes of 
this paragraph--
          (1) the term ``qualified Canadian government 
        obligations'' means any debt obligation which is backed 
        by Canada, any Province of Canada, or any political 
        subdivision of any such Province to a degree which is 
        comparable to the liability of the United States, any 
        State, or any political subdivision thereof for any 
        obligation which is backed by the full faith and credit 
        of the United States, such State, or such political 
        subdivision, and such term includes any debt obligation 
        of any agent of Canada or any such Province or any 
        political subdivision of such Province if--
                  (A) the obligation of the agent is assumed in 
                such agent's capacity as agent for Canada or 
                such Province or such political subdivision; 
                and
                  (B) Canada, such Province, or such political 
                subdivision on whose behalf such agent is 
                acting with respect to such obligation is 
                ultimately and unconditionally liable for such 
                obligation; and
          (2) the term ``Province of Canada'' means a Province 
        of Canada and includes the Yukon Territory and the 
        Northwest Territories and their successors.
  (b) Interpretive Authority of the Comptroller of the 
Currency.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), it shall 
        not be incidental to banking for a national bank to 
        provide insurance as a principal, agent, or broker.
          (2) Scope of application.--Notwithstanding paragraph 
        (1), it shall be incidental to banking for a national 
        bank to engage in the following activities:
                  (A) Providing, as an agent or broker, any 
                annuity contract the income on which is tax 
                deferred under section 72 of the Internal 
                Revenue Code of 1986.
                  (B) Providing, as a principal, agent, or 
                broker, any type of insurance, other than an 
                annuity or title insurance, which the 
                Comptroller of the Currency specifically 
                determined, before May 1, 1995, to be 
                incidental to banking with respect to national 
                banks.
SEC. 5136A. STATE SUPERVISION OF INSURANCE.

  (a) State Licensing of Insurance Activities.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), no 
        provision of section 5136, any other section of this 
        title, or section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act may be 
        construed as limiting or otherwise impairing the 
        authority of any State to regulate--
                  (A) the extent to which, and the manner in 
                which, a national bank may engage within the 
                State in insurance activities pursuant to 
                section 5136B of this chapter or section 13 of 
                the Federal Reserve Act;
                  (B) the manner in which a national bank may 
                engage within the State in insurance activities 
                pursuant to section 5136(b)(2)(B) of the 
                Revised Statutes of the United States; or
                  (C) the manner in which a national bank may 
                engage within the State in insurance activities 
                pursuant to section 5136(b)(2)(A) of the 
                Revised Statutes of the United States through, 
                and limited to, consumer disclosure 
                requirements or licensing requirements, 
                procedures, and qualifications as described in 
                paragraph (2)(C).
          (2) Prohibition on state discrimination against 
        national banks.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1)--
                  (A) Providing insurance as agent or broker.--
                No State may impose any insurance regulatory 
                requirement relating to providing insurance as 
                an agent or broker that treats a national bank 
                differently than all other persons who are 
                authorized to provide insurance as agents or 
                brokers in such State, unless there is a 
                legitimate and reasonable State regulatory 
                purpose for the requirement for which there is 
                no less restrictive alternative.
                  (B) Providing insurance as principal, agent, 
                or broker.--
                          (i) No State may impose on a national 
                        bank any insurance regulatory 
                        requirement relating to providing 
                        insurance as principal, agent, or 
                        broker that treats the national bank 
                        more restrictively than any other 
                        depository institution (as defined in 
                        section 3(c)(1) of the Federal Deposit 
                        Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(1)) 
                        operating in the State.
                          (ii) Nothing in this subparagraph 
                        shall affect the validity of a State 
                        law that--
                                  (I) prevents a national bank 
                                from engaging in insurance 
                                activities within the State to 
                                as great an extent as a savings 
                                association (as defined in 
                                section 3(b)(1) of the Federal 
                                Deposit Insurance Act, 12 
                                U.S.C. 1813(b)(1)) may engage 
                                in such activities within the 
                                State; and
                                  (II) was in effect on June 1, 
                                1995.
                  (C) Licensing qualifications and 
                procedures.--No State may discriminate against 
                a national bank with respect to the following 
                requirements, procedures, and qualifications as 
                such requirements, procedures, and 
                qualifications relate to the authority of the 
                national bank to provide insurance in such 
                State as an agent or broker:
                          (i) License application and 
                        processing procedures.
                          (ii) Character, experience, and 
                        educational qualifications for 
                        licenses.
                          (iii) Testing and examination 
                        requirements for licenses.
                          (iv) Fee requirements for licenses.
                          (v) Continuing education 
                        requirements.
                          (vi) Types of licenses required.
                          (vii) Standards and requirements for 
                        renewal of licenses.
  (b) Authority of the Comptroller of the Currency.--A national 
bank may not provide insurance as a principal, agent, or broker 
except as specifically provided in this section, the paragraph 
designated as the ``Seventh'' of section 5136(a) of this 
chapter, section 5136(b) or 5136B of this chapter, or section 
13 of the Federal Reserve Act.
  (c) Preservation of Federally Authorized Bank Activities in 
Permissive States.--No provision of this section may be 
construed as affecting the authority, pursuant to section 5136B 
of this chapter or section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act, of a 
national bank to act as insurance agent or broker consistent 
with State law.
  (d) Preservation of National Bank Authority Consistent With 
State Bank Authority.--Except as provided in subsection 
(a)(2)(B), no provision of this section or section 5136(b)(1) 
shall have the effect of enabling a State to deny a national 
bank authority that the bank otherwise possesses to provide a 
product in a State, including as agent, broker, or principal, 
where the bank is not providing the product in the State other 
than to an extent and in a manner that a State bank (as defined 
in section 3(a)(2) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 
U.S.C. 1813(a)(2)) is permitted by the law of the State to 
provide such product, except that nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed as granting any new authority to a national 
bank to provide any product because the law of the State has 
authorized State banks to provide such product.
  (e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, sections 5136 
and 5136B, and section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act, the 
following definitions shall apply:
          (1) Insurance.--The term ``insurance'' means any 
        product defined or regulated as insurance, consistent 
        with the relevant State insurance law, by the insurance 
        regulatory authority of the State in which such product 
        is sold, solicited, or underwritten, including any 
        annuity contract the income on which is tax deferred 
        under section 72 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
          (2) State.--The term ``State'' has the same meaning 
        as in section 3(a)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
        Act.
  (f) Grandfather Provision.--
          (1) In general.--Any national bank which, before 
        January 1, 1995, was providing insurance as agent or 
        broker under section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act may 
        provide insurance as an agent or broker under such 
        section, to no less extent and in a no more restrictive 
        manner as such bank was providing insurance as agent or 
        broker under such section on January 1, 1995, 
        notwithstanding contrary State law, subject to final, 
        controlling judgment in a pending action.
          (2) Termination.--This subsection shall cease to 
        apply with respect to any national bank described in 
        paragraph (1) if--
                  (A) the bank is subject to an acquisition, 
                merger, consolidation, or change in control, 
                other than a transaction to which section 
                18(c)(12) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act 
                applies; or
                  (B) any bank holding company which directly 
                or indirectly controls such bank is subject to 
                an acquisition, merger, consolidation, or 
                change in control, other than a transaction in 
                which the beneficial ownership of such bank 
                holding company or of a bank holding company 
                which controls such company does not change as 
                a result of the transaction.
  (g) Preservation of Banking Products.--Nothing in this 
section shall be construed as affecting the ability of a 
national bank, or a subsidiary of a national bank, to engage in 
any activity, including any activity authorized pursuant to the 
paragraph designated the ``Seventh'' of section 5136(a), that 
is part of, and not merely incidental to, the business of 
banking.
SEC. 5136B. INSURANCE SALES IN EMPOWERMENT ZONES.

  (a) Authority to Sell Insurance as Agent From Empowerment 
Zones.--The Comptroller of the Currency may approve an 
application by a national bank maintaining a main office or 
full-service branch in an empowerment zone to act as an agent 
or broker from such office or branch for any fire, life, or 
other insurance company authorized to do business in the State 
in which the customer is located if--
          (1) the bank provides sufficient evidence that the 
        availability of competitively priced insurance products 
        in the empowerment zone is inadequate; and
          (2) the insurance products are sold only in the 
        empowerment zone.
  (b) Application of State Law.--State laws which regulate 
conducting the business of insurance shall apply to national 
banks and their employees that sell insurance as agent or 
broker under this section to the same extent as such laws apply 
to other entities and persons not affiliated with depository 
institutions except--
          (1) in any case in which the Comptroller of the 
        Currency determines, after notice to and comment by the 
        appropriate State insurance officials, that the 
        application of a State law would have an unreasonably 
        discriminatory effect upon the sale of insurance by 
        national banks or their employees in comparison with 
        the effect the application of the State law would have 
        with respect to sale of insurance by other entities; or
          (2) when State law by its own terms does not apply to 
        national banks or employees of such banks.
  (c) Authority of Comptroller of the Currency.--
          (1) In general.--The Comptroller of the Currency may 
        prescribe regulations governing sales of insurance by 
        national banks pursuant to this section.
          (2) Enforcement of state law.--The provisions of any 
        State law to which an national bank is subject under 
        this section shall be enforced with respect to such 
        bank by the Comptroller of the Currency.
  (d) Definitions.--
          (1) Empowerment zone.--The term ``empowerment zone'' 
        means an area that meets the standards for designation 
        as an empowerment zone or enterprise community under 
        section 1392 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or an 
        Indian reservation.
          (2) Full-service branch.--The term ``full-service 
        branch'' means a staffed facility which has been 
        approved as a branch and offers loan and deposit 
        services.
          (3) Indian reservation.--The term ``Indian 
        reservation'' has the meaning given such term by 
        section 168(j)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
  Sec. [5136A.] 5136C. (a) A national bank may not--
          (1) deal in lottery tickets;
          (2) deal in bets used as a means or substitute for 
        participation in a lottery;
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 5146. Every director must during his whole term of 
service, be a citizen of the United States, and at least a 
majority of the directors must have resided in the State, 
Territory, or District in which the association is located, or 
within one hundred miles of the location of the office of the 
association, for at least one year immediately preceding their 
election, and must be residents of such State or within a one-
hundred-mile territory of the location of the association 
during their continuance in office, except that (1) the 
Comptroller of the Currency may, in the Comptroller's 
discretion, waive the residency requirement in the case of any 
director of a national bank to whom the requirement would 
otherwise apply, and (2) in the case of an association which is 
a subsidiary or affiliate of a foreign bank, the Comptroller of 
the Currency may in his discretion waive the requirement of 
citizenship in the case of not more than a minority of the 
total number of directors. Every director must own in his or 
her own right either shares of the capital stock of the 
association of which he or she is a director the aggregate par 
value of which is not less than $1,000, or an equivalent 
interest, as determined by the Comptroller of the Currency, in 
any company which has control over such association within the 
meaning of section 2 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 
(12 U.S.C. 1841). If the capital of the bank does not exceed 
$25,000, every director must own in his or her own right either 
shares of such capital stock the aggregate par value of which 
is not less than $500, or an equivalent interest, as determined 
by the Comptroller of the Currency, in any company which has 
control over such association within the meaning of section 2 
of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841). Any 
director who ceases to be the owner of the required number of 
shares of the stock, or who becomes in any other manner 
disqualified, shall thereby vacate his place.
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 5155. The conditions upon which a national banking 
association may retain or establish and operate a branch or 
branches are the following:
  (a)  * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(h) The aggregate capital of every national banking 
association and its branches shall at no time be less than the 
aggregate minimum capital required by law for the establishment 
of an equal number of national banking associations situated in 
the various places where such association and its branches are 
situated.
  [(i) No branch] (h) Relocation._
          (1) Approval required._Except as provided in 
        paragraph (2), no branch of any national banking 
        association shall be established or moved from one 
        location to another without first obtaining the consent 
        and approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
          (2) No approval required for certain branches.--
        Notwithstanding this subsection or subsection (b) or 
        (c), the consent and approval of the Comptroller of the 
        Currency shall not be required for a national bank to 
        establish and operate, or to retain and operate, a 
        branch or seasonal agency if--
                  (A) the bank is well capitalized (as defined 
                in section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
                Act and regulations prescribed by the 
                Comptroller of the Currency under such 
                section);
                  (B) the bank received a composite CAMEL 
                rating of ``1'' or ``2'' under the Uniform 
                Financial Institutions Rating System (or an 
                equivalent rating under a comparable rating 
                system) as of its most recent examination;
                  (C) the bank did not receive a ``needs to 
                improve'' or ``substantial noncompliance'' 
                composite rating at its most recent examination 
                under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977; 
                and
                  (D) the Comptroller of the Currency is 
                otherwise authorized to grant approval under 
                this section to such bank to establish and 
                operate, or to retain and operate, a branch or 
                seasonal agency at the proposed location.
          (3) Certain branches deemed to have approved 
        applications.--A branch or seasonal agency established 
        by a national bank under paragraph (2) shall be deemed 
        to have been established and operated pursuant to an 
        application approved under this section.
  [(j) The term] (i) Branch.--
          (1) In general.--The term ``branch'' as used in this 
        section shall be held to include any branch bank, 
        branch office, branch agency, additional office, or any 
        branch place of business located in any State or 
        Territory of the United States or in the District of 
        Columbia at which deposits are received, or checks 
        paid, or money lent.
          (2) Certain proprietary atms and remote servicing 
        units.--The term ``branch'' does not include any 
        automated teller machine or remote service unit which 
        is owned and operated by a depository institution--
                  (A) primarily for the benefit of the 
                institution and the affiliates of the 
                institution; and
                  (B) which could operate a branch at the 
                location of such machine or unit.
  [(k)] (j) This section shall not be construed to amend or 
repeal section 25 of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, 
authorizing the establishment by national banking associations 
of branches in foreign countries, or dependencies, or insular 
possessions of the United States.
  [(l)] (k) The words ``State bank,'' ``State banks,'' 
``bank,'' or ``banks,'' as used in this section, shall be held 
to include trust companies, savings banks, or other such 
corporations or institutions carrying on the banking business 
under the authority of State laws.

SEC. 5156A. MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AND OTHER ACQUISITIONS AUTHORIZED.

