[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75567-75568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31993]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM


Public Meeting: Application by Bank of America Corporation, 
Charlotte, North Carolina, To Merge with FleetBoston Financial 
Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts

AGENCY: Federal Reserve System

ACTION: Notice of Meeting.

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SUMMARY: Two public meetings will be held regarding the notice 
submitted by Bank of America Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina, to 
acquire FleetBoston Financial Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts 
(``FleetBoston''), and its banking and nonbanking subsidiaries pursuant 
to the Bank Holding Company Act (``BHC Act'') and related statutes. The 
purpose of the public meetings is to collect information relating to 
factors the Board is required to consider under the BHC Act.

DATES: The Boston meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2004, 
at 9:00 a.m. EST. The San Francisco meeting will be held on Friday, 
January 16, 2004, at 8:30 a.m. PST.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, will be held at 
the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, 
Massachusetts, and will begin at 9:00 a.m. EST. The public meeting in 
San Francisco, California, will be held at the Federal Reserve Bank of 
San Francisco, 101 Market Street, San Francisco, California, and will 
begin at 8:30 a.m. PST.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the Boston meeting, contact 
Jonathan S. Fine, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of 
Boston, 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. Facsimile: 617/973-
3219. For the San Francisco meeting, contact Joy Hoffmann, Community 
Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, 101 Market 
Street, San Francisco, California 94120. Facsimile: 415/393-1920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 14, 2003, Bank of America 
Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina (``Bank of America''), requested 
the Board's approval under the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1841 
et seq.) (``BHC Act'') and related statutes to merge with FleetBoston. 
The General Counsel, acting pursuant to delegated authority, hereby 
orders that public meetings on the Bank of America/FleetBoston proposal 
be held in Boston, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California.

Purpose and Procedures

    The purpose of the public meetings is to collect information 
relating to factors the Board is required to consider under the BHC 
Act. These factors are (i) the effects of the proposal on the financial 
and managerial resources and future prospects of the companies and 
banks involved in the proposal, (2) competition in the relevant 
markets, and (3) the convenience and needs of the communities to be 
served. Convenience and needs considerations include a review of the 
records of performance of Bank of America and FleetBoston under the 
Community Reinvestment Act, which requires the Board to take into 
account in its review of a bank acquisition or merger proposal each 
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 the institution. 12 U.S.C. 2903.

Procedures for Hearing

    Testimony at the public meeting will be presented to a panel 
consisting of a Presiding Officer and other panel members appointed by 
the Presiding Officer. In conducting the public meeting, the Presiding 
Officer will have the authority and discretion to ensure that the 
meeting proceeds in a fair and orderly manner. In contrast to a formal 
administrative hearing, the rules for taking evidence in an 
administrative proceeding will not apply to this public meeting. Panel 
members may question witnesses, but no cross-examination of witnesses 
will be permitted. The public meeting will be transcribed and 
information regarding procedures for obtaining a copy of the transcript 
will be announced at the public meeting.
    On the basis of the requests received, the Presiding Officer will 
prepare a schedule for persons wishing to testify and establish the 
order of presentation. To ensure an opportunity for all interested 
commenters to present their views, the Presiding Officer may limit the 
time for presentation. Persons not listed on the schedule may be 
permitted to speak at the public meeting if time permits at the 
conclusion of the schedule of witnesses at the discretion of the 
Presiding Officer. Copies of testimony may, but need not, be filed with 
the Presiding Officer before a person's presentation.

Request to Testify

    All persons wishing to testify at the public meeting to be held in 
Boston must submit a written request to Jonathan Fine, Assistant Vice 
President, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, 
Massachusetts 02106 (facsimile: 617/973-3219) not later than 8:00 p.m. 
EST, Wednesday, January 7, 2004. All persons wishing to testify at the 
public meeting to be held in San Francisco must submit a written 
request to Joy Hoffmann, Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve 
Bank of San Francisco, 101 Market Street, San Francisco, California 
94120 (facsimile: 415/393-1920), not later than 5:00 p.m. PST, 
Wednesday, January 7, 2004. In the alternative, persons wishing to 
testify at either public meeting may submit a written request to 
Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary of the Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System 20th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20551 (facsimile 
202/452-3556) not later than 8:00 p.m. EST, Wednesday, January 7, 2004. 
The request must include the following information: (i) identification 
of which meeting the participant wishes to attend, (ii) a brief 
statement of the nature of the expected testimony (including whether 
the testimony will support or oppose the proposed transaction, or 
provide other comment on the proposal) and the estimated time required 
for the presentation; (iii) address and telephone number (e-mail 
address and facsimile number, if available) of the person testifying; 
and (iv) identification of any special needs, such as from persons 
desiring translation services, persons with a physical disability who 
may need

[[Page 75568]]

assistance, or persons requiring visual aids for their presentation. To 
the extent available, translators will be provided to persons wishing 
to present their views in a language other than English if this 
information is included in the request to testify. Persons interested 
only in attending the meeting, but not testifying, need not submit a 
written request to attend.

    By order of the General Counsel, acting pursuant to delegated 
authority, effective December 22, 2003.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 03-31993 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-S