[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57945-57950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28879]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 711


Management Official Interlocks

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) proposes to 
revise its rule regarding management interlocks. The proposal conforms 
the interlocks rule to recent statutory changes, and was drafted 
through a coordinated effort among the following other federal 
financial regulatory agencies; the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC); 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board); Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC); and Office of Thrift Supervision

[[Page 57946]]

(OTS). The proposal also modernizes and clarifies the rule, and reduces 
unnecessary regulatory burdens where feasible, consistent with 
statutory requirements.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 27, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct comments to Becky Baker, Secretary of the Board. Mail 
or hand-deliver comments to: National Credit Union Administration, 1775 
Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3428. Fax comments to (703) 
518-6319. E-mail comments to [email protected]. Please send comments 
by one method only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dianne M. Salva, Staff Attorney, 
Division of Operations, Office of General Counsel, at the above address 
or telephone: (703) 518-6540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Depository Institution Management Interlocks Act (12 U.S.C. 
3201-3208) (the Interlocks Act) generally prohibits financial 
institution management officials from serving simultaneously with two 
unaffiliated depository institutions or their holding companies 
(depository organizations). The Interlocks Act exempts interlocking 
arrangements between credit unions and, therefore, in the case of 
credit unions, only restricts interlocks between credit unions and 
other institutions--banks and thrifts and their holding companies.
    The scope of the prohibition depends on the size and location of 
the involved organizations. For instance, the Interlocks Act prohibits 
unaffiliated depository organizations, regardless of size, from 
establishing an interlock if both organizations have an office in the 
same community (the community prohibition). Unaffiliated depository 
organizations may not form an interlock if both organizations have 
total assets of $20 million or more and are located in the same 
Relevant Metropolitan Statistical Area (RMSA) (the RMSA prohibition). 
The Interlocks Act also prohibits unaffiliated depository 
organizations, regardless of location, from establishing an interlock 
if each organization has total assets exceeding specified thresholds 
(the major assets prohibition).
    Section 2210 of the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPR Act) amended Secs. 204, 206, and 209 of 
the Interlocks Act (12 U.S.C. 3203, 3205 and 3207).\1\
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    \1\ The OCC, the Board, the FDIC, and the OTS, (collectively, 
the Agencies) have recently proposed rules similar to NCUA to 
implement the EGRPR Act. 63 FR 43052 (August 11, 1998).
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    Section 2210(a) of EGRPR Act amended the Interlocks Act by changing 
the thresholds for the major assets prohibition under 12 U.S.C. 3203. 
Prior to the EGRPR Act, management officials of depository 
organizations with total assets exceeding $1 billion were prohibited 
from serving as management officials of unaffiliated depository 
organizations with assets exceeding $500 million, regardless of the 
location of the organizations or their depository institution 
affiliates.\2\ The EGRPR Act raised the thresholds to $2.5 billion and 
$1.5 billion, respectively. The revision also authorized NCUA to adjust 
the thresholds by regulation, as necessary to allow for inflation or 
market conditions.
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    \2\ The Agencies, and NCUAA, define ``total assets'' of 
diversified savings and loan holding companies and bank holding 
companies exempt from Sec. 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act to 
include only the assets of their depository institution affiliates. 
See 12 CFR 26.2(r), 212.2(q), 348.2(q), 711.2(r), and 563f.2(r).
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    Section 2210(b) of the EGRPR Act permanently extended the 
grandfather and diversified savings and loan holding company exemptions 
in 12 U.S.C. 3205. Prior to the EGRPR Act, these exemptions were 
subject to a 20-year time limit beginning November 10, 1978. The EGRPR 
Act amended Sec. 3205(a) to permit persons who began dual service as 
management officials of more than one depository organization before 
November 10, 1978, to continue such service indefinitely. Similarly, 
Sec. 3205(b) was amended to permit a person who serves as a management 
official of a depository organization and of a company that is not a 
depository holding company to continue to serve as an official of both 
entities indefinitely if the non-depository organization becomes a 
diversified savings and loan holding company. The EGRPR Act also 
repealed Sec. 3205(c). That provision, which mandated agency review of 
grandfathered interlocks before March 1995, became outdated.
    The EGRPR Act also amended 12 U.S.C. 3207 to provide that NCUA may 
adopt ``regulations that permit service by a management official that 
would otherwise be prohibited by [the community, RMSA, or major assets 
prohibitions], if such service would not result in a monopoly or 
substantial lessening of competition.'' This change repealed the 
specific ``regulatory standards'' and ``management consignment'' 
exemptions added by the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory 
Improvement Act of 1994 (CDRI Act),\3\ and restored the NCUA's broad 
authority to create regulatory exemptions to the statutory prohibitions 
on interlocks.
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    \3\ NCUA adopted final regulations implementing the management 
interlocks provision of CDRI Act, effective October 1, 1996. See 61 
FR 50702 (September 27, 1996). The Agencies also adopted final 
regulations implementing the management interlocks provisions of the 
CDRI Act, effective October 1, 1996. See 61 FR 40293 (August 2, 
1996).
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II. Discussion of Proposed Regulations

    The proposal reflects these statutory changes. This proposal also 
renews an earlier proposal for a small market share exemption that had 
been advanced by the FRB, OCC and FDIC before enactment of the CDRI 
Act. NCUA invites comments on all aspects of this proposal.

A. Definitions

    Current NCUA regulations define key terms implementing the 
Interlocks Act. A number of these definitions were added or revised in 
1996 to implement the CDRI Act. With the repeal of the specific 
exemptive standards in the CDRI Act, two of these definitions have 
become unnecessary and would be removed.
Anticompetitive Effect
    The current rule defines ``anticompetitive effect'' as a ``monopoly 
or substantial lessening of competition.'' Under the new statutory 
scheme, the substance of this definition is the sole criterion for 
gauging whether to grant an exemption under NCUA's general exemptive 
authority. Because the proposed regulations would employ this phrase in 
only one provision, a separate definition is unnecessary.
Critical
    The current regulations use the term ``critical'' in connection 
with the Regulatory Standards exemption created by the CDRI Act. Since 
the EGRPR Act eliminates the Regulatory Standards exemption, a 
regulatory definition of ``critical'' is unnecessary.

B. Major Assets Prohibition

    Prior to the EGRPR Act, a management official of a depository 
organization (or its affiliates) having total assets exceeding $1 
billion could not serve as a management official of any depository 
organization with total assets exceeding $500 million (or its 
affiliates) regardless of location. The EGRPR Act revised the asset 
thresholds for the major assets prohibition from $1 billion and $500 
million to $2.5 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively. The legislation 
also authorized the NCUA to adjust the threshold from time to time to 
reflect inflation or market changes.

[[Page 57947]]

    The proposal would amend the regulations to reflect the new 
threshold amounts and add a mechanism providing for periodic 
adjustments of the thresholds. The adjustment would be based on changes 
in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers 
(the Consumer Price Index). In years when changes in the Consumer Price 
Index would change the thresholds by more than $100 million, NCUA will 
announce the change by notice published in the Federal Register in 
December. NCUA also invites comment on the types of market changes that 
may warrant subsequent adjustments to the major assets prohibition.

C. Regulatory Standards and Management Consignment Exemptions

    The current regulations contain Regulatory Standards and Management 
Consignment exemptions, which were predicated on Sec. 3207 of the CDRI 
Act. The EGRPR Act removed the exemptions from the Interlocks Act and 
substituted a general authority for NCUA to create exemptions by 
regulation. Accordingly, these regulatory exemptions would be removed 
by the proposed rule.

D. General Exemptive Authority

    Section 2210(c) of the EGRPR Act authorizes NCUA to adopt 
regulations permitting service by a management official that would 
otherwise be prohibited by the Interlocks Act, if such service would 
not result in ``a monopoly or substantial lessening of competition.'' 
To implement this authority, NCUA is proposing to exempt otherwise 
prohibited management interlocks where the dual service would not 
result in a monopoly or substantial lessening of competition and would 
not otherwise threaten safety and soundness. The process for obtaining 
such exemptions will be set out in an NCUA directive to credit unions.
    Since 1979, when regulations implementing the Interlocks Act were 
first promulgated, NCUA has recognized that interlocks involving 
certain classes of depository organizations present a reduced risk to 
competition, and that, by enlarging the pool of management available to 
such organizations, competition could be enhanced. Thus, in the initial 
interlocks rules published in 1979, NCUA reserved the authority to 
permit interlocks to strengthen newly-chartered organizations, troubled 
organizations, organizations in low- or moderate-income areas and 
organizations controlled or managed by minorities or women. The 
authority to permit interlocks in such circumstances was deemed 
``necessary for the promotion of competition over the long term.'' See 
44 FR 42161, 42165 (July 19, 1979). Prior to the CDRI Act, these 
exemptions were granted to meet the need for qualified management. The 
Management Consignment exemption under the CDRI Act was generally 
available to the same four classes of organizations, but on a more 
limited basis.
    With the EGRPR Act's restoration of the broad exemptive authority 
under the Interlocks Act, NCUA again has authority to grant exemptions 
that will not adversely affect competition. NCUA believes that 
interlocks involving the four classes of organizations previously 
identified may provide management expertise needed to enhance the 
ability of the organizations to compete. Accordingly, NCUA proposes to 
establish a rebuttable presumption that an interlock would not result 
in a monopoly or substantial lessening of competition, if: (1) the 
depository organization is located in, and primarily serves, low- or 
moderate-income areas; (2) the depository organization is controlled or 
managed by members of a minority group or women; (3) the depository 
institution is newly-chartered; or (4) the depository institution, or 
in the case of a depository organization, a depository institution 
under its control, is deemed to be in ``troubled condition'' under 
regulations implementing Sec. 914 of the Financial Institutions Reform, 
Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) (12 U.S.C. 1831i).
    A claim that factors exist giving rise to a presumption does not 
preclude NCUA from denying a request for an exemption if NCUA finds, 
based on available materials, that the presumption is rebutted. That 
is, an exemption request may be denied if NCUA determines that the 
interlock would result in a monopoly or substantial lessening of 
competition. The presumptions are designed to provide greater 
flexibility to classes of organizations that may have greater need for 
seasoned management, but the presumptions are rebuttable because NCUA 
recognizes that such needs can only be met in a manner that is 
consistent with the statute.
    The definitions of ``area median income'' and ``low- and moderate-
income areas'' added to the regulations in 1996 to implement the CDRI 
Act amendments are being retained to provide guidance as to when an 
organization would qualify for one of the presumptions. Interlocks that 
are based on the presence of a rebuttable presumption would be allowed 
to continue for three years, unless otherwise provided in the approval 
order. Nothing in the proposed rule would prevent an organization from 
applying for an extension of an interlock exemption granted under a 
presumption if the factors continued to apply. The organizations would 
also be free to utilize any other exemption that may be available.
    NCUA proposes that any other interlock approved under this section 
be allowed to continue unless it becomes anticompetitive, unsafe or 
unsound, or is subject to a condition requiring termination at a 
specific time.

E. Small Market Share Exemption

    In 1994, the OCC, FDIC, and FRB published notices of proposed 
rulemaking seeking comment on a proposed market share exemption. The 
proposed exemption would have been available for interlocks involving 
institutions that, on a combined basis, would control less than 20% of 
the deposits in a community or relevant MSA. These agencies published 
small market share exemption proposals pursuant to the broad exemptive 
authority vested in the agencies prior to the CDRI Act. Because the 
CDRI Act restricted the agencies' broad rulemaking authority, the OCC, 
FDIC, and FRB withdrew their proposals.\4\ The broad exemptive 
authority under the EGRPR Act again authorizes the small market share 
exemption. Accordingly, NCUA joins the Agencies in renewing the 
proposal for the small market share exemption.
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    \4\ See OCC, 59 FR 29740 (June 9, 1994), FDIC, 59 FR 18764 
(April 20, 1994), and FRB, 59 FR 7909 (February 17, 1994) for 
proposals prior to CDRI Act. Following enactment of the CDRI Act 
these proposals were withdrawn; 60 FR 67424 (December 29, 1995) for 
withdrawal by OCC and FRB; and 60 FR 7139 (February 7, 1995) for 
withdrawal by the FDIC.
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    The Interlocks Act, by discouraging common management among 
financial institutions, seeks to prevent unaffiliated institutions from 
having an adverse impact on competition in the products and services 
they offer. Where depository institutions dominate a large portion of 
the market, these risks are significant. When a particular market is 
served by many institutions, however, the risks diminish that 
depository institutions with interlocking relationships can adversely 
affect the available products and services available in their markets.
    NCUA believes that the combination of the shares and deposits of 
two institutions provides a meaningful assessment of the capacity of 
the two institutions to control credit and related

[[Page 57948]]

services in their market. Accordingly, NCUA proposes to exempt 
interlocking service involving two unaffiliated depository 
organizations that together control no more than 20% of the shares and 
deposits in any RMSA or community, as appropriate. Organizations 
claiming the exemption would be required to determine the market share 
in each RMSA and community in which both depository organizations (or 
affiliates) are located.
    Determination of the relevant market in which to apply the 20% 
market share standards would be made in accordance with the rules for 
determining the relevant market under other provisions of NCUA's 
interlocks regulations. The rules are structured to apply the community 
prohibition to interlocks between organizations operating within a 
community and to apply the RMSA prohibition to interlocks between 
organizations operating within a RMSA. The small market share exemption 
would not be available for interlocks subject to the major assets 
prohibition.
    The exemptions would continue to apply as long as the organizations 
meet the applicable conditions. Any event that causes the level of 
deposits controlled to exceed 20% of deposits in any RMSA or community, 
such as expansion or a merger, would be considered to be a change in 
circumstances. Accordingly, the depository organizations would have 15 
months, under NCUA's regulation, to address the prohibited interlock by 
termination or otherwise. The Agency with jurisdiction over the 
organization may establish a shorter period. Conforming changes 
relating to termination have been made to NCUA's change of 
circumstances provisions.
    NCUA believes that the small market share exemption may be 
considered pro-competitive. The exemption is intended to enlarge the 
pool of management talent upon which depository institutions may draw, 
resulting in more competitive, better-managed institutions without 
causing significant anticompetitive effects.
    No prior NCUA approval would be required in order to claim the 
proposed small market share exemption. Management is responsible for 
compliance with the terms of the exemption and for maintaining 
sufficient supporting documentation. To determine their eligibility for 
the exemptions, depository organizations would need to obtain 
appropriate share and deposit data from NCUA and appropriate deposit 
data from the FDIC. This information is available upon request to the 
agencies or on the Internet at http://www.ncua.gov or http://
www.fdic.gov.
    In order to understand the following discussion, it is important to 
understand that credit unions offer both share accounts and deposit 
accounts. Federal credit unions may only establish and maintain share 
accounts for members, except for public unit accounts and certain 
nonmember deposits at low-income designated credit unions. Some state-
chartered credit unions may establish and maintain both share accounts 
and deposit accounts. Differences between share and deposit accounts 
are discussed in NCUA's Truth in Savings rules, 12 CFR part 707, app. 
C, comments 707.2(i)1-5 and 707.2(p)1-3. These differences are 
important in obtaining pertinent information to document the small 
market share exemption.
    As NCUA does not report total credit union shares or deposits held 
in federally insured credit unions by RMSA or community, affected 
depository institutions must create their own custom reports from 
information on the NCUA Website. Credit union share and deposit 
information is available under the heading ``Credit Union Data'' on 
NCUA's first Website page. Entry into the ``Credit Union Data'' icon 
will lead the user into the ``Custom Reports'' icon. Entry into the 
``Custom Reports'' icon will allow the user to collect total share 
information by city or state by adding the ``total shares-total'' and 
``total shares and deposits-total'' of all credit unions listed at that 
locale. ``Total shares-total'' will capture the share accounts of 
federal credit unions and federally insured, state-chartered credit 
unions only accepting share accounts. ``Total shares and deposits-
total'' will capture the share and deposit accounts of federally 
insured, state-chartered credit unions accepting both share accounts 
and deposit accounts. Since NCUA does not provide share and deposit 
totals by community, RMSA, or branch, each credit union will need to 
provide a reasonable, good faith estimate as to total credit union 
shares and deposits in a community, RMSA, or branch. The credit union 
totals will need to be added to information about bank and thrift 
deposits obtained from the FDIC, and the percentages calculated and 
maintained in the credit union's records to act as proof documenting 
the use of the small market share exemption.
    The most recently available share and deposit data will be used to 
determine whether organizations are entitled to the exemptions. All 
credit unions file call report information semi-annually. Credit unions 
over $50 million in assets report and file call report information 
quarterly. FDIC publishes its deposit total information annually. A 
credit union seeking the exception is entitled to rely upon the share 
and deposit data that has been compiled for the previous year, until 
more recent data has been distributed.
    NCUA requests comments on all aspects of the proposed small market 
share exemption. In particular, NCUA requests comments regarding the 
following issues:
    1. Whether 20 % of the deposits in a community or RMSA is an 
appropriate limit for the application of the exemptions.
    2. Whether deposit data collected by the FDIC in connection with 
the Report of Condition and Income and NCUA in connection with the 
Financial and Statistical Report, NCUA 5300, for federal credit unions, 
and the Call Report, NCUA 5300S, for federally insured, state chartered 
credit unions should be used to determine eligibility for the 
exemptions, and whether alternative sources of information concerning 
deposit share should be acceptable for determining availability of the 
exemptions.
    3. Whether calculation of a depository organization's eligibility 
for exemption from the community prohibition will create undue burdens, 
and, if so, how the burdens could be reduced (for example, by basing 
the exemption on the total asset size of the institutions involved).
    4. Whether there is a significant risk that depository 
organizations would create ``hub and spoke'' interlocks to evade the 
Interlocks Act, whereby several directors of one depository 
organization serve as directors of different unaffiliated depository 
organizations.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    NCUA invites comment on:
    (1) Whether the proposed collection of information contained in 
this notice of proposed rulemaking is necessary for the proper 
performance of NCUA's functions, including whether the information has 
practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of NCUA's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
information collection;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
    (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and

[[Page 57949]]

    (5) Estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
minutes, and purchase of services to provide information.
    The collection of information requirements contained in this notice 
of proposed rulemaking have been submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget for review in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)). Organizations and individuals desiring to 
submit comments on the information collection requirements should 
direct them to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, 
Room 10235, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; 
Attention: Alex Hunt, Desk Officer for NCUA. Comments must also be sent 
to NCUA, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-3428; Attention: James 
L. Baylen, Paperwork Reduction Act Coordinator, Telephone No. (703) 
518-6410; Fax No. (703) 518-6433; E-Mail Address: [email protected]. All 
comments submitted in response to these proposed regulations will be 
available for public inspection, during and after the comment period, 
at NCUA's Central Office, 6th Floor, Law Library, 1775 Duke Street, 
Alexandria, VA between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through 
Friday of each week except federal holidays, and by appointment through 
the Law Librarian at (703) 518-6540.
    The collection of information requirements in this proposed rule 
are found in 12 CFR 711.4(h)(1)(i), 711.5(a)(1), 711.5(a)(2), 711.5(b), 
711.6(a), and 711.6(c). This information is required to evidence 
compliance with the requirements of the Interlocks Act by federal 
credit unions and federally insured, state-chartered credit unions. The 
likely respondents are federal credit unions and federally insured, 
state-chartered credit unions.
    In the past several years, NCUA has received approximately one 
management interlock application each year. The following estimates are 
provided:
    Estimated average annual burden hours per respondent: 3 hours.
    Estimated number of respondents: 1.
    Start-up costs to respondents: None.
    NCUA may not conduct or sponsor, and an organization is not 
required to respond to, these information collections unless they 
display currently valid OMB control numbers.
    No issues of confidentiality under the provisions of the Freedom of 
Information Act normally arise for the applications.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) 
(5 U.S.C. 605(b)), NCUA hereby certifies that this proposed rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. NCUA expects that this proposal will not: (1) have 
significant secondary or incidental effects on a substantial number of 
small entities; or (2) create any additional burden on small entities. 
These conclusions are based on the fact that the proposed regulations 
relax the criteria for obtaining an exemption from the interlocks 
prohibitions, and specifically address the needs of small entities by 
creating the small market share exemption. Accordingly, a regulatory 
flexibility analysis is not required.

Executive Order 12866

    The NCUA Board has determined that this proposal is not a 
significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.

Executive Order 12612

    Executive Order 12612 requires NCUA to consider the effect of its 
actions on state interests. The proposed rule would, as does the 
current rule, apply to all federally insured credit unions, including 
federally insured state-chartered credit unions. However, since the 
proposed rule reduces regulatory burdens, NCUA has determined that the 
proposed rule does not constitute a ``significant regulatory action'' 
for purposes of the Executive Order. NCUA welcomes comment on means and 
methods to coordinate with the state credit union supervisors regarding 
achievement of shared goals involving viability, flexibility, parity, 
conformity, and safety and soundness regarding management interlocks.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 711

    Antitrust, Credit unions, Holding companies, Management official 
interlocks.

