[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 20 (Monday, February 2, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5797-5807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2113]


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FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Part 360

RIN 3064-AD26


Processing of Deposit Accounts in the Event of an Insured 
Depository Institution Failure

AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FDIC is adopting a final rule establishing the FDIC's 
practices for determining deposit and other liability account balances 
at a failed insured depository institution. Except as noted, the FDIC 
practices defined in the final rule represent a continuation of long-
standing FDIC procedures in processing such balances at a failed 
depository institution. The final rule also imposes certain disclosure 
requirements in connection with sweep accounts. The final rule replaces 
the FDIC's interim rule on this subject and applies to all insured 
depository institutions.

DATES: Effective Dates: The final rule is effective March 4, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Marino, Project Manager, 
Division of Resolutions and Receiverships, (202) 898-7151 or 
[email protected]; or Joseph A. DiNuzzo, Counsel, Legal Division, (202) 
898-7349 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Upon the failure of an FDIC-insured depository institution, the 
FDIC must determine the total insured amount for each depositor. 12 
U.S.C. 1821(f). To make this determination, the FDIC must ascertain the 
balances of all deposit accounts owned by the same depositor in the 
same ownership capacity at a failed institution as of the day of 
failure.
    A deposit account balance can be affected by transactions \1\ 
presented during the day. A customer, a third party or the depository 
institution can initiate a deposit account transaction. All depository 
institutions process and post these deposit account transactions 
according to a predetermined set of rules to determine whether to 
include a deposit account transaction either in that day's end-of-day 
ledger balances or in a subsequent day's balances. These rules 
establish cutoff times that vary by institution and by type of deposit 
account transaction--for example, check clearing, Fedwire, ATM, and 
teller transactions. Institutions post transactions initiated before 
the respective cutoff time as part of that day's business and generally 
post transactions initiated after the cutoff time the following 
business day. Further, institutions automatically execute prearranged 
``sweep'' instructions affecting deposit and other liability balances 
at various points throughout the day. The cutoff rules for posting 
deposit account transactions and the prearranged automated instructions 
define the end-of-day balance for each deposit account on any given 
business day.\2\
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    \1\ A deposit account transaction, such as deposits, 
withdrawals, transfers and payments, causes funds to be debited from 
or credited to the account.
    \2\ Some depository institutions operate ``real-time'' deposit 
systems in which some deposit account transactions are posted 
throughout the business day. Most depository institutions, however, 
process at least some deposit account transactions in a ``batch 
mode,'' where deposit account transactions presented before the 
cutoff time are posted that evening or in the early morning hours of 
the following day. With either system--batch or real-time--the 
institution calculates a close-of-business deposit balance for each 
deposit account on each business day.
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    In the past, the FDIC usually took over an institution as receiver 
after it had closed on a Friday. For institutions with

[[Page 5798]]

a few branches in one state, deposit account transactions for the day 
were completed and determining account balances on that day was 
relatively straightforward. The growth of interstate banking and 
branching over the past two decades and the increasing complexity of 
bank products and practices (such as sweep accounts) has made the 
determination of end-of-day account balances on the day of closing much 
more complicated.
    In July 2008, the FDIC issued an interim rule on the ``Processing 
of Deposit Accounts in the Event of an Insured Depository Institution 
Failure'' (``interim rule'').\3\ Generally, the interim rule 
established practices for determining deposit and other liability 
account balances at a failed insured depository institution. Concurrent 
with the adoption of the interim rule, the FDIC issued a related final 
rule requiring the largest insured depository institutions to adopt 
mechanisms that would, in the event of the institution's failure: 
Provide the FDIC with standard deposit account and other customer 
information; and allow the FDIC, as receiver, to place and release 
holds on liability accounts, including deposits (``Large Bank 
Modernization Rule'').\4\
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    \3\ 73 FR 41170 (July 17, 2008).
    \4\ 73 FR 41180 (July 17, 2008).
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    The comment period on the interim rule ended on September 15, 2008. 
We received four comments on the interim rule. The comments are 
summarized below and may be viewed in their entirety on the FDIC's Web 
site at http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/2008/08comAD26.html.\5\
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    \5\ Throughout this preamble the terms ``deposit'' (or 
``domestic deposit''), ``foreign deposit'' and ``international 
banking facility deposit'' identify liabilities having different 
meanings for deposit insurance purposes. A ``deposit'' is used as 
defined in section 3(l) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 
U.S.C. 1813(l)) (``Section 3(l)''). A deposit includes only deposit 
liabilities payable in the United States, typically those deposits 
maintained in a domestic office of an insured depository 
institution. Only deposits meeting these criteria are eligible for 
insurance coverage. Insured depository institutions may maintain 
deposit liabilities in a foreign branch (``foreign deposits''), but 
these liabilities are not deposits in the statutory sense (for 
insurance or depositor preference purposes) for the time that they 
are payable solely at a foreign branch or branches. Insured 
depository institutions also may maintain liabilities in an 
international banking facility (``IBF''). An ``international banking 
facility deposit,'' as defined by the Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System in Regulation D (12 CFR 204.8(a)(2)), also is 
excluded from the definition of ``deposit'' in Section 3(l) and the 
depositor preference statute (12 U.S.C. 1821(d)(11)).
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II. Summary of the Interim Rule