  (a)  * * *
  (b) Expedited Approval of Acquisitions.--
          (1) In general.--Any application by a national bank 
        to acquire or be acquired by another insured depository 
        institution which is required to be filed with the 
        Comptroller of the Currency by [section 5(d)(3) of the 
        Federal Deposit Insurance Act or] any other applicable 
        law or regulation shall be approved or disapproved in 
        writing by the agency before the end of the 60-day 
        period beginning on the date such application is filed 
        with the agency.
          * * * * * * *

                             CHAPTER THREE

                   REGULATION OF THE BANKING BUSINESS

          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 5211. (a) Every association shall make reports of 
condition to the Comptroller of the Currency in accordance with 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. The Comptroller of the 
Currency may call for additional reports of condition, in such 
form and containing such information as he may prescribe, on 
dates to be fixed by him, and may call for special reports from 
any particular association whenever in his judgment the same 
are necessary for his use in the performance of his supervisory 
duties. Each report of condition shall contain a declaration by 
the president, a vice president, the cashier, or by any other 
officer designated by the board of directors of the bank to 
make such declaration, that the report is true and correct to 
the best of his knowledge and belief. [The correctness of the 
report of condition shall be attested by the signatures of 
least three of the directors of the bank other than the officer 
making such declaration, with the declaration that the report 
has been examined by them and to the best of their knowledge 
and belief is true and correct.] Each report shall exhibit in 
detail and under appropriate heads the resources and 
liabilities of the association at the close of business on any 
past day specified by the Comptroller, and shall be transmitted 
to the Comptroller within the period of time specified by the 
Comptroller. Special reports called for by the Comptroller need 
contain only such information as is specified by the 
Comptroller in his request therefore, and publication of such 
reports need to be made only if directed by the Comptroller.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

                SECTION 10 OF THE HOME OWNERS' LOAN ACT

SEC. 10. REGULATION OF HOLDING COMPANIES.

  (a) Definitions.--
          (1) In general.--As used in this section, unless the 
        context otherwise requires--
                  (A) * * *
          * * * * * * *
                  [(D) Savings and loan holding company.--The 
                term ``savings and loan holding company'' means 
                any company which directly or indirectly 
                controls a savings association or controls any 
                other company which is a savings and loan 
                holding company.]
                  (D) Savings and loan holding company.--
                          (i) In general.--Except as provided 
                        in clause (ii), the term ``savings and 
                        loan holding company'' means any 
                        company which directly or indirectly 
                        controls a savings association or 
                        controls any other company which is a 
                        savings and loan holding company.
                          (ii) Exception for bank holding 
                        company.--The term ``savings and loan 
                        holding company'' does not include any 
                        company which is registered under, and 
                        subject to, the provisions of the Bank 
                        Holding Company Act of 1956, or any 
                        company directly or indirectly 
                        controlled by such company.
          * * * * * * *
  (m) Qualified Thrift Lender Test.--
          (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs 
        [(2) and (7)] (2), (7), and (8), any savings 
        association is a qualified thrift lender if--
                  (A) the savings association's qualified 
                thrift investments equal or exceed 65 percent 
                of the savings association's portfolio assets; 
                and
                  (B) the savings association's qualified 
                thrift investments continue to equal or exceed 
                65 percent of the savings association's 
                portfolio assets on a monthly average basis in 
                9 out of every 12 months.
          * * * * * * *
          (8) Alternative test.--Any savings association which 
        meets the requirements set forth in section 
        7701(a)(19)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
        shall be deemed to be a qualified thrift lender and any 
        qualified thrift lender shall be deemed to meet the 
        requirements of such section.
          * * * * * * *
  (t) Exemption for Bank Holding Companies.--This section shall 
not apply to a bank holding company that is subject to the Bank 
Holding Company Act of 1956 or any company controlled by such 
bank holding company (other than a savings association).
                              ----------                              


                          FEDERAL RESERVE ACT

                         state banks as members

  Sec. 9. Any bank incorporated by special law of any State, or 
organized under the general laws of any State or of the United 
States, including Morris Plan banks and other incorporated 
banking institutions engaged in similar business, desiring to 
become a member of the Federal Reserve System, may make 
application to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe, 
for the right to subscribe to the stock of the Federal reserve 
bank organized within the district in which the applying bank 
is located. Such application shall be for the same amount of 
stock that the applying bank would be required to subscribe to 
as a national bank. For the purposes of membership of any such 
bank the terms ``capital'' and ``capital stock'' shall include 
the amount of outstanding capital notes and debentures legally 
issued by the applying bank and purchased by the Reconstruction 
Finance Corporation. The Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System, subject to the provisions of this Act and to 
such conditions as it may prescribe pursuant thereto may permit 
the applying bank to become a stockholder of such Federal 
reserve bank.
          * * * * * * *
  Any such State bank which, at the date of the approval of 
this Act, has established and is operating a branch or branches 
in conformity with the State law, may retain and operate the 
same while remaining or upon becoming a stockholder of such 
Federal reserve bank; but no such State bank may retain or 
acquire stock in a Federal reserve bank except upon 
relinquishment of any branch or branches established after the 
date of the approval of this Act beyond the limits of the city, 
town, or village in which the parent bank is situated. 
Provided, however, That nothing herein contained shall prevent 
any State member bank from establishing and operating branches 
in the United States or any dependency or insular possession 
thereof or in any foreign country, on the same terms and 
conditions and subject to the same limitations and restrictions 
as are applicable to the establishment of branches by national 
banks except that the approval of the Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, instead of the Comptroller of the 
Currency, shall be obtained before any State member bank may 
hereafter establish any branch and before any State bank 
hereafter admitted to membership may retain any branch 
established after February 25, 1927, beyond the limits of the 
city, town, or village in which the parent bank is situated. 
The approval of the Board shall likewise be obtained before any 
State member bank may establish any new branch within the 
limits of any such city, town, or village (except within the 
District of Columbia.) Notwithstanding the preceding 2 
sentences, the approval of the Board shall not be required for 
a State member bank to establish and operate a branch or 
seasonal agency if--
          (A) the State member bank is well-capitalized (as 
        defined in section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
        Act and regulations prescribed by the Board under such 
        section);
          (B) the State member bank received a composite CAMEL 
        rating of ``1'' or ``2'' under the Uniform Financial 
        Institutions Rating System (or an equivalent rating 
        under a comparable rating system);
          (C) the State member bank did not receive a ``needs 
        to improve'' or ``substantial noncompliance'' composite 
        rating at its most recent examination under the 
        Community reinvestment Act; and
          (D) the Board is otherwise authorized to grant 
        approval under this section to such State member bank 
        to establish and operate a branch or seasonal agency at 
        the proposed location.
A branch or seasonal agency established by a State member bank 
under the previous sentence shall be deemed to have been 
established and operated pursuant to an application approved 
under this section.
          * * * * * * *

                    powers of federal reserve banks

  Sec. 13. Any Federal reserve bank may receive from any of its 
member banks or other depository institutions, and from the 
United States, deposits of current funds in lawful money, 
national-bank notes, Federal reserve notes, or checks, and 
drafts, payable upon presentation or other items, and also, for 
collection, maturing notes and bills; or, solely for purposes 
of exchange or of collection, may receive from other Federal 
reserve banks deposits of current funds in lawful money, 
national-bank notes, or checks upon other Federal reserve 
banks, and checks and drafts, payable upon presentation within 
its district or other items, and maturing notes and bills 
payable within its district; or, solely for the purposes of 
exchange or of collection, may receive from any nonmember bank 
or trust company or other depository institution deposits of 
current funds in lawful money, national-bank notes, Federal 
reserve notes, checks and drafts payable upon presentation or 
other items, or maturing notes and bills: Provided, Such 
nonmember bank or trust company or other depository institution 
maintains with the Federal reserve bank of its district a 
balance in such amount as the Board determines taking into 
account items in transit, services provided by the Federal 
Reserve bank, and other factors as the Board may deem 
appropriate: Provided further, That nothing in this or any 
other section of this Act shall be construed as prohibiting a 
member or nonmember bank or other depository institution from 
making reasonable charges, to be determined and regulated by 
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, but in no 
case to exceed 10 cents per $100 or fraction thereof, based on 
the total of checks and drafts presented at any one time, for 
collection or payment of checks and drafts and remission 
therefor by exchange or otherwise; but no such charges shall be 
made against the Federal reserve banks.
          * * * * * * *
  That in addition to the powers not vested by law in national 
banking associations organized under the laws of the United 
States, and subject to section 5136A of the Revised Statutes of 
the United States, any such association located and doing 
business in any place the population of which does not exceed 
five thousand inhabitants, as shown by the last preceding 
decennial census, may, under such rules and regulations as may 
be prescribed by the Comptroller of the Currency, act as the 
agent for any fire, life, or other insurance company authorized 
by the authorities of the State in which said bank is located 
to do business in said State, by soliciting and selling 
insurance and collecting premiums on policies issued by such 
company; and may receive for services so rendered such fees or 
commissions as may be agreed upon between the said association 
and the insurance company for which it may act as agent: 
Provided, however, That no such bank shall in any case assume 
or guarantee the payment of any premium on insurance policies 
issued through its agency by its principal: And provided 
further, That the bank shall not guarantee the truth of any 
statement made by an assured in filing his application for 
insurance.
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 22. * * *
  (d) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (g)(1) Except as authorized under this subsection, no member 
bank may extend credit in any manner to any of its own 
executive officers. No executive officer of any member bank may 
become indebted to that member bank except by means of an 
extension of credit which the bank is authorized to make under 
this subsection. Any extension of credit under this subsection 
shall be promptly reported to the board of directors of the 
bank, and may be made only if--
          (A) the bank would be authorized to make it to 
        borrowers other than its officers;
          (B) it is on terms not more favorable than those 
        afforded other borrowers;
          (C) the officer has submitted a detailed current 
        financial statement; and
          (D) it is on condition that it shall become due and 
        payable on demand of the bank at any time when the 
        officer is indebted to any other bank or banks on 
        account of extensions of credit [of any one of the 
        three categories respectively referred to in paragraphs 
        (2), (3), and (4)] of any category referred to in 
        paragraph (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6) in an aggregate 
        amount greater than the amount of credit of the same 
        category that could be extended to him by the bank of 
        which he is an officer.
          * * * * * * *
    (4) Home equity lines of credit.--A member bank may make a 
revolving open-end extension of credit to any executive officer 
of the bank if the credit--
          (A) does not exceed $100,000; and
          (B) is secured by a dwelling that is owned by such 
        officer and used by the officer as a residence.
    (5) Loans secured by marketable assets.--A member bank may 
extend credit to any executive officer of the bank if the 
credit is secured by readily marketable assets of a value not 
exceeding such amount as the Board may establish by regulation.
  [(4)] (6) A member bank may make extensions of credit not 
otherwise specifically authorized under this subsection to any 
executive officer of the bank in an amount prescribed in a 
regulation of the member bank's appropriate Federal banking 
agency.
  [(5)] (7) Except to the extent permitted under paragraph 
[(4)] (6), a member bank may not extend credit to a partnership 
in which one or more of its executive officers are partners 
having either individually or together a majority interest. For 
the purposes of paragraph [(4)] (6), the full amount of any 
credit so extended shall be considered to have been extended to 
each officer of the bank who is a member of the partnership.
  [(6) Whenever an executive officer of a member bank becomes 
indebted to any bank or banks (other than the one of which he 
is an officer) on account of extensions of credit of any one of 
the three categories respectively referred to in paragraphs 
(2), (3) and (4) in an aggregate amount greater than the 
aggregate amount of credit of the same category that could 
lawfully be extended to him by the bank, he shall make a 
written report to the board of directors of the bank, stating 
the date and amount of each such extension of credit, the 
security therefor, and the purposes for which the proceeds have 
been or are to be used.]
  [(7)] (8) This subsection does not prohibit any executive 
officer of a member bank from endorsing or guaranteeing for the 
protection of the bank any loan or other asset previously 
acquired by the bank in good faith or from incurring any 
indebtedness to the bank for the purpose of protecting the bank 
against loss or giving financial assistance to it.
  [(8)] (9) Each day that any extension of credit in violation 
of this subsection exists is a continuation of the violation 
for the purposes of section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Act.
  [(9) Each member bank shall include with (but not as part of) 
each report of condition and copy thereof filed under section 
7(a)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act a report of all 
loans under authority of this subsection made by the bank since 
its previous report of condition.]
  (10) The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System may 
prescribe such rules and regulations, including definitions of 
terms, as it deems necessary to effectuate the purposes and to 
prevent evasions of this subsection. (12 U.S.C. 375a).
  (h) Extensions of Credit to Executive Officers, Directors, 
and Principal Shareholders of Member Banks.--
          (1) * * *
          [(2) Preferential terms prohibited.--A member bank] 
        (2) Preferential terms prohibited.--
                  (A) In general.--A member bank may extend 
                credit to its executive officers, directors, or 
                principal shareholders, or to any related 
                interest of such a person, only if the 
                extension of credit--
                          [(A)] (i) is made on substantially 
                        the same terms, including interest 
                        rates and collateral, as those 
                        prevailing at the time for comparable 
                        transactions by the bank with persons 
                        who are not executive officers, 
                        directors, principal shareholders, or 
                        employees of the bank;
                          [(B)] (ii) does not involve more than 
                        the normal risk of repayment or present 
                        other unfavorable features; and
                          [(C)] (iii) the bank follows credit 
                        underwriting procedures that are not 
                        less stringent than those applicable to 
                        comparable transactions by the bank 
                        with persons who are not executive 
                        officers, directors, principal 
                        shareholders, or employees of the bank.
                  (B) Exception.--No provision of this 
                paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting 
                extensions of credit that constitute a benefit 
                or compensation program that is widely 
                available to and used by employees of the 
                member bank, including employees who are not 
                executive officers of the bank.
          * * * * * * *
          (8) Executive officer, director, or principal 
        shareholder of certain affiliates treated as executive 
        officer, director, or principal shareholder of member 
        bank.--
                  (A) * * *
                  [(B) Exception.--The Board may, by 
                regulation, make exceptions to subparagraph 
                (A), except as that subparagraph makes 
                applicable paragraph (2), for an executive 
                officer or director of a subsidiary of a 
                company that controls the member bank, if that 
                executive officer or director does not have 
                authority to participate, and does not 
                participate, in major policymaking functions of 
                the member bank.]
                  (B) Exception.--The Board may, by regulation, 
                make exceptions to subparagraph (A) for an 
                executive officer or director of a subsidiary 
                of a company that controls the member bank if--
                          (i) the executive officer or director 
                        does not have authority to participate, 
                        and does not participate, in major 
                        policymaking functions of the member 
                        bank; and
                          (ii) the assets of such subsidiary do 
                        not exceed 10 percent of the 
                        consolidated assets of a company that 
                        controls the member bank and such 
                        subsidiary (and is not controlled by 
                        any other company).
          * * * * * * *
          (10) Board's rulemaking authority.--The Board of 
        Governors of the Federal Reserve System may prescribe 
        such regulations, including definitions of terms, as it 
        determines to be necessary to effectuate the purposes 
        and prevent evasions of this subsection. The Board 
        shall specify by regulation the recordkeeping required 
        of member banks to ensure compliance with this section.
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 24A. Hereafter no national bank, without the approval of 
the Comptroller of the Currency, and no State member bank, 
without the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System, shall (1) invest in bank premises, or in the 
stock, bonds, debentures, or other such obligations of any 
corporation holding the premises of such bank or (2) make loans 
to or upon the security of the stock of any such corporation, 
if the aggregate of all such investments and loans, together 
with the amount of any indebtedness incurred by any such 
corporation which is an affiliate of the bank, as defined in 
section 2 of the Banking Act of 1933, as amended, will exceed 
the amount of the capital stock of such bank or, in the case of 
a bank which received a composite CAMEL rating of ``1'' or 
``2'' under the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System 
(or an equivalent rating under a comparable rating system) as 
of its most recent examination and, both before and immediately 
following the investment or loan, is well capitalized (as 
defined under section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act), 
the amount which is equal to 150 percent of the capital stock 
and surplus of such bank.
          * * * * * * *