    By the National Credit Union Administration Board on October 22, 
1998.
Becky Baker,
Secretary of the Board.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the NCUA proposes to amend 
part 711 of chapter VII of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
to read as follows:

PART 711--MANAGEMENT OFFICIAL INTERLOCKS

    1. The authority citation for part 711 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 3201-3208.


Sec. 711.2  [Amended]

    1. Section 711.2 is amended by removing paragraphs (b) and (f) and 
redesignating paragraphs (c) through (s) as paragraphs (b) through (q), 
respectively.
    2. Section 711.3 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 711.3  Prohibitions.

 * * * * *
    (c) Major assets. A management official of a depository 
organization with total assets exceeding $2.5 billion (or any affiliate 
thereof) may not serve at the same time as a management official of an 
unaffiliated depository organization with total assets exceeding $1.5 
billion (or any affiliate thereof), regardless of the location of the 
two depository organizations. The NCUA will adjust these thresholds, as 
necessary, based on year-to-year change in the average of the Consumer 
Price Index for the Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, not 
seasonally adjusted, with rounding to the nearest $100 million. The 
NCUA will announce the revised thresholds by publishing a notice in the 
Federal Register.
    3. Section 711.5 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 711.5  Small market share exemption.

    (a) Exemption. A management interlock that is prohibited by 
Sec. 711.3(a) or Sec. 711.3(b) is permissible, provided:
    (1) The interlock is not prohibited by Sec. 711.3(c); and
    (2) The depository organizations (and their depository institution 
affiliates) hold, in the aggregate, no more than 20% of the deposits, 
in each RMSA or community in which the depository organizations (or 
their depository institution affiliates) are located. The amount of 
shares or deposits will be determined by reference to the most recent 
annual Summary of Deposits published by the FDIC or in information 
provided by NCUA for the RMSA or community. This information is 
available on the Internet at http://www.ncua.gov or http://
www.fdic.gov.
    (b) Confirmation and records. Each depository organization must 
maintain records sufficient to support its determination of eligibility 
for the exemption under paragraph (a) of this section, and must 
reconfirm that determination on an annual basis.
    4. Section 711.6 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 711.6  General exemption.

    (a) Exemption. NCUA may, by agency order issued following receipt 
of an application, exempt an interlock from

[[Page 57950]]

the prohibitions in Sec. 711.3, if NCUA finds that the interlock would 
not result in a monopoly or substantial lessening of competition, and 
would not present other safety and soundness concerns.
    (b) Presumptions. In reviewing applications for an exemption under 
this section, NCUA will apply a rebuttable presumption that an 
interlock will not result in a monopoly or substantial lessening of 
competition if the depository organization seeking to add a management 
official:
    (1) Primarily serves, low-and moderate-income areas;
    (2) Is controlled or managed by persons who are members of a 
minority group or women;
    (3) Is a depository institution that has been chartered for less 
than two years; or
    (4) Is deemed to be in ``troubled condition'' as defined in 
Sec. 701.14(b)(3) of this chapter.
    (c) Duration. Unless a shorter expiration period is provided in the 
NCUA approval, an exemption permitted by paragraph (a) of this section 
may continue so long as it would not result in a monopoly or 
substantial lessening of competition, or be unsafe or unsound. If the 
NCUA grants an interlock exemption in reliance upon a presumption under 
paragraph (b) of this section, the interlock may continue for three 
years, unless otherwise provided in the approval.
    5. Section 711.7 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 711.7  Change in circumstances.

    (a) Termination. A management official shall terminate his or her 
service if a change in circumstances causes the service to become 
prohibited. A change in circumstances may include, but is not limited 
to, an increase in asset size of an organization, a change in the 
delineation of the RMSA or community, the establishment of an office, 
an increase in the aggregate deposits of the depository organization, 
or an acquisition, merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the 
ownership structure of a depository organization that causes a 
previously permissible interlock to become prohibited.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 98-28879 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-U