    Since the final rule is essentially the same as the interim rule, 
the details of the interim rule are provided below in the discussion of 
the final rule. In summary, the interim rule: (1) Articulated general 
principles underlying the FDIC's existing and future practices and 
procedures for determining account balances in the event of an insured 
depository institution failure; (2) identified and defined the end-of-
day ledger balance of the deposit or other liability account as the 
account balance the FDIC will use to make deposit insurance 
determinations in institution failures; (3) provided that, in an 
institution failure, the FDIC will use cutoff rules previously applied 
by the institution in establishing the end-of-day ledger balances for 
deposit insurance determination purposes, but noted the possibility 
that, if necessary, the FDIC might establish an FDIC Cutoff Point 
coinciding with the point at which the FDIC, as receiver, acts to stop 
deposit transactions which might result in creating new liabilities or 
extinguishing existing liabilities; (4) indicated how uncollected 
deposited checks and swept funds will be treated, for deposit insurance 
purposes, at failed institutions; and (5) imposed requirements, 
effective July 1, 2009, that insured depository institutions inform 
their sweep account customers of the nature of their swept funds and 
how those funds would be treated if the institution should fail.

III. Comments on the Interim Rule

    As noted, the FDIC received four comments on the interim rule. 
Three of the comments were from banking industry trade associations and 
one was from a large commercial bank. The comments addressed the FDIC 
Cutoff Point, the treatment of swept funds and sweep account 
disclosures.

FDIC Cutoff Point

    Two industry trade association commenters expressed concern over 
the establishment and use of the FDIC Cutoff Point. One suggested an 
FDIC Cutoff Point should be rarely used ``because it would create 
uncertainty and inconsistency in how accounts are handled in a bank 
failure. Each institution has different cutoff times depending on the 
type of transaction as well as geographic location. The associations 
instead support the proposed general approach for determining deposit 
account balances based on the closing ledger balances after the normal 
processes of the failed bank are completed for the day.'' The other 
trade association noted ``its concern that establishing a single cut-
off time is problematic for financial institutions. From a 
technological standpoint, most operational systems at large banks are 
not capable of changing the current cutoff time limitations when 
immediately directed by the FDIC. Additionally, an arbitrary cutoff 
time may theoretically precede normal business days or intraday 
transfers by customers, particularly in reference to those accounts at 
international banks. Therefore, we once again recommend that the FDIC 
utilize the established cutoff times used by banks in their normal 
business hours.''

Treatment of Swept Funds

    One industry trade association noted ``there is continuing 
uncertainty as to how sweep accounts will be affected, and how swept 
funds would be treated in a bank failure. Bankers find the term `swept 
funds' unclear, especially when applied to non-automated transactions. 
It would therefore be useful for the FDIC to clarify the intended scope 
of its regulation, including whether it is meant to apply to funds 
transferred outside the books of a bank.''

Sweep Account Disclosure

    All three industry trade associations agreed with the FDIC's intent 
to provide clear disclosure to sweep account customers. One association 
noted, however, that ``all of the bankers we consulted on the proposal 
said that their sweep agreements currently detail for customers the 
sweep process, how funds are swept into specific investments, and that 
funds swept out of the bank are not FDIC-insured deposits. Thus, it is 
not clear what additional information would be provided as a result of 
an FDIC sweep disclosure requirement.''
    Two industry trade associations and the large bank argued that the 
disclosure requirement should not be overly prescriptive. These comment 
letters noted that sweep arrangements and their processes vary 
considerably across institutions and that specifically worded 
disclosures may be unsuitable when applied across the industry. One of 
the trade associations and the large bank argued that the FDIC should 
not dictate the specific language to be included in the disclosure. 
Alternatively, one trade association expressed mixed feelings 
indicating some of its members feel that a model disclosure form would 
be appropriate.
    All of the commenters recommended a one-time disclosure to the 
customer, most preferably when the account is opened. They noted that 
periodic disclosures would be an unnecessary financial and regulatory 
burden on institutions offering sweep products. One trade association 
indicated ``the FDIC should allow banks to provide

[[Page 5799]]

notice via several established means of communication, such as sweep 
contracts, client letters, transaction confirmation statements, and 
month-end statements. In addition, the final rule should clarify that 
banks will not be required to modify existing client contracts, which 
may have been negotiated years ago. This would allay banker concerns 
that changes in disclosure provisions will be expensive to implement 
and disruptive to sweep customer relationships.''
    Several commenters indicated that the potential for using the FDIC 
Cutoff Point would complicate disclosure. Since the institution cannot 
determine when the FDIC Cutoff Point may be established in the event of 
failure, it would be difficult to explain to customers how their swept 
funds would be treated. Some commenters also wondered whether the 
possibility of provisional holds should be disclosed to sweep 
customers.

