[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49776-49777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21188]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission For OMB 
Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board)

ACTION: Notice of information collection to be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the Board, the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency (OCC) (collectively, the ``agencies''), may not conduct or 
sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an 
information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number.
    On May 29, 2003, the agencies, under the auspices of the Federal 
Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), requested public 
comment for 60 days on the extension, without revision, of the 
currently approved information collection: the Country Exposure Report 
for U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks (FFIEC 019). The Board, 
which published the request for comment on behalf of the agencies, did 
not receive any comments.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 18, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to 
the agency listed below. All comments will be shared among the 
agencies.
    Written comments, which should refer to ``Country Exposure Report 
for U.S. Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks, 7100-0213,'' may be 
mailed to Ms. Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20551. However, because paper mail in the Washington 
area and at the Board of Governors is subject to delay, please consider 
submitting your comments by e-mail to [email protected], 
or faxing them to the Office of the Secretary at 202-452-3819 or 202-
452-3102. Members of the public may inspect comments in Room MP-500 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays pursuant to section 261.12, 
except as provided in section 261.14, of the Board's Rules Regarding 
Availability of Information, 12 CFR 261.12 and 261.14.
    A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB desk 
officer for the agencies:
    Joseph F. Lackey, Jr., Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office 
Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503 or electronic mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information or a copy of 
the collection may be requested from Cindy Ayouch, Federal Reserve 
Board Clearance Officer, (202) 452-3829, Division of Research and 
Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and 
C Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20551. Telecommunications Device for 
the Deaf (TDD) users may call (202) 263-4869, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20551.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposal to extend for three years without revision the following 
currently approved information collection:

    Report title: Country Exposure Report for U.S. Branches and 
Agencies of Foreign Banks
    Form number: FFIEC 019.
    OMB number: 7100-0213.
    Frequency of response: Quarterly.
    Affected Public: U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks.
    Number of respondents: 185.
    Estimated average hours per response: 10 hours.

[[Page 49777]]

    Estimated Annual reporting hours: 7,400 hours.
    General Description of Report: This information collection is 
mandatory: 12 U.S.C. 3906 for all agencies; 12 U.S.C. 3105 and 3108 for 
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; sections 7 and 10 
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1817, 1820) for the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and the National Bank Act (12 
U.S.C. 161) for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. This 
information collection is given confidential treatment. (5 U.S.C. 
552(b)(8)). Small businesses (that is, small U.S. branches and agencies 
of foreign banks) are affected.
    Abstract: All individual U.S. branches and agencies of foreign 
banks that have more than $30 million in direct claims on residents of 
foreign countries must file the FFIEC 019 report quarterly. Currently, 
all respondents report adjusted exposure amounts to the five largest 
countries having at least $20 million in total adjusted exposure. The 
Agencies collect this data to monitor the extent to which such branches 
and agencies are pursuing prudent country risk diversification policies 
and limiting potential liquidity pressures. No changes are proposed to 
the FFIEC 019 reporting form or instructions.
Request for Comment
    Comments are invited on:
    a. Whether the information collection is necessary for the proper 
performance of the agencies' functions, including whether the 
information has practical utility;
    b. The accuracy of the agencies' estimates of the burden of the 
information collection, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    c. Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected;
    d. 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
    e. Estimates of capital or start up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be shared among 
the agencies. All comments will become a matter of public record. 
Written comments should address the accuracy of the burden estimates 
and ways to minimize burden as well as other relevant aspects of the 
information collection request.

    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, August 13, 
2003.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 03-21188 Filed 8-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-S