     banking corporations authorized to do foreign banking business

  Sec. 25A. Corporations to be organized for the purpose of 
engaging in international or foreign banking or other 
international or foreign financial operations, or in banking or 
other financial operations in a dependency or insular 
possession of the United States, either directly or through the 
agency, ownership, or control of local institutions in foreign 
countries, or in such dependencies or insular possessions as 
provided by this section, and to act when required by the 
Secretary of the Treasury as fiscal agents of the United 
States, may be formed by any number of natural persons, not 
less in any case than five: Provided, That nothing in this 
section shall be construed to deny the right of the Secretary 
of the Treasury to use any corporation organized under this 
section as depositaries in Panama and the Panama Canal Zone, or 
in the Philippine Islands and other insular possessions and 
dependencies of the United States.
          * * * * * * *
  No corporation shall be organized under the provisions of 
this section with a capital stock of less than $2,000,000, one-
quarter of which must be paid in before the corporation may be 
authorized to begin business, and the remainder of the capital 
stock of such corporation shall be paid in installments of at 
least 10 per centum on the whole amount to which the 
corporation shall be limited as frequently as one installment 
at the end of each succeeding two months from the time of the 
commencement of its business operations until the whole of the 
capital stock shall be paid in: Provided, however, That 
whenever $2,000,000 of the capital stock of any corporation is 
paid in the remainder of the corporation's capital stock or any 
unpaid part of such remainder may, with the consent of the 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and subject to 
such regulations and conditions as it may prescribe, be paid in 
upon call from the board of directors; such unpaid 
subscriptions, however, to be included in the maximum of 10 per 
centum of the national bank's capital and surplus which a 
national bank is permitted under the provisions of this Act to 
hold in stock of corporations engaged in business of the kind 
described in this section and in section 25 of the Federal 
Reserve Act as amended. The capital stock of any such 
corporation may be increased at any time, with the approval of 
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, by a vote 
of two-thirds of its shareholders or by unanimous consent in 
writing of the shareholders without a meeting and without a 
formal vote, but any such increase of capital shall be fully 
paid in within ninety days after such approval; and may be 
reduced in like manner, provided that in no event shall it be 
less than $2,000,000. No corporation, except as herein 
provided, shall during the time it shall continue its 
operations, withdraw or permit to be withdrawn, either in the 
form of dividends or otherwise, any portion of its capital. 
[Any national banking association may invest in the stock of 
any corporation organized under the provisions of this section, 
but the aggregate amount of stock held in all corporations 
engaged in business of the kind described in this section and 
in section 25 of the Federal Reserve Act as amended shall not 
exceed 10 per centum of the subscribing bank's capital and 
surplus.] Any national bank may invest in the stock of any 
corporation organized under this section. The aggregate amount 
of stock held by any national bank in all corporations engaged 
in business of the kind described in this section or section 25 
shall not exceed an amount equal to 10 percent of the capital 
and surplus of such bank unless the Board determines that the 
investment of an additional amount by the bank would not be 
unsafe or unsound and, in any case, shall not exceed an amount 
equal to 25 percent of the capital and surplus of such bank.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

              SECTION 107 OF THE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ACT

                                 powers

  Sec. 107. A Federal credit union shall have succession in its 
corporate name during its existence and shall have power--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (5) to make loans, the maturities of which shall not 
        exceed twelve years except as otherwise provided 
        herein, and extend lines of credit to its members, to 
        other credit unions, and to credit union organizations 
        and to participate with other credit unions, credit 
        union organizations, or financial organizations in 
        making loans to credit union members in accordance with 
        the following:
                  (A) Loans to members shall be made in 
                conformity with criteria established by the 
                board of directors: Provided, That--
                          (i) * * *
          * * * * * * *
                          (iv) a loan or aggregate of loans to 
                        a director or member of the supervisory 
                        or credit committee of the credit union 
                        making the loan which exceeds [$10,000] 
                        $50,000 plus pledged shares, be 
                        approved by the board of directors;
                          (v) loans to other members for which 
                        directors or members of the supervisory 
                        or credit committee act as guarantor or 
                        endorser be approved by the board of 
                        directors when such loans standing 
                        alone or when added to any outstanding 
                        loan or loans of the guarantor or 
                        endorser exceeds [$10,000] $50,000;
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

            DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION MANAGEMENT INTERLOCKS ACT

  Sec. 203. (a) Prohibitions.--A management official of a 
depository institution or a depository holding company may not 
serve as a management official of any other depository 
institution or depository holding company not affiliated 
therewith if an office of one of the institutions or any 
depository institution that is an affiliate of such 
institutions is located within either--
          (1) the same primary metropolitan statistical area, 
        the same metropolitan statistical area, or the same 
        consolidated metropolitan statistical area that is not 
        comprised of designated primary metropolitan 
        statistical areas as defined by the Office of 
        Management and Budget, except in the case of depository 
        institutions with less than $20,000,000 in assets in 
        which case the provision of paragraph (2) shall apply, 
        as that in which an office of the other institution or 
        any depository institution that is an affiliate of such 
        institution is located, or
          (2) the same city, town, or village as that in which 
        an office of the other institution or any depository 
        institution that is an affiliate of such other 
        institution is located, or in any city, town, or 
        village contiguous or adjacent thereto.
  (b) Small Market Share Exemption.--
          (1) In general.--This section shall not be construed 
        as prohibiting a management official of a depository 
        institution or depository holding company from serving 
        as a management official of another depository 
        institution or depository holding company not 
        affiliated with such institution or holding company if 
        the depository institutions or depository holding 
        companies with which the management official serves 
        hold, together with all the affiliates of such 
        institutions or holding companies, in the aggregate no 
        more that 20 percent of the deposits in each relevant 
        geographic banking market where offices of the 
        depository institutions or depository holding companies 
        or their affiliates are located.
          (2) Relevant geographic banking market defined.--For 
        purposes of paragraph (1), the term ``relevant 
        geographic banking market'' means--
                  (A) the area defined by the boundaries 
                identified by the Board of Governors of the 
                Federal Reserve System;
                  (B) if the Board has not defined such 
                boundaries, the area defined by the boundaries 
                of the Ranally Metropolitan Area in which the 
                office of the depository institution or the 
                depository institution holding company is 
                located; and
                  (C) if the office of such institution or 
                company is not located within a Ranally 
                Metropolitan Area, the area defined by the 
                county (or an equivalent area of general local 
                government) in which such office is located.
  [Sec. 204. If a depository institution or a depository 
holding company has total assets exceeding $1,000,000,000, a 
management official of such institution or any affiliate 
thereof may not serve as a management official of any other 
nonaffiliated depository institution or depository holding 
company having total assets exceeding $500,000,000 or as a 
management official of any affiliate of such other 
institution.]
SEC. 204. DUAL SERVICE AMONG LARGER ORGANIZATIONS.

  (a) In General.--If a depository institution, depository 
institution holding company, or depository institution 
affiliate of any such institution or company has total assets 
exceeding $2,500,000,000, a management official of such 
institution, company, or affiliate may not serve as a 
management official of any other depository institution, 
depository institution holding company, or depository 
institution affiliate of any such institution or company 
which--
          (1) is not an affiliate of the institution, company, 
        or affiliate of which such person is a management 
        official; and
          (2) has total assets exceeding $1,500,000,000.
  (b) CPI Adjustments.--The dollar amounts in this section 
shall be adjusted annually after December 31, 1994, by the 
annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for 
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers published by the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics.
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 206. (a) A person whose service in a position as a 
management official began prior to the date of enactment of 
this title and who was not immediately prior to the date of 
enactment of this title in violation of section 8 of the 
Clayton Act is not prohibited by section 203 or section 204 of 
this title from continuing to serve in that position [for a 
period of, subject to the requirements of subsection (c), 20 
years after the date of enactment of this title]. The 
appropriate Federal depository institutions regulatory agency 
may provide a reasonable period of time for compliance with 
this title, not exceeding fifteen months, after any change in 
circumstances which makes service described in the preceding 
sentence prohibited by this title, except that a merger, 
acquisition, increase in total assets, establishment of one or 
more offices, or change in management responsibilities shall 
not constitute changes in circumstances which would make such 
service prohibited by section 203 or section 204 of this title.
  (b) Effective on the date of enactment of this title, a 
person who serves as a management official of a company which 
is not a depository institution or a depository holding company 
and as a management official of that depository institution or 
depository holding company as a result of that company which is 
not a depository institution or depository holding company 
becoming a diversified savings and loan holding company as that 
term is defined in section 408(a) of the National Housing Act. 
[This subsection shall expire, subject to the requirements of 
subsection (c), 20 years after the date of enactment of this 
title.
  [(c) Review of Existing Management Interlocks.--Upon the 
timely filing of a submission by a person petitioning to serve 
as a management official in more than 1 position pursuant to 
subsection (a) or (b), each appropriate Federal depository 
institutions regulatory agency shall, not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act--
          [(1) review, on a case-by-case basis, the 
        circumstances under which such person has served as a 
        management official under the provisions of subsection 
        (a) or (b); and
          [(2) permit the management official to continue to 
        serve in such position only if--
                  [(A) such person has provided a resolution 
                from the boards of directors of each affected 
                depository institution, depository holding 
                company, or company described in subsection 
                (b), certifying to the appropriate Federal 
                depository institutions regulatory agency for 
                each of the institutions involved that there is 
                no other qualified candidate from the community 
                described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 
                203 who--
                          [(i) possesses the level of expertise 
                        necessary for such service with respect 
                        to the affected depository institution, 
                        depository holding company, or company 
                        described in subsection (b); and
                          [(ii) is willing to serve as a 
                        management official at the affected 
                        depository institution, depository 
                        holding company, or company described 
                        in subsection (b); and
                  [(B) the appropriate Federal depository 
                institutions regulatory agency determines that 
                continuation of service by the management 
                official does not produce an anticompetitive 
                effect with respect to each affected depository 
                institution, depository holding company, or 
                company described in subsection (b).]
          * * * * * * *
  Sec. 209. [(a) In General.--] Rules and regulations to carry 
out this title, including rules or regulations which permit 
service by a management official which would otherwise be 
prohibited by section 203 or section 204, may be prescribed 
by--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  [(b) Regulatory Standards.--An appropriate Federal depository 
institution regulatory agency may permit, on a case-by-case 
basis, service by a management official which would otherwise 
be prohibited by section 203 or 204 only if--
          [(1) the board of directors of the affected 
        depository institution, depository institution holding 
        company, or company described in section 206(b), 
        provides a resolution to the appropriate Federal 
        depository institutions regulatory agency certifying 
        that there is no other candidate from the community 
        described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 203 who--
                  [(A) possesses the level of expertise 
                necessary for such service with respect to the 
                affected depository institution, depository 
                institution holding company, or company 
                described in section 206(b) and is not 
                prohibited from service under section 203 or 
                204; and
                  [(B) is willing to serve as a management 
                official at the affected depository 
                institution, depository institution holding 
                company, or company described in section 
                206(b); and
          [(2) the appropriate Federal depository institutions 
        regulatory agency determines that--
                  [(A) the management official is critical to 
                the safe and sound operations of the affected 
                depository institution, depository institution 
                holding company, or company described in 
                section 206(b);
                  [(B) continuation of service by the 
                management official does not produce an 
                anticompetitive effect with respect to the 
                affected depository institution, depository 
                institution holding company, or company 
                described in section 206(b); and
                  [(C) the management official meets such 
                additional requirements as the agency may 
                impose.
  [(c) Limited Exception for Management Official Consignment 
Program.--
          [(1) In general.--Notwithstanding the requirements of 
        subsection (b), an appropriate Federal depository 
        institutions regulatory agency may establish a program 
        to permit, on a case-by-case basis, service by a 
        management official which would otherwise be prohibited 
        by section 203 or 204, for a period of not more than 2 
        years, if the agency determines that such service 
        would--
                  [(A) improve the provision of credit to low- 
                and moderate-income areas;
                  [(B) increase the competitive position of 
                minority- and woman-owned institutions; or
                  [(C) strengthen the management of newly 
                chartered institutions that are in an unsafe or 
                unsound condition.
          [(2) Extension of service period.--The appropriate 
        Federal depository institutions regulatory agency may 
        extend the 2-year period referred to in paragraph (1) 
        for one additional period of not more than 2 years, 
        subject to making a new determination described in 
        subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1).]
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

     SECTION 106 OF THE BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1970

    Sec. 106. (a) * * *
    (b)(1) * * *
    (2)(A) * * *
          * * * * * * *
    [(G)(i) Each executive officer and each stockholder of 
record who directly or indirectly owns, controls, or has the 
power to vote more than 10 per centum of any class of voting 
securities of an insured bank shall make a written report to 
the board of directors of such bank for any year during which 
such executive officer or shareholder has outstanding an 
extension of credit from a bank which maintains a corresponding 
account in the name of such bank. Such report shall include the 
following information:
          [(1) the maximum amount of indebtedness to the bank 
        maintaining the correspondent account during such year 
        of (a) such executive officer or stockholder of record, 
        (b) each company controlled by such executive officer 
        or stockholder, or (c) each political or campaign 
        committee the funds or services of which will benefit 
        such executive officer or stockholder, or which is 
        controlled by such executive officer or stockholder;
          [(2) the amount of indebtedness to the bank 
        maintaining the correspondent account outstanding as of 
        a date not more than ten days prior to the date of 
        filing of such report of (a) such executive officer or 
        stockholder of record, (b) each company controlled by 
        such executive officer or stockholder, or (c) each 
        political or campaign committee the funds or services 
        of which will benefit such executive officer or 
        stockholder;
          [(3) the range of interest rates charged on such 
        indebtedness of such executive officer or stockholder 
        of record; and
          [(4) the terms and conditions of such indebtedness of 
        such executive officer or stockholder of record.
    [(ii) The appropriate Federal banking agencies are 
authorized to issue rules and regulations, including 
definitions of terms, to require the reporting and public 
disclosure of information by any bank or executive officer or 
principal shareholder thereof concerning any extension of 
credit by a correspondent bank to the reporting bank's 
executive officers or principal shareholders, or the related 
interests of such persons.]
    [(H) (G) For the purpose of this paragraph--
          [(i) the term ``bank'' includes a mutual savings 
        bank, a savings bank, and a savings association (as 
        those terms are defined in section 3 of the Federal 
        Deposit Insurance Act);
          (ii) the term ``related interests of such persons'' 
        includes any company controlled by such executive 
        officer, director, or person, or nay political or 
        campaign committee the funds or services of which will 
        benefit such executive officer, director, or person or 
        which is controlled by such executive officer, 
        director, or person; and
          (iii) the terms ``control of a company'' and 
        ``company'' have the same meaning as under section 
        22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 375b).
    [(I)] (H) Notice under this section after separation from 
service.--The resignation, termination of employment or 
participation, or separation of an institution-affiliated party 
(within the meaning of section 3(u) of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act) with respect to such a bank (including a 
separation caused by the closing of such a bank) shall not 
affect the jurisdiction and authority of the appropriate 
Federal banking agency to issue any notice and proceed under 
this section against any such party, if such notice is served 
before the end of the 6-year period beginning on the date such 
party ceased to be such a party with respect to such bank 
(whether such date occurs before, on, or after the date of the 
enactment of this subparagraph).
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

           SECTION 1115 OF THE RIGHT TO FINANCIAL PRIVACY ACT

                           cost reimbursement

    Sec. 1115. (a) Except for records obtained pursuant to 
section 1103(d) or 1113 (a) through (h), or as otherwise 
provided by law, a Government authority shall pay to the 
financial institution assembling or providing financial records 
pertaining to a customer (including corporate customers) and in 
accordance with procedures established by this title a fee for 
reimbursement for such costs as are reasonably necessary and 
which have been directly incurred in searching for, 
reproducing, or transporting books, papers, records, or other 
data required or requested to be produced. The Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall, by regulation, 
establish the rates and conditions under which such payment may 
be made.
    (b) This section shall take effect on October 1, 1979.
                              ----------                              

               CHAPTER 53 OF TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE

                   CHAPTER 53--MONETARY TRANSACTIONS
     * * * * * * *

 SUBCHAPTER II--RECORDS AND REPORTS ON MONETARY INSTRUMENTS TRANSACTIONS

5311.  Declaration of purpose.
     * * * * * * *
[5327.  Identification of financial institutions.]
5327.  Identification of foreign nonbank financial institutions.
     * * * * * * *
Sec. 5327. Identification of foreign nonbank financial institutions

  (a) Regulations Required.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
shall prescribe regulations requiring each depository 
institution to identify any customer (of the depository 
institution) which--
          [(1) is a financial institution described in--
                  [(A) any subparagraph of section 5312(a)(2) 
                other than subparagraphs (A) through (G); or
                  [(B) any regulation under any such 
                subparagraph; and]
          (1) is a financial institution (other than a foreign 
        bank (as defined in section 101(b) of the International 
        Banking Act of 1978)) which is a foreign person; and
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

    SECTION 905 OF THE INTERNATIONAL LENDING SUPERVISION ACT OF 1983

                                reserves

  Sec. 905. (a)(1) Each appropriate Federal banking agency 
[shall] may require a banking institution to establish and 
maintain a special reserve whenever, in the judgment of such 
appropriate Federal banking agency--
          (A) the quality of such banking institution's assets 
        has been impaired by a protracted inability of public 
        or private borrowers in a foreign country to make 
        payments on their external indebtedness as indicated by 
        such factors, among others, as--
                  (i) a failure by such public or private 
                borrowers to make full interest payments on 
                external indebtedness;
                  (ii) a failure to comply with the terms of 
                any restructured indebtedness; or
                  (iii) a failure by the foreign country to 
                comply with any International Monetary Fund or 
                other suitable adjustment program; or
          (B) no definite prospects exist for the orderly 
        restoration of debt service.
          * * * * * * *
  (b) The appropriate Federal banking agencies [shall] may 
analyze the results of foreign loan rescheduling negotiations, 
assess the loan loss risk reflected in rescheduling agreements, 
and, using the powers set forth in section 908 (regarding 
capital adequacy), ensure that the capital and reserve 
positions of United States banks are adequate to accommodate 
potential losses on their foreign loans.
          * * * * * * *

           SECTION 7 OF THE INTERNATIONAL BANKING ACT OF 1978

                  authority of federal reserve system

  Sec. 7. (a) * * *
          * * * * * * *
  (c)
          (1) Examination of branches, agencies, and 
        affiliates.--
                  (A) In general.--The Board may examine each 
                branch or agency of a foreign bank, each 
                commercial lending company or bank controlled 
                by 1 or more foreign banks or 1 or more foreign 
                companies that control a foreign bank, and 
                other office or affiliate of a foreign bank 
                conducting business in any State.
                  (B) Coordination of examinations.--
                          (i) In general.--The Board shall 
                        coordinate examinations under this 
                        paragraph with the Comptroller of the 
                        Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance 
                        Corporation, and appropriate State bank 
                        supervisors to the extent such 
                        coordination is possible.
                          (ii) Simultaneous examinations.--The 
                        Board may request simultaneous 
                        examinations of each office of a 
                        foreign bank and each affiliate of such 
                        bank operating in the United States.
                          (iii) Avoidance of duplication.--In 
                        exercising its authority under this 
                        paragraph, the Board shall take all 
                        reasonable measures to reduce burden 
                        and avoid unnecessary duplication of 
                        examinations.
                  [(C) Annual on-site examination.--Each branch 
                or agency of a foreign bank shall be examined 
                at least once during each 12-month period 
                (beginning on the date the most recent 
                examination of such branch or agency ended) in 
                an on-site examination.
                  [(D) Cost of examinations.--The cost of any 
                examination under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                assessed against and collected from the foreign 
                bank or the foreign company that controls the 
                foreign bank, as the case may be.]
                  (C) On-site examination.--Each Federal branch 
                or agency, and each State branch or agency, of 
                a foreign bank shall be subject to on-site 
                examination by a Federal banking agency or 
                State bank supervisor as frequently as would a 
                national bank or State bank, respectively, by 
                its appropriate Federal banking agency.
                  (D) Cost of examinations.--The cost of any 
                examination undertaken pursuant to subparagraph 
                (A) shall be assessed against and collected 
                from the foreign bank or the foreign company 
                that controls the foreign bank, as the case may 
                be, but only to the same extent that fees are 
                collected by the Board for examination of any 
                State member insured bank.
  (d) Establishment of Foreign Bank Offices in the United 
States.--
          (1) Prior approval required.--No foreign bank may 
        establish a branch or an agency, or acquire ownership 
        or control of a commercial lending company, without the 
        prior approval of the Board.
          (2) Required standards for approval.--[The] Except as 
        provided in paragraph (6), the Board may not approve an 
        application under paragraph (1) unless it determines 
        that--
                  (A) the foreign bank engages directly in the 
                business of banking outside of the United 
                States and is subject to comprehensive 
                supervision or regulation on a consolidated 
                basis by the appropriate authorities in its 
                home country; and
                  (B) the foreign bank has furnished to the 
                Board the information it needs to adequately 
                assess the application.
          * * * * * * *
          (5) Establishment of conditions.--[Consistent with 
        the standards for approval in paragraph (2), the] The 
        Board may impose such conditions on its approval under 
        this subsection as it deems necessary.
          (6) Exception.--
                  (A) In general.--If the Board is unable to 
                find under paragraph (2) that a foreign bank is 
                subject to comprehensive supervision or 
                regulation on a consolidated basis by the 
                appropriate authorities in its home country, 
                the Board may nevertheless approve an 
                application under paragraph (1) by such foreign 
                bank if--
                          (i) the appropriate authorities in 
                        the home country of such foreign bank 
                        are working to establish arrangements 
                        for the consolidated supervision of 
                        such bank; and
                          (ii) all other factors are consistent 
                        with approval.
                  (B) Additional conditions.--The Board, after 
                requesting and considering the views of the 
                appropriate State bank supervisor or the 
                Comptroller of the Currency, as the case may 
                be, may impose such conditions or restrictions 
                relating to activities or business operations 
                of the proposed branch, agency, or commercial 
                lending company subsidiary, including 
                restrictions on sources of funding, as are 
                considered appropriate in the public interest.
                  (C) Modification of conditions.--Any 
                condition or restriction imposed by the Board 
                under this subsection in connection with the 
                approval of an application may be varied or 
                withdrawn where such modification is consistent 
                with the public interest.
          (7) Time period for board action.--
                  (A) Final action.--The Board shall take final 
                action on any application under paragraph (1) 
                within 180 days of receipt of the application, 
                except that the Board may extend for 180 days 
                the period within which to take final action on 
                such application, after providing notice of, 
                and the reasons for, the extension to the 
                applicant foreign bank and any appropriate 
                State bank supervisor or the Comptroller of the 
                Currency, as the case may be.
                  (B) Failure to submit information.--The Board 
                may deny any application if it has not received 
                information requested from the applicant 
                foreign bank or appropriate authorities in the 
                home country in sufficient time to permit the 
                Board to evaluate such information adequately 
                within the time periods for final action set 
                forth in subparagraph (A).
                  (C) Waiver.--A foreign bank may waive the 
                applicability of subparagraph (A) with respect 
                to any such application.
  (e) Termination of Foreign Bank Offices in the United 
States.--
          (1) Standards for termination.--The Board, after 
        notice and opportunity for hearing and notice to any 
        appropriate State bank supervisor or the Comptroller of 
        the Currency, may order a foreign bank that operates a 
        State branch or agency or commercial lending company 
        subsidiary or a Federal branch or agency in the United 
        States to terminate the activities of such branch, 
        agency, or subsidiary if the Board finds that--
                  (A)(i) the foreign bank is not subject to 
                comprehensive supervision or regulation on a 
                consolidated basis by the appropriate 
                authorities in its home country; [or] and
                  (ii) the appropriate authorities in the home 
                country are not making progress in establishing 
                arrangements for the comprehensive supervision 
                or regulation of such foreign bank on a 
                consolidated basis; or
                  (B)(i) there is reasonable cause to believe 
                that such foreign bank, or any affiliate of 
                such foreign bank, has committed a violation of 
                law or engaged in an unsafe or unsound banking 
                practice in the United States; and
                  (ii) as a result of such violation or 
                practice, the continued operation of the 
                foreign bank's branch, agency or commercial 
                lending company subsidiary in the United States 
                would not be consistent with the public 
                interest or with the purposes of this Act, the 
                Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, or the 
                Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
        However, in making findings under this paragraph, the 
        Board shall not make size the sole determinant factor, 
        and may take into account the needs of the community as 
        well as the length of operation of the foreign bank and 
        its relative size in its home country. Nothing in this 
        paragraph shall affect the ability of the Board to 
        order a State branch, agency, or commercial lending 
        company subsidiary or a Federal branch or agency to 
        terminate its activities in the United States pursuant 
        to any standard set forth in this Act.
          * * * * * * *
          [(5) Recommendation to agency for termination of a 
        federal branch or agency.--The Board may transmit to 
        the Comptroller of the Currency a recommendation that 
        the license of any Federal branch or Federal agency of 
        a foreign bank be terminated in accordance with section 
        4(i) if the Board has reasonable cause to believe that 
        such foreign bank or any affiliate of such foreign bank 
        has engaged in conduct for which the activities of any 
        State branch or agency may be terminated under 
        paragraph (1).]
          [(6)] (5) Enforcement of orders.--
                  (A) In general.--In the case of contumacy of 
                any office or subsidiary of the foreign bank 
                against which--
                          (i) the Board has issued an order 
                        under paragraph (1); or
                          (ii) the Comptroller of the Currency 
                        has issued an order under section 4(i),
                or a refusal by such office or subsidiary to 
                comply with such order, the Board or the 
                Comptroller of the Currency may invoke the aid 
                of the district court of the United States 
                within the jurisdiction of which the office or 
                subsidiary is located.
                  (B) Court order.--Any court referred to in 
                subparagraph (A) may issue an order requiring 
                compliance with an order referred to in 
                subparagraph (A).
          [(7)] (6) Criteria relating to foreign supervision.--
        Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
        this subsection, the Board, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of the Treasury, shall develop and publish 
        criteria to be used in evaluating the operation of any 
        foreign bank in the United States that the Board has 
        determined is not subject to comprehensive supervision 
        or regulation on a consolidated basis. In developing 
        such criteria, the Board shall allow reasonable 
        opportunity for public review and comment.
          * * * * * * *
                              ----------                              

              SECTION 1306 OF TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE

Sec. 1306. Participation by financial institutions

  Whoever knowingly violates section [5136A] 5136C of the 
Revised Statutes of the United States, section 9A of the 
Federal Reserve Act, or section 20 of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not 
more than one year, or both.
                              ----------                              

                      BANK SERVICE CORPORATION ACT

                      short title and definitions

  Section 1. [(a) This Act may be cited as the ``Bank Service 
Corporation Act''.]
  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Bank Service 
Company Act''.
  (b) For the purpose of this Act--
  (1) the term ``appropriate Federal banking agency'' shall 
have the meaning provided in section 3(q) of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(q));
  [(2) the term ``bank service corporation'' means a 
corporation organized to perform services authorized by this 
Act, all of the capital stock of which is owned by one or more 
insured banks;]
  (2) the term ``bank service company'' means--
          (A) any corporation--
                  (i) which is organized to perform services 
                authorized by this Act; and
                  (ii) all of the capital stock of which is 
                owned by 1 or more insured banks; and
          (B) any limited liability company--
                  (i) which is organized to perform services 
                authorized by this Act; and
                  (ii) all of the members of which are 1 or 
                more insured banks.
          * * * * * * *
  (6) the term ``invest'' includes any advance of funds to a 
bank service [corporation] company, whether by the purchase of 
stock, the making of a loan, or otherwise, except a payment for 
rent earned, goods sold and delivered, or services rendered 
prior to the making of such payment; [and]
  (7) the term ``limited liability company'' means any company 
organized under the law of a State (as defined in section 3 of 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) which provides that a member 
or manager of such company is not personally liable for a debt, 
obligation, or liability of the company solely by reason of 
being, or acting as, a member or manager of such company; and
  [(7)] (8) the term ``principal investor'' means the insured 
bank that has the largest dollar amount invested in the 
[capital stock] equity of a bank service [corporation] company. 
In any case where two or more insured banks have equal dollar 
amounts invested in a bank service [corporation] company, the 
[corporation] company shall, prior to commencing operations, 
select one of the insured banks as its principal investor and 
shall notify the bank's appropriate Federal banking agency of 
that choice within 5 business days of its selection.

       amount of investment in bank service [corporation] company

  Sec. 2. Notwithstanding any limitation or prohibition 
otherwise imposed by any provision of law exclusively relating 
to banks, an insured bank may invest not more than 10 per 
centum of paid-in and unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus 
in a bank service [corporation] company. No insured bank shall 
invest more than 5 per centum of its total assets in bank 
service [corporation] companies.

     permissible bank service [corporation] company activities for 
                        depository institutions

  Sec. 3. Without regard to the provisions of sections 4 and 5 
of this Act, an insured bank may invest in a bank service 
[corporation] company that performs, and a bank service 
[corporation] company may perform, the following services only 
for depository institutions: check and deposit sorting and 
posting, computation and posting of interest and other credits 
and charges, preparation and mailing of checks, statements, 
notices, and similar items, or any other clerical, bookkeeping, 
accounting, statistical, or similar functions performed for a 
depository institution.

  permissible bank service [corporation] company activities for other 
                                persons

  Sec. 4. (a) A bank service [corporation] company may provide 
to any person any service authorized by this section, except 
that a bank service [corporation] company shall not take 
deposits.
  (b) Except with the prior approval of the Board under section 
5(b) of this Act in accordance with subsection (f) of this 
section--
          (1) a bank service [corporation] company shall not 
        perform the services authorized by this section in any 
        State other than that State in which its shareholders 
        or members are located; and
          (2) all insured bank shareholders or members of a 
        bank service [corporation] company shall be located in 
        the same State.
  (c) A bank service [corporation] company in which a State 
bank is a shareholder or member shall perform only those 
services that such State bank shareholder or member is 
authorized to perform under the law of the State in which such 
State bank operates and shall perform such services only at 
locations in the State in which such State bank shareholder or 
member could be authorized to perform such services.
  (d) A bank service [corporation] company in which a national 
bank is a shareholder or member shall perform only those 
services that such national bank shareholder or member is 
authorized to perform under the law of the United States and 
shall perform such services only at locations in the State at 
which such national bank shareholder or member could be 
authorized to perform such services.
  (e) A bank service [corporation] company that has both 
national bank and State bank shareholders or members shall 
perform only those services that may lawfully be performed by 
both [its national bank shareholder or shareholders] any 
shareholder or member of the company which is a national bank 
under the law of the United States and [its State bank 
shareholder or shareholders] any shareholder or member of the 
company which is a State bank under the law of the State in 
which [such State bank or banks] any such State bank operate 
and shall perform such services only at location in the State 
at which both its State bank and national bank shareholders or 
members could be authorized to perform such services.
  (f) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section or 
any other provision of law, other than the provisions of 
Federal and State branching law regulating the geographic 
location of banks to the extent that those laws are applicable 
to an activity authorized by this subsection, a bank service 
[corporation] company may perform at any geographic location 
any service, other than deposit taking company, that the Board 
has determined, by regulation, to be permissible for a bank 
holding company under section 4(c)(8) of the Bank Holding 
Company Act.

prior approval for investments in bank service [corporations] companies

  Sec. 5. (a) No insured bank shall invest in the capital stock 
of a bank service [corporation] company that performs any 
service under authority of subsection (c), (d), or (e) of 
section 4 of this Act without prior notice, as determined by 
the bank's appropriate Federal banking agency.
  (b) No insured bank shall invest in the capital stock of a 
bank service [corporation] company that performs any service 
under authority of section 4(f) of this Act and no bank service 
[corporation] company shall perform any activity under section 
4(f) of this Act without the prior approval of the Board.
  (c) In determining whether to approve or deny any application 
for prior approval or whether to approve or disapprove any 
notice under this section, the Board or the appropriate Federal 
banking agency, as the case may be, is authorized to consider 
the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of 
the bank or banks and bank service [corporation] company 
involved, including the financial capability of the bank to 
make a proposed investment under this Act, and possible adverse 
effects such as undue concentration of resources, unfair or 
decreased competition, conflicts of interest, or unsafe or 
unsound banking practices.
  (d) In the event the Board or the appropriate Federal banking 
agency, as the case may be, fails to act on any application 
under this section within ninety days of the submission of a 
complete application to the agency, the application shall be 
deemed approved.

               services to nonstockholders or nonmembers

  Sec. 6. No bank service [corporation] company shall 
unreasonably discriminate in the provision of any services 
authorized under this Act to any depository institution that 
does not own stock in or is not a member of the service 
[corporation] company on the basis of the fact that [the 
nonstockholding institution] such depository institution is in 
competition with an institution that owns stock in or is a 
member of the bank service [corporation] company, except that--
          (1) it shall not be considered unreasonable 
        discrimination for a bank service [corporation] company 
        to provide services to a nonstockholding or nonmember 
        institution only at a price that fully reflects all of 
        the costs of offering those services, including the 
        cost of capital and a reasonable return thereon; and
          (2) a bank service [corporation] company may refuse 
        to provide services to a nonstockholding or nonmember 
        institution if comparable services are available from 
        another source at competitive overall costs, or if the 
        providing of services would be beyond the practical 
        capacity of the service [corporation] company.

   regulation and examination of bank service [corporation] companies

  Sec. 7. (a) A bank service [corporation] company shall be 
subject to examination and regulation by the appropriate 
Federal banking agency of its principal investor to the same 
extent as its principal investor. The appropriate Federal 
banking agency of the principal shareholder or principal member 
of such a bank service [corporation] company may authorize any 
other Federal banking agency that supervises any other 
shareholder or member of the bank service [corporation] company 
to make such an examination.
  (b) A bank service [corporation] company shall be subject to 
the provisions of section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Act (12 U.S.C. 1818) as if the bank service [corporation] 
company were an insured bank. For this purpose, the appropriate 
Federal banking agency shall be the appropriate Federal banking 
agency of the principal investor of the bank service 
[corporation] company.
          * * * * * * *
                      MINORITY VIEWS TO H.R. 1858

    The Democratic and Independent Members of the Committee on 
Banking and Financial Services voted unanimously to oppose the 
Financial Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995. We oppose 
this ill-conceived bill because it poses a danger to the safety 
and soundness of the nation's banking industry, eviscerates 
well proven community development law, and seriously 
compromises many consumer safeguards.
    H.R. 1362 (the precursor of H.R. 1858) as introduced, was a 
grab bag and was overreaching in responding to special 
interests and lobbyists. This bill follows a new trend of 
legislating by anecdote, not fact, as the Committee received no 
documentation of costs supposedly borne by banks because of 
their community or consumer obligations imposed by law. In 
fact, many of the provisions in the bill were rejected in the 
last Congress because they were unjustified, they gutted 
consumer protection laws and they compromised the safe and 
sound operation of our banks. Nonetheless, the bill, H.R. 1362, 
actually was made even worse during the Subcommittee markup by 
Republican amendments. As a result of these amendments, 
important civil rights laws were hobbled; community development 
laws were further eroded; and directors and officers who in the 
past pillaged their institutions would be sheltered in the 
future from liability.
    Because these amendments were so damaging, to the point of 
embarrassing our colleagues, a number were either pared back or 
dropped altogether in the full Committee deliberations. Far 
from ``accommodating'' the concerns of the minority, as 
suggested by the Chairman, these amendments and other 
provisions in the bill were voted down because they are simply 
bad policy. Although the full Committee markup improved the 
bill in several areas, the community reinvestment provisions 
were made dramatically worse--so much so that there remains no 
enforcement mechanism for the gutted CRA law.
    As a result, the bill has justly earned the distinction of 
becoming a veto target. In fact, following the Committee's 
action, Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin wrote to inform 
Chairman Leach that he would recommend that the President veto 
the bill in its current form.
    We, Democratic and Independent Members, fully, support 
reasonable efforts to streamline government regulations, but 
cannot support this extreme and radical legislation. As the 
Vento substitute illustrates, it is possible to achieve more 
efficient regulation without putting communities, consumers and 
the deposit insurance funds at risk.
     i. erosion of banks' and thrifts' commitment to serving their 
                              communities

A. Gutting of CRA

    We are extremely disappointed and alarmed by the 
Committee's action in systematically dismantling the Community 
Reinvestment Act (``CRA''). Because of a series of Republican 
amendments, CRA, a law that has been responsible for the flow 
of more than $30 billion (and by some estimates over $60 
billion) to urban and rural communities across the country has 
been crippled. CRA, a law that simply requires banks and 
thrifts to make credit available to the communities they are 
chartered to serve, has been unjustly demonized by the 
Republicans on the Committee. One of our Republican colleagues 
went so far as to refer to CRA as ``a bunch of crap.'' This 
attitude and the actions of the Republicans demonstrate a 
complete insensitivity to or lack of understanding of the 
inability of low and moderate income Americans to obtain credit 
in our society.
    CRA has been a law that has made credit accessible for 
hundreds of thousands of low- and moderate-income Americans. 
CRA is not a civil rights law nor an affirmative action 
measure, but rather, a law that requires institutions chartered 
and insured by the federal government to lend within all the 
communities they are chartered to serve. And, CRA expressly 
states that serving the credit needs of local communities is to 
be consistent with the safe and sound operations of 
institutions.
    In fact, CRA has not been found to jeopardize the safety 
and soundness of institutions, nor the underlying backstop of 
federal deposit insurance. Federal Reserve Board Governor 
Lawrence Lindsey, in a response to Representative Frank, 
referred to a few of the studies analyzing CRA loan 
performance. Regarding one such study by the Woodstock 
institute in 1993, Governor Lindsey wrote: ``the combined 
delinquency and foreclosure rates for multifamily housing loans 
in low- and moderate-income areas were slightly superior to 
those gleaned from national samples reflecting loans in all 
income area.'' Governor Lindsey also asserted that anecdotal 
information has shown that ``loans to low- and moderate-income 
people perform with respect to repayment as well as, and in 
some cases better than, loans to others. Furthermore, I have 
heard of no cases in which a bank's portfolio contained such a 
large number of such loans that even if a significant number of 
the borrowers defaulted, it would put the bank in a seriously 
adverse safety and soundness position.''
    President Clinton and the banking regulators are to be 
lauded for their two year efforts to reform CRA regulations. 
They have produced regulations which emphasize performance over 
paperwork. Banks and thrifts will be judged by the loans, 
investments, and services they provide to their communities--
not by the quality of their documentation. Small banks would 
receive streamlined examinations and will have no reporting 
requirements under CRA. Yet, despite being hailed by both the 
banking industry and community groups, these regulations will 
not even have the opportunity to go into effect if this bill 
ever becomes law.
    Because of the Republican actions in Committee, 
institutions with $100 million or less in assets will be exempt 
from CRA coverage altogether. Institutions with $250 million or 
less in assets will be able to ``self certify'' their 
compliance with the law. These two provisions would effectively 
exempt close to 90% percent of banks and thrifts from CRA 
coverage. Furthermore, institutions with CRA ratings of 
satisfactory or above--95% of the industry--will be deemed to 
have satisfied their CRA obligations until their next 
examination. And, the most egregious vote by the Republicans 
was to eliminate the sole enforcement mechanism in CRA--the 
obligation of the regulators to take into account an 
institution's record of meeting its community credit needs when 
considering an institution's application to branch, acquire, or 
merge with another bank or thrift.
    The Republicans have effectively reduced CRA to a hollow 
hope; a shadow of its former self. They have hobbled a law that 
has successfully channeled billions of dollars to urban and 
rural communities. At a time when public funds for such 
communities are getting scarcer, private dollars are essential 
to the economic vitality of these neighborhoods.
    The Republican attack on the Community Reinvestment Act is 
one of the major reasons cited by Secretary Rubin in a letter 
to Chairman Leach advising that he would recommend to the 
President that this regulatory bill be vetoed in its current 
form.

 B. Exemption of over 3,000 institutions from HMDA

    By increasing the statutory exemption from the Home 
Mortgage Disclosure Act (``HMDA'') for institutions with $10 
million in assets or less, to those with $50 million in assets 
or less, section 116 will exempt more than 3,000 additional 
lenders from the law's coverage. Although purported to adjust 
the exemption for inflation, this provision more than doubles 
the actual CPI adjusted dollar figure from 1975. Furthermore, 
it is unclear how many more institutions (with over $50 million 
in assets) will be exempt from HMDA under the new grant of 
discretion to the Federal Reserve Board. The bill permits the 
Board to exempt any other lender from complying with HMDA 
because the law is too burdensome. There is simply no 
justification for granting this exemptive authority to the 
Board which will create a gaping loophole in the law.
    HMDA imposes no more obligation on financial institutions 
than to report their loan data. But this data has proven to be 
critical in revealing discrepancies between lending to 
minorities and non-minority applicants. HMDA has put both 
lenders and the public on notice about the fairness of 
individual institutions' lending practices.
    Disclosures under HMDA are important for purposes of 
monitoring an institution's service to its community and its 
compliance with the fair lending laws. While HMDA data alone is 
not determinative of a fair lending violation, it is an 
essential investigative tool. Because of the utility of HMDA, 
both Secretary Cisneros and Acting Assistant Attorney General 
Kent Markus have written letters to Committee members strongly 
condemning this roll back of HMDA by the Committee.

C. Restoration of fair lending laws

    We were successful in striking provisions adopted by the 
Subcommittee that seriously undermined our civil rights laws. 
The Subcommittee passed an amendment that would have stripped 
the Attorney General of the authority to initiate cases 
charging a ``pattern or practice'' of discrimination under the 
Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. In a 
letter to Chairman Leach, Attorney General Reno wrote that to 
prohibit the Department of Justice from challenging pattern or 
practice cases would be ``unthinkable.'' Furthermore, the 
amendment would have disallowed the use of disparate impact 
theory in fair lending cases.
    Yet, one of our Republican colleagues exhorted the 
Committee to ``rein in the whole idea of the blackmail 
opportunities that are here today when these suits are being 
brought on disparate impact, and courts of appeals are divided 
on this issue, and let's not go along with this kind of funny 
business anymore . . .''. We are offended that lawsuits to 
vindicate the rights of individuals who have been mistreated by 
financial institutions are equated with ``blackmail'' and 
``funny business.''
    Moreover, amendments to the Fair Housing Act are well 
outside of the Committee's jurisdiction and expertise. The far 
reaching amendment would have impeded lawsuits beyond the 
lending context and extended to such areas as realtor and 
rental practices, and housing discrimination against families 
with children. All this, without even one hearing on the topic.
    Fortunately, the Committee recognized the potential and 
far-reaching damage that would have been done by these 
provisions and struck them from the bill.
                ii. a retreat from safety and soundness

    We also oppose this bill because it weakens measures 
designed to ensure the safe and sound operation of federally 
insured institutions. Without critical safeguards, the 
taxpayers stand to lose a lot. The recent savings and loan 
crisis should serve as a grave reminder of the dangers of 
irresponsible deregulation of an industry. We cannot support a 
bill that poses increased risk of loss to the deposit insurance 
funds and the taxpayers who guarantee that fund.

A. BCCI redux

    The Republican majority on the Committee struck a positive 
amendment to section 223 by Congressman Kanjorski adopted at 
the Subcommittee. The Kanjorski amendment provided important 
safeguards necessary to help prevent another BCCI scandal. The 
provisions would have (1) required that boards of directors be 
comprised of a majority of outside directors; (2) prohibited 
lawyers and accountants who provide professional advice to the 
board of financial institutions over $250 million in size from 
serving on those boards of directors; and (3) required certain 
ownership disclosures to boards of directors. Those provisions 
are crucial to ensuring that a board of directors serve as an 
independent overseer of the financial institution. The 
independence of a board is best insured when a majority of the 
directors are outside directors. Furthermore, prohibiting such 
outside counsel and accountants from serving on the board would 
prevent a clear conflict of interest from arising, as in the 
case of BCCI.

B. The wrong signal on insider lending

    The amendments to current law contained in section 225 
would effectively encourage the risky and unsafe practice of 
self-serving insider lending. A major cause of the failure of 
banks and thrifts over the past decade was their penchant for 
making exorbitant and risky loans to their own officers and 
directors. This unsafe practice was properly restricted in 
recent years. The Republican majority now seeks to seriously 
weaken those restrictions and the ability of the banking 
regulators to monitor and detect that conduct. This section 
contains major exceptions to the prohibition on insider lending 
and eliminates bank reports on such loans.

C. The chilling of Government investigations

    Section 227, requiring the government to reimburse a 
financial institution for providing financial records on 
corporate customers pursuant to a government request, would 
have a chilling effect on major investigations and cost the 
taxpayers approximately thirty million dollars in the first 
year alone. In opposing this provision, the Justice Department 
has stated that: ``Financial information about corporations is 
a critical component of some of the Government's most important 
investigations. For example, such information is often 
indispensable in defense procurement fraud and money laundering 
cases. . . . investigators and prosecutors with whom we spoke 
indicated that requiring reimbursement for corporate record 
requests could have chilling impact on investigations, 
particularly in a time of declining government resources.''

D. Audit committees compromised

    Section 233 of the bill repeals important bank audit 
requirements legislated in response to the egregious abuses of 
the thrift crisis. These requirements sought to ensure that 
insured depository institutions be subject to independent, 
objective and public financial audit procedures in a manner 
consistent with their fiduciary responsibilities and the safety 
and soundness of the banking system.
    The bill would eviscerate nearly all of these requirements 
for well over 90% of the nation's banking institutions. For 
example, it repeals the requirement that the banks' boards of 
directors establish audit committees composed entirely of 
independent, outside directors. Thus, all but fewer than 10% of 
U.S. banks would be able to either abolish their audit 
committee altogether or appoint all insiders to the audit 
committee. Service of insiders on the audit committee presents 
a clear conflict of interest since those who manage the 
institution can hardly be expected to objectively audit or 
criticize its operations. Such an exception from the audit 
committee requirement, for instutitions which enjoy the 
benefits of federal deposit insurance, is a standard far below 
that for nearly all privately-owned, publicly-traded American 
corporations. And to make matters worse, this exception is 
absolute--banking regulators are given no discretion to require 
that even one member of the audit committee be an independent, 
outside director.
    The bill also eliminates statutory requirements that a 
bank's independent accountants attest to the bank's compliance 
with safety and soundness laws. It also repeals the requirement 
that accountants report on, and attest to, the effectiveness of 
a bank's internal control polices and procedures, which are key 
to the institution's risk management and financial soundness. 
These attestation requirements are critical in maintaining the 
accountants' objectivity and providing essential information 
about the bank's condition. The bill would also permit banking 
regulators to designate certain aspects of the bank's audited 
financial reports as confidential and unavailable to the 
public. This patently undermines the fundamental principle of 
public accountability for federally insured banks and opens the 
door to concealment of basic financial information that all 
investors, depositors and taxpayers have the right to know.
E. Outside directors--Hear no evil, see no evil

    Section 234 would exclude outside directors from the 
definition of ``institution affiliated party'' for purposes of 
various enforcement actions. They should thus be subject to an 
enforcement action only if an agency could prove that the 
outside director ``knowingly'' or ``recklessly'' participated 
in a violation of law or regulation. Currently, outside 
directors are subject to the same negligence standard as 
applies to other directors.
    This amendment would harm corporate governance and create 
perverse incentives for outside directors to avoid learning 
about, or following up on, facts that could give raise to 
liability. As the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has 
stated in correspondence on the provision: ``All directors of 
insured depository institutions, regardless of whether they are 
inside or outside directors, have a duty to set policies for 
their institutions and see that those policies are implemented 
and adhered to while meeting its community's needs on a safe 
and sound basis. Losses an insured depository institution can 
sustain as a result of negligent oversight are not determined 
by whether the negligent director is an insider or an outsider. 
The experience of the FDIC has shown that both inside and 
outside directors can engage in negligent conduct as well as 
abusive self-dealing transactions. We believe good corporate 
governance and effective regulatory oversight require that all 
directors know that they will be held responsible for 
fulfilling their duties to properly manage their institution. 
Put differently, telling outside directors that they can be 
negligent with impunity is definitely the wrong message.''
    These are only the most egregious examples of how this 
legislation would in many ways place our nation's insured 
depository institutions on unsafe and unsound footing, and 
thereby increase the risk that the taxpayers will once again be 
asked to pay for the excesses of an unregulated financial 
institutions industries. Fortunately, a very dangerous and 
costly section of the bill added by the Republicans at the 
Subcommittee was deleted at the full Committee by other 
Republicans who painfully recognized the harm it would cause. 
The provision would have established new rules governing the 
legal liability and standard of conduct for directors and 
officers of insured depository institutions. Those directors 
and officers of insured depository institutions. Those rules 
were roundly opposed by the banking regulators as irresponsibly 
absolving directors and officers of any real duty to safely and 
soundly oversee an insured depository institution.

                   III. The consumer is the Big Loser

A. The Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act is substantially 
        weakened

    The bill effectively eliminates the important consumer 
protection of the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act 
passed just last year, by limiting the Act's coverage to second 
mortgages. The Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act, which 
has not even been implemented, requires additional disclosures 
in the case of mortgages with interest rates more than 10 
points above comparable Treasury securities or mortgages with 
fees that are more than the greater of 8 points or $400. The 
Act also prohibits certain particularly abusive terms in 
connection with these high cost mortgages, such as negative 
amortization, prepayment penalties and balloon payments within 
5 years.
    The law was enacted with bipartisan support and addresses 
unscrupulous lending practices. Congressional hearings 
documented abusive tactics employed by certain lenders whereby 
these lenders would target poor people with equity in their 
homes, oftentimes with credit problems, for home equity loans. 
The loans would be made for purposes of debt consolidation or 
home improvements, improvements which the homeowners were often 
convinced to undertake by the lender. Testimony from numerous 
sources, including the National Housing Law Project and AARP, 
indicated that, in the vast majority of cases lenders target 
homeowners who either own their homes outright or have very 
small payments remaining on their mortgages. Where mortgages do 
remain, the new lender pays off any existing balance in order 
to obtain the first lien. This is done both to ensure that the 
new lender gets the priority lien and because federal law 
prohibits interest rate regulation on first mortgages thus 
allowing the high rates to be charged.
    Multiple fees are usually folded into the loan amounts, 
often without the knowledge of the borrower. In many cases, 
because of these fees, the proceeds to the homeowner amount to 
as little as one third of the loan amount. As a result, 
homeowners with fixed incomes are saddled with monthly payments 
they cannot afford, and inevitably their homes are subject to 
foreclosure.
    The Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act does not 
affect a single legitimate lender, as indicated by industry 
testimony during the last Congress in support of the 
legislation. This year, in testimony before the Subcommittee, 
Federal Reserve Board Governor Susan Phillips stated, ``It is 
not immediately apparent why this revision is being proposed, 
however, given the clear anecdotal and other evidence presented 
to Congress at the time the law was enacted--which showed that 
the abuses and problems associated with high-cost loans 
occurred primarily in connection with first-lien 
refinancings.''
    We join the Federal Reserve Board in questioning the reason 
for gutting this Act. It appears to us to be no more than 
pandering to special interests at the expense of unsuspecting 
consumers.

B. Truth in Savings Act protections are diminished
    The bill repeals important provisions of the Truth in 
Savings Act (``TISA''), which protect bank customers from 
misleading, deceptive or incomplete disclosures and advertising 
relating to their federally insured deposits. As introduced, 
H.R. 1362 would have repealed nearly the entire Act, which 
became effective only in 1993, but improvements were made 
during the Subcommittee and full Committee markups. Because of 
a Democrat-initiated amendment, significant consumer 
protections concerning mandatory disclosure of the rates, fees 
and terms of deposit accounts and any change in those items, 
was restored. Under the bill, however, TISA's requirement that 
banks use a uniform method of calculating and disclosing 
account yields--the annual percentage yield--would be repealed. 
Without such uniform disclosures, consumers cannot make 
informed comparisons about banks and bank products.
    Additionally, the bull strips TISA of its civil liability 
provisions. Therefore, if a consumer is misled about the terms 
of an account, or even if the bank fails to give the consumer 
the proper interest rate, the consumer is left without recourse 
against the bank under the Act. Only administrative remedies 
remain. Administrative remedies alone are insufficient to 
enforce the Act's provisions and vindicate an individual 
customer's rights.

C. Consumer privacy breached by information sharing among affiliates

    We strongly disagree with the manner in which the bill 
permits affiliates and subsidiaries of depository institutions 
to share confidential and sensitive financial information on 
their customers. Section 142 completely overrides the statutory 
protections of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (``FCRA'') without 
putting in place any mechanism whereby consumers can ensure the 
accuracy of the information that is being shared among 
affiliated companies.
    Should H.R. 1062, the Financial Services Modernization Act, 
be enacted, the scope of this provision will be far reaching. 
Depository institutions will be permitted to freely share 
sensitive customer information with their affiliated securities 
firms, and in some instances, commercial entities and insurance 
companies. Under section 142, depository institutions could 
establish affiliated credit bureaus with files on millions of 
customers to service these companies free of any regulation.
    While permitting affiliated companies to share credit 
information on their customers may be a desired goal, it should 
be accomplished in the context of reforming the FCRA. This was 
the approach taken by the Committee in the last Congress. Last 
year, the Committee, and the full House voted to allow such 
sharing of information among affiliated companies, without 
limiting it to depository institutions and their affiliates. In 
so doing, the Committee also passed important consumer 
safeguards and strengthened the FCRA. It is time for the 
Committee to once again demonstrate its resolve to aid 
consumers by considering and passing much needed reforms to the 
FCRA.

D. The bill cedes too much authority to the Federal Reserve Board to 
        reduce TILA's coverage

    Section 103 of the bill provides the Federal Reserve Board 
with broad authority to run literally roughshod over the Truth 
in Lending Act (``TILA''). This section automatically excludes 
from the law's coverage any transaction that the Board 
determines by regulation is not needed to carry out the 
purposes of the Act. The bill further directs the Board to 
exclude from TILA's coverage any class of transaction that the 
Board determines does not provide a ``measurable benefit to 
consumers''. Far from providing the Board with appropriate 
regulatory flexibility to interpret the Act, this section 
amounts to an extraordinary grant of legislative authority to a 
regulator which could serve to undermine the purposes of the 
Act.

E. RESPA is balkanized

    Amendments made at the Subcommittee and full Committee have 
mangled the enforcement of the Real Estate Settlement 
Procedures Act (RESPA). These proposed changes could render 
this law, which was designed to protect consumers during 
settlement procedures for a home purchase, useless as a result 
of the regulatory confusion. The Republican bill will transfer 
responsibility for all of RESPA from the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development (HUD) to the Federal Reserve except for 
Sections 8, 9 and 12. The enforcement aspects of these sections 
will be balkanized because enforcement will be divided among 
the financial institutions' regulators and HUD.
    The amendments to RESPA would also mandate HUD to use 
negotiated rulemaking--even on the somewhat contentious rules 
that are soon to be completed by the Department after over two 
years of work by this Administration's HUD alone. Requiring HUD 
to conduct negotiated rulemaking, particularly where affected 
industries will never agree, will prolong the rulemaking 
process indefinitely and will only further delay the resolution 
of issues such as Computerized Loan Originations (CLOs) and 
Controlled Business Arrangements (CBAs).
    Finally, despite being labeled as mere changes to the 
``purposes'' section of RESPA, the amendments will make 
substantive revisions to RESPA by directing HUD how to 
specifically regulate settlement services prices or 
compensation agreements. Numerous Congressional hearings have 
highlighted egregious practices utilized by some in the 
mortgage settlement industries. Significant changes were made 
in this bill to RESPA, without consideration of the 
ramifications for consumers.
IV. Bank Insurance Powers--Why Are We Rolling Back Insurance Powers in 
                          a Deregulation Bill?

    A number of us are troubled by the inclusion of a provision 
in a regulatory relief bill that addresses bank insurance 
powers. We recognize that the approach adopted by the 
Republicans was an attempt to balance the competing demands of 
the banking and insurance industries and was done so at the 
direction of the Republican leadership. However, this is an 
issue most appropriately addressed in legislation amending the 
Glass Steagall Act. We must admonish our Republican colleagues 
that any attempts to join this regulatory relief bill with the 
Financial Services Modernization Act of 1995, H.R. 1062, will 
severely erode any possible bipartisan support that H.R. 1062 
might enjoy and will diminish prospects for its v passage.

      V. We Stand for Responsible Regulatory and Statutory Reform

    Responding to the need for real regulatory relief, the 
Committee Democrats crafted a comprehensive substitute bill 
with provisions that would reduce regulatory burden without 
sacrificing communities, consumers, or the taxpayer.
    The Vento substitute would modernize and streamline 
numerous banking laws and regulations. This regulatory burden 
relief proposal will provide for a simplified and improved Real 
Estate Settlement Practices Act (``RESPA'') and Truth in 
Lending Act (``TILA''). It also simplifies the TILA disclosures 
for Adjustable Rate Mortages (``ARMs''). Other provisions 
clarify confusing disclosures to applicants relating to 
assignment, sale, or transfer of loan services under RESPA.
    The Democratic proposal streamlines the Truth in Savings 
Act (``TISA'') without compromising its effectiveness. The 
Vento substitute modifies the civil liability provision to 
exclude its application to advertisements, and would further 
require the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) to determine and report 
to Congress within six months which accounts (if any) are not 
appropriately served by the calculation of interest under the 
Annual Percentage Yield (APY) formula.
    The Vento substitute allows for a realistic adjustment of 
the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) exception from 
reporting for institutions with assets of $10 million or less 
every five years based on CPI for inflation starting from the 
beginning of calendar year 1990. It also encourages self-
testing by creditors by protecting the results of such self-
testing unless it was conducted at an agency's request, the 
creditor used the results to defend themselves, or the agency 
received evidence of discrimination independently of the self-
testing.
    The substitute includes the comprehensive bipartisan 
provisions providing relief from the ``Rodash'' case that 
destabilize the mortgage banking system, including the 
secondary market for mortgages. Major provisions of the 
proposal include the exclusion of certain third party fees 
imposed by closing agents and intangible taxes from the finance 
charge; the elimination of the right of rescission for 
mortgages that are refinanced with a certain lenders only where 
those loans contain no new cash advances and consolidation of 
other existing debt; the provision for a higher tolerance for 
errors in the calculation of the finance charge equal to \1/16\ 
of 1% of the APR, but in no event less than $25 or more than 
$200; the raising of statutory damages for loans secured by 
homes from $100 to $1,000, to $250 to $2,500; and, the 
provision of retroactive relief for lenders against individual 
claims filed after June 1, 1995 and for class actions certified 
after January 1, 1995 that relate to misdisclosure of third 
party fees, errors exceeding the tolerance in section 108, or 
the use of improper rescission forms.
    The substitute streamlines the Bank Holding Company Act by 
permitting well-capitalized and well-managed BHCs whose banks 
all have received ``satisfactory'' CRA ratings to acquire 
certain other banks without prior approval of the Federal 
Reserve Board, but rather, through a public notice of 30 days. 
It further would permit these BHCs to engage in any nonbanking 
activity (closely related to banking) simply by noticing the 
Board. The bill further streamlines the bank application 
process for branches of banks that are well-capitalized, rated 
a CAMEL 1 and 2, have at least a ``satisfactory'' CRA rating, 
and seek to operate in an area that satisfies all applicable 
geographic limitations with appropriate public notice and 
comment.
    Other streamlining measures would direct the Office of 
Thrift Supervision (OTS) and the Federal Reserve Board to 
coordinate and establish a unified examination procedure for 
dual holding companies and streamline regulatory oversight of 
such companies by requiring the agencies to coordinate and 
unify regulatory requirements imposed on dual holding companies 
consistent.
    Importantly, the Vento substitute expands regulatory 
discretion for examinations from institutions with up to $175 
million to institutions with up to $250 million. It also 
eliminates branch application requirements for automated teller 
machines (ATMs) and remote service units while it removes the 
out-dated per-branch capital standard in 12 U.S.C. Section 
36(h).
    Also included are reductions in overlap in foreign bank 
applications and requirements that the Federal Reserve Board 
should rely on examinations of other Federal and State 
regulators for the examination of foreign banks to the maximum 
extent practicable. The substitute would amend provisions of 
the Depository Institutions Management Interlocks Act (DIMIA) 
to prohibit an outside attorney or accountant of a depository 
institution from serving as a director of the institution with 
limited exceptions, while also requiring that a majority of 
each board be made up of outside directors.
    As part of comprehensive, on-going regulatory review the 
substitute requires the Federal Financial Institutions 
Examination Council (FFIEC) and each respective federal banking 
agency represented on the FFIEC, and the National Credit Union 
Administration (NCUA) Board to identify outdated or otherwise 
unnecessary regulatory requirements on financial institutions, 
and eliminate them as appropriate within every 10 year period.
    The Vento substitute also includes the bipartisan 
provisions limiting lender liability for environmental clean-up 
by clarifying the liability under Federal environmental law for 
lenders, fiduciaries, and Federal banking and lending agencies 
and providing certainty as to when and to what extent these 
parties may have liability for violations under Federal 
environmental law for their lending, financial and fiduciary 
activities.
    These provisions show that Democratic and Independent 
Members of the Banking Committee have been listening and do 
what to respond to the call for true regulatory relief in an 
bipartisan manner whenever possible. However, this relief 
should not and does not have to come at the expense of the 
American consumers, its communities or the taxpayers. 
Proponents of many of the provisions of the Committee reported 
regulatory repeal bill have not yet demonstrated that laws such 
as the Truth in Savings Act or the Community Reinvestment Act, 
significantly add to the costs of or are detrimental to 
financial institutions--especially in light of record bank 
profits.
    For the reasons generally outlined in these views, we will 
continue to oppose the provisions of H.R. 1858. We will 
actively seek, however, to further improve this bill or 
ultimately work for its timely demise.
                                   Henry Gonzales.
                                   Floyd H. Flake.
                                   John J. LaFalce.
                                   Cleo Fields.
                                   Tom Barrett.
                                   Kweisi Mfume.
                                   Joe Kennedy.
                                   Maurice Hinchey.
                                   Nydia Velazquez.
                                   Lucille Roybal-Allard.
                                   Albert R. Wynn.
                                   Bruce F. Vento.
                                   Gary L. Ackerman.
                                   Carolyn B. Maloney.
                                   Luis V. Gutierrez.
                                   Maxine Waters.
                                   Paul E. Kanjorski.
                                   Charles Schumer.
                                   Melvin L. Watt.
                                   Bernie Sanders.
                     ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF MR. FLAKE

    As author of this amendment, I am offering my separate 
views to be included in the final report in order to clarify 
any interpretations of my empowerment zone amendment. It is my 
intention for it to operate independently of section 5136A, and 
the provisions of section 5136A shall not apply to the powers 
of National Banks as so conferred under section 5136B.
    This new section will provide greater access to insurance 
in disadvantaged communities where competively priced insurance 
is inadequate. Moreover, this amendment will foster economic 
revitalization, such a new business and employment 
opportunities, in low income neighborhoods by permitting the 
sale of insurance in empowerment zones. Additionally, by 
requiring the sale of insurance to occur from a ``full-service 
branch'' in the empowerment zone, the amendment provides a 
significant incentive for banks to improve the quality and 
quantity of banking services in such communities.
    Effective immediately, this amendment allows national banks 
having main offices or full-service branches in areas eligible 
for designation as empowerment zones or enterprise communities 
under section 1392 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or in 
Indian reservations, to sell insurance from that location. The 
designation criteria for an empowerment zone or enterprise 
community assures that the community is one experiencing 
economic distress.
    State laws that regulate conducting the business of 
insurance, including those that provide operational 
restrictions protecting consumers, would apply to national 
banks sale of insurance under this section. However, State laws 
would not apply if the appropriate Federal banking agency 
determined, after notice to and comment by the appropriate 
State officials, that application of a specific State law would 
have an unreasonably discriminatory effect upon the sale of 
insurance by banks or their employees in comparison with the 
effect the application of such state law would have on the sale 
of insurance by other entities. This provision will ensure that 
banks selling insurance in a State are subject to the same 
operational and customer protection standards that apply to 
other entities selling insurance in the State.
                                                    Floyd H. Flake.
                     ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF MS. WATERS

    This legislation contains many objectionable provisions. 
However, during consideration of the bill in committee, perhaps 
the most objectionable discussion of the deliberations centered 
around the bill's proposed changes to the legal standards 
applied to the Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity 
Act.
    Combined with the severe weakening of the Community 
Reinvestment Act, including changes in its enforceability, and 
the rollback of several consumer laws, I felt personally 
offended by the changes which were proposed in the committee 
print.
    The attempt to eliminate disparate impact as a standard for 
review of discrimination claims brought under the Fair Housing 
Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act--changes which were 
contained in the committee print of the bill--represented a 
frontal attack on civil rights law--civil rights laws that 
people have fought and died for.
    Disparate impact is one of three long-standing legal 
standards (intentional discrimination and disparate treatment 
are the others) used to challenge discrimination. Disparate 
impact is used to challenge practices that are neutral in 
design but when applied has a disproportionate and 
substantially discriminatory effect on people because of their 
race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, 
or handicap. Under this analysis, practices and policies which 
have a discriminatory effect must be eliminated or changed 
where they have no business necessity.
    This attack on our civil rights laws did not belong in this 
bill. It did not belong in the Banking Committee. I do not know 
who was behind it. I do not know whether it was an organized 
effort on the part of a special interest. I do not know if it 
was one person's bias. But whatever the source, I, and others 
on the Banking Committee, were seriously disrespected by the 
kinds of representations of civil rights laws that were made 
during the committee deliberations.
    Fortunately, the committee had the good sense to strike the 
most egregious part of the underlying bill which would have 
exempted an entire class of fair lending and fair housing 
violations from enforcement. Those disparate impact provisions 
would have created a loophole for a single industry from the 
standards Congress and the Federal Courts have determined are 
necessary to prohibit discrimination.
    Despite the removal of these provisions from the bill, I 
remain troubled that the committee was forced to spend many 
hours debating an attempt to deny me my rights, my children 
their rights, and which would have dramatically affected the 
future of me and my people. I truly hope that as this bill 
moves forward, we will not see any recurrence of this effort to 
undermine longstanding civil rights laws and practices.
                                                     Maxine Waters.
            ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF CONGRESSMAN MAURICE HINCHEY

             incentives for self-testing for discrimination

    As the author of the section 155 provisions providing 
incentives for institutions to test themselves for lending or 
housing discrimination, I would like to explain the intent of 
this section. My substitute language for the original self-
testing provisions of the bill was adopted on a voice vote by 
the Committee, and it reflects a fair and balanced approach to 
this issue. It is supported by both the Justice Department and 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, two of the primary 
enforcement agencies for our fair lending and housing laws.
    In order to provide incentives for institutions to self-
test for and correct violations of the Fair Housing Act or 
Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Section 155 prevents evidence of 
discrimination gathered through a self-test from being used 
against an institution if the institution is taking appropriate 
corrective actions for any discrimination that is found.
    Testing, as defined by the Supreme Court, refers to the 
method of using ``individuals who, without the intent to rent 
or purchase . . . pose as renters or purchasers for the purpose 
of collecting evidence of unlawful . . . practices.'' Havens 
Realty Corp v. Coleman, 455 U.S. 363, 373 (1982) (defining 
testers in the context of fair housing investigations). In the 
fair housing and employment context, testing has traditionally 
been ``paired testing''--a process that examines disparate 
treatment of two individuals that are matched in every respect 
except for the protected category (e.g. race, gender 
disability, etc.). Paired testing is a valuable method of 
obtaining evidence of disparate treatment and I strongly 
encourage its use by lending institutions to find and correct 
discriminatory practices.
    Although paired testing is the most widely accepted form of 
testing, I recognize that other testing methods may produce 
similar and reliable new evidence of unlawful practices and 
therefore warrant protection under the law. I intended for 
Federal regulations to address the scope of what additional 
practices should be accommodated within the definition of the 
term ``self-test.''
    The principal attribute of self-testing is that it produces 
new evidence of discrimination against fictitious applicants. 
Self-testing should be distinguished from compliance reviews, 
file analysis, the use of second review committees, or other 
methods that examine existing evidence of discrimination 
against real applicants. I did not intend for Section 155 to 
provide protection to apply to such activities.
    It is my intent to limit evidentiary protection to those 
institutions that correct discrimination found through self-
testing. Section 155 is not intended to create an evidentiary 
shield for institutions that find violations of fair lending or 
housing laws and fail to take appropriate steps to correct such 
discrimination.
    An institution that discovers discrimination should make 
all reasonable efforts to determine the extent of the 
discrimination and its cause including, for example, whether 
the discrimination is grounded in the institution's policies, 
the implementation of its policies, employee misconduct, or 
some other factor. Appropriate action to rectify the cause and 
effect of discrimination should be taken commensurate with the 
scope of discrimination. On April 15, 1994, the Interagency 
Fair Lending Task Force addressed several specific components 
of ``appropriate corrective actions to address the 
discrimination'' found through self-testing. ``Policy Statement 
on Discrimination in Lending.'' 59 Fed. Reg. 18266, 18270-71 
(``Joint Statement'').\1\ I agree with this analysis and intend 
that ``appropriate corrective actions'' under Section 155 be 
construed in line with the Joint Statement's guidelines.
    \1\ The Task Force is composed of the top officials from each of 
the ten agencies with responsibilities for fair lending enforcement--
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Federal 
Enterprise Oversight, Department of Justice, Office of the Comptroller 
of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, Board of Governors of 
the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
Federal Housing Finance Board, Federal Trade Commission, and the 
National Credit Union Administration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         credit scoring systems

    Section 156 amends the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to 
clarify that credit decisions based solely on an empirically 
derived, demonstrably and statistically sound credit scoring 
system, as defined by the Federal Reserve Board in regulations 
prescribed under this title (12 C.F.R. Pt. 202,``Regulation 
B''), shall be in compliance with the non-discrimination 
requirement under ECOA (subsection (a)) as long as the system 
does not use any category protected under subsection (a), does 
not use the functional equivalent of such a category, and does 
not use any criterion that has a discriminatory effect on any 
such a category unless the use of the criterion is justified by 
business necessity and there in no less discriminatory 
alternative available. This provision is consistent with the 
Federal Reserve Board's current interpretation concerning the 
use of credit scoring systems for credit decisions.
    Credit scoring systems treat all applicants objectively and 
therefore generally avoid the risk of disparage treatment. 
There may be instances, however, when individual discretion may 
be used in conjunction with the use of a credit scoring system 
and therefore lend opportunity for the disparate treatment of 
applicants. I firmly believe that it was not the intent of the 
Committee to shield such treatment from analysis under ECOA. 
Only those decision made solely based on a credit scoring 
system should be deemed to be in compliance with ECOA under 
this section.
    The Committee accepted, by a vote of 29 to 17, my amendment 
that clarifies that credit scoring systems are not immune to a 
discriminatory effect analysis. As the Federal Reserve Board 
has recognized, the ECOA may prohibit a practice that, although 
neutral on its face and not intended to discriminate, has a 
disproportionately negative effect on a prohibited basis if the 
practice is not justified by business necessity with no less 
discriminatory alternative available. See Appendix D to Part 
202, Section 202.6, 12 C.F.R. Sec 202, Supp. 1 (1995).

                            disparate impact

    By a vote of 32 to 15, the Committee approved my amendment 
to strike provisions added at Subcommittee that would have 
limited the use of disparate impact theory in fair housing and 
lending cases. In doing so, the Committee, on an overwhelming 
and bipartisan basis, has spoken strongly about preserving a 
fundamental civil rights protection against policies that have 
discriminatory effects on applicants, whether or not intent can 
be proven.

                                                   Maurice Hinchey.
        ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF CONGRESSMAN KENNETH E. BENTSEN, JR.

    House Resolution 1858 is a flawed bill. While it could have 
been a good piece of legislation providing needed regulatory 
relief, protecting consumer interests, and continuing our 
commitment to community reinvestment, the final bill failed to 
do so, For that reason, I could not support the legislation.
    I believe the Committee failed to find the appropriate 
balance between regulatory relief and consumer needs with 
respect to disclosure and reinvestment. While I support 
addressing ``Rodash,'' RESPA, lender liability under Superfund, 
as well as streamlining the financial regulatory process, this 
bill strayed from its original purpose by going too far in 
removing consumer safeguards and curtailing the Community 
Reinvestment Act of 1977 (``CRA'').
    I agree with the concept of ``self-compliance'' and ``safe 
harbor'' for CRA. Banks that make a good faith effort to invest 
in the communities from which they receive deposits and reach 
out to traditionally underserved areas deserve to be rewarded. 
However, the Committee's approach does not necessarily reward 
such behavior, but rather it rewards all behavior.
    I attempted to amend Sections 123 and 125 which would have 
raised the rating threshold for self-compliance and safe harbor 
from ``satisfactory'' to ``high satisfactory.'' The Committee 
provision for the lower threshold of a ``satisfactory'' rating 
exempted far too many institutions and would reward them for 
less than satisfactory behavior in some categories. This 
concept of ``high satisfactory'' was originally suggested by 
members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and 
discussed in the May 5, 1995 publication of the new rules 
relating to CRA. A new category would have ensured that banks 
that truly excel at meeting CRA--and there are many, including 
many in my hometown of Houston--would be rewarded based upon 
good performance in all categories of at least 
``satisfactory.'' Unfortunately, the Committee chose to reward 
ninety-five percent of all banks even if they receive a low 
satisfactory rating on lending and even lower ratings on 
service and investment. I could not support that, and I believe 
the Administration will also find it hard to support.
    The Committee also chose to change the Truth in Lending Act 
by limiting disclosure relating to adjustable rate mortgage 
loans. Under the Committee's bill, a lender would only have to 
tell a borrower that adjustable rates fluctuate, rather than 
provide historical data on adjustable rate mortgages. During 
the last ten years, such rates have fluctuated within a band of 
600 basis points and within the last three years a band of 300 
basis point. That is considerable volatility to be described 
only in rhetorical terms.
    Every day, sophisticated investors and institutions 
purchase adjustable rate mortgage instruments in the primary 
and secondary markets relying in part on substantial historical 
data. Yet the Committee believes that individual homebuyers who 
may not trade in the mortgage market do not need even the 
simplest and most readily available historical data in order to 
understand the interest rate risk associated with such floating 
rate instruments. I completely disagree with that proposition, 
and I believe this Committee revisit this issue upon learning 
of the number of consumers who end up with products they did 
not understand due to a lack of proper disclosure. If its is 
good for institutional investors, it should be good for 
individual borrowers.
    This bill had the opportunity to be good legislation, but 
it failed. We made strides toward addressing the banking and 
insurance question, albeit in a symbiotic way. The Committee 
came close to engaging in a full-fledged discussion of the 
proper role for banks in the insurance market. Yet, on the one 
hand, while we gave banks in certain states more insurance 
powers, with the other hand we took most of those powers away. 
After studying this issue over the last six months, I have 
become convinced that we should consider affiliation. We should 
try to determine whether affiliation will increase benefits to 
purchasers of insurance while protecting the professional 
criteria of insurance brokerage. Consumer protection and 
professionalism should not be viewed as mutually exclusive in 
this instance. insurance agents and brokers bring knowledge of 
both product and rules to the market which benefit the 
consumer. Finally, as presented to the Committee, the 
moratorium on the Comptroller of the Currency is unevenly 
drafted, since it curtails institutions, not powers, thus 
exacerbating not only the insurance power question, but also 
creating an uneven playing field among banks.
    I support finding ways to eliminate unnecessary and 
redundant regulations for banks. I have supported legislative 
efforts to rewrite Glass-Steagall which will make banks more 
competitive and ensure that consumers can buy new products to 
meet their financial needs. I believe we must maintain a 
balance between protecting the consumer and giving banks needed 
flexibility to adapt to the marketplace. Regulations need to be 
reasonable and fair-minded. Congress should regularly exercise 
its prerogative to review regulations and make appropriate 
change to reflect the changing marketplace.
    In fact, I would argue that the financial marketplace is 
changing faster every day. Through court decisions and state 
actions, federal regulations are falling behind the 
marketplace. The financial market is producing new financial 
products that benefit both consumers and the banks that supply 
them.
    We addressed issues which needed relief, but the Committee 
went beyond reasonableness and reported a bill which rolls back 
too much. For that reason, I could not support the bill in its 
current form.
                                            Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr.
                            A P P E N D I X

                              ----------                              

                                     Committee on Commerce,
                                     Washington, DC, July 17, 1995.
Hon. James A. Leach,
Chairman, Committee on Banking and Financial Services, Rayburn House 
        Office Building, Washington, DC.
    Dear Chairman Leach: On June 29, 1995, the Committee on 
Banking and Financial Services ordered reported H.R. 1858, the 
Financial Institutions Regulatory Relief Act of 1995.
    A number of provisions of H.R. 1858 as approved by the 
Banking Committee fall within the jurisdiction of the Commerce 
Committee. These include, but are not limited to, provisions 
amending the Government Securities Act, provisions pertaining 
to a lender's liability for environmental hazards, provisions 
affecting the regulation and sale of insurance and affiliation 
among different service providers, and provisions that may 
apply to registrants' obligations to provide certain 
information pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 
1934.
    I have appreciated your willingness to address my concerns 
with many of the provisions of H.R. 1858 that fall within the 
jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee. In view of your desire 
to move this legislation to the Floor in an expeditious 
fashion, I do not intend to seek a sequential referral of H.R. 
1858. I would appreciate, however, your commitment that the 
agreements worked out between our staffs will be effected 
without the need for separate amendments by the Commerce 
Committee on the House Floor.
    Please be advised that my agreement not to seek a 
sequential referral is based on an understanding that this 
waiver will be without prejudice to the Commerce Committee's 
jurisdictional claims over H.R. 1858 and similar bills that may 
be offered in the future and that the Commerce Committee's 
jurisdiction will be protected through the appointment of 
conferees should H.R. 1858 go to conference.
    I appreciate your cooperation in these matters and would 
further appreciate the inclusion of this letter in the Banking 
Committee's report on H.R. 1858.
            Sincerely,
                                   Thomas J. Bliley, Jr., Chairman.
                                ------                                

               Committee on Banking and Financial Services,
                                     Washington, DC, July 17, 1995.
Hon. Thomas J. Bliley, Jr.,
Chairman, House Commerce Committee,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of July 17, 
1995, regarding a bill reported by the Committee on Banking and 
Financial Services, H.R. 1858, Financial Institutions 
Regulatory Relief Act of 1995.
    I appreciate the interest that the Committee on Commerce 
has in this important legislation. As your letter indicates, 
the Committee could be successful in asserting a right to a 
sequential referral of H.R. 1858. Therefore, I am most 
appreciative of your decision not to request such a referral in 
the interest of accommodating consideration of the bill.
    You have my assurance that the agreements worked out by our 
respective staffs concerning changes to Title III will be 
included in a manager's amendment as we take the bill to the 
House floor. You also have my commitment to work together to 
achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution of the insurance and 
securities issues within the jurisdiction of the Commerce 
Committee. In addition, I will also support your Committee's 
request to seek conferees on these matters within the 
jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee.
    Thank you for your cooperation in this matter and for your 
support of this legislation.
            Sincerely,
                                          James A. Leach, Chairman.
                                ------                                

            Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
                                     Washington, DC, July 12, 1995.
Hon. James A. Leach,
Chairman, Committee on Banking and Financial Services, Rayburn House 
        Office Building, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for the information that on 
June 29, 1995, the Committee on Banking and Financial Services 
ordered reported, H.R. 1858, the Financial Institutions 
Regulatory Relief Act of 1995. I believe that the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure clearly has a right to 
sequential referral of Title III of this bill, relating to 
liability of lenders and others under various Federal 
environmental laws.
    Title III includes detailed criteria and requirements for 
liability of lenders, fiduciaries, and Federal agencies under 
Federal environmental law. The bill expansively defines Federal 
environmental law to include specific statutes, Federal 
implementing regulations, and state-delegated laws and 
regulations. H.R. 1858 also explicitly addresses liability 
under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation 
and Liability Act (``Superfund''), the Oil Pollution Act, and 
the Clean Water Act.
    As you know, the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee has jurisdiction over Superfund, the Oil Production 
Act and the Clean Water Act. Lender liability under Superfund 
is of particular interest and concern to the Committee. We are 
currently working on a comprehensive bill to reauthorize and 
reform Superfund--the law that has generated much of the debate 
over lender liability. This year, we held six hearings on 
Superfund; much of the testimony focused on lender liability 
and specifically on the provisions in H.R. 3800, Superfund 
legislation reported by this Committee last year.
    In the interest of accommodating the schedule for 
consideration of H.R. 1858, I do not intend to request a 
sequential referral of the bill to the Committee. However, I 
would appreciate receiving assurances that the agreements 
worked out between our respective staffs will be effected to 
our satisfaction without the need for a Floor amendment by this 
Committee. Meanwhile, my action here is not intended to waive 
the Committee's jurisdiction over this matter, and should this 
legislation go to a House-Senate Conference, the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure will request to be included 
as conferees on any provisions within this Committee's 
jurisdiction.
    With kind personal regards, I remain
            Sincerely,
                                             Bud Shuster, Chairman.
                                ------                                

               Committee on Banking and Financial Services,
                                     Washington, DC, July 17, 1995.
Hon. Bud Shuster,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of July 12, 
1995, regarding a bill reported by the Committee on Banking and 
Financial Services, H.R. 1858, the Financial Institutions 
Regulatory Relief Act of 1995.
    I appreciate the interest that the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure has in this important 
legislation. I agree that your Committee has a right to 
sequential referral of Title III of H.R. 1858. Therefore, I am 
most appreciative of your decision not to request such a 
referral in the interest of accommodating the schedule for 
consideration of the bill.
    You have my assurance that agreements worked out by our 
respective staffs will be included in a manager's amendment as 
we take the bill to the House floor and that I will support 
your request to be conferees on Title III of the bill.
    Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
            Sincerely,
                                          James A. Leach, Chairman.