IV. The Final Rule

    The final rule essentially is unchanged from the interim rule, 
except that the preamble and the regulatory text provide examples of 
sweep accounts subject to the final rule and explain how the FDIC will 
treat each of those sweep arrangements in the event of an institution 
failure. The final rule also clarifies how the FDIC will treat repo 
sweeps in the event of an institution failure and slightly modifies the 
disclosure requirements for sweep products. The following is an 
explanation of the final rule.

Underlying Principles

    The final rule describes the method for determining the value and 
nature of claims against a failed insured depository institution to be 
used in the event of failure. Upon taking control of a failed insured 
depository institution the receiver must construct an ending balance 
sheet for the depository institution (which becomes the beginning 
balance sheet for the receivership) and determine the value and nature 
of the claims against the failed institution, including claims to be 
made by depositors, general creditors, subordinated creditors, and 
shareholders. Those claims determinations will be made consistent with 
the principles described below, which are unchanged from the principles 
articulated in the interim rule and, for the most part, reflect 
existing FDIC practices and procedures used to determine account 
balances at institution failures.
     In making deposit insurance determinations and in 
determining the value and nature of claims against the receivership on 
the institution's date of failure the FDIC, as insurer and receiver, 
will treat deposits and other liabilities of the failed institution 
according to the ownership and nature of the underlying obligations 
based on end-of-day ledger balances for each account using, except as 
expressly provided otherwise in the final rule, the depository 
institution's normal posting procedures.
     In its role as receiver of a failed insured depository 
institution, in order to ensure the proper distribution of the failed 
institution's assets under the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(d)(11)) as of 
the FDIC Cutoff Point, the FDIC will use its best efforts to take all 
steps necessary to stop the generation, via transactions or transfers 
coming from or going outside the institution, of new liabilities or 
extinguishing existing liabilities for the depository institution.\6\
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    \6\ This principle draws a sharp distinction between 
transactions involving the transfer of funds into or out of the 
failed institution and transactions intended to move funds between 
accounts or otherwise on the books and records of the failed 
institution. The receiver will act to stop the inflow and outflow of 
cash/assets at the point at which it takes control of the failed 
institution; thus, transactions involving the transfer of assets 
into or out of the failed institution may be blocked or suspended. 
Transactions internal to the failed institution's operations 
initiated prior to the FDIC Cutoff Point--including those initiated 
through prearranged automated instructions--will still be conducted 
after the point of failure as part of a necessary process to arrive 
at the end-of-day ledger balances and to establish the nature of the 
claim recognized by the receiver.
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     End-of-day ledger balances are subject to corrections for 
posted transactions that are inconsistent with the above principles.

End-of-Day Ledger Balances and Cutoff Points

    As in the interim rule, in the final rule the deposit or liability 
account balance used for deposit insurance determination purposes is 
defined as the end-of-day ledger balance of the deposit or other 
liability on the day of failure. Except as noted, the FDIC will use the 
cutoff rules previously applied by the failed insured depository 
institution in establishing the end-of-day ledger balance for deposit 
insurance determination purposes. However, as under the interim rule, 
the final rule allows the FDIC to establish an FDIC Cutoff Point, 
coinciding with the point in time at which the receiver acts to stop 
deposit transactions which might result in creating new liabilities or 
extinguishing existing liabilities resulting from external 
transactions. The FDIC Cutoff Point will facilitate the orderly winding 
up of the institution and the FDIC's final determination of the ledger 
balances of the deposit accounts.
    The FDIC's intention is to complete internal postings of 
transactions presented or authorized prior to the institution's normal 
cutoff rules or the FDIC Cutoff Point, as applicable, according to the 
depository institution's normal procedures--thus, as explained below, 
the nature of the liability may change after the FDIC Cutoff Point. Any 
transaction--including sweep arrangements--would be completed for that 
day according to normal procedures if it involves only the movement of 
funds between accounts within the confines of the depository 
institution. Some sweep arrangements shift funds within the depository 
institution from a deposit account to ownership in a sweep investment 
vehicle. The value and nature of these claims will be determined as 
they rest on the books and records of the depository institution as 
reflected in its end-of-day ledger balances.
    If the institution's ordinary cutoff time for the day's business on 
the day of failure for any particular kind of transaction precedes the 
FDIC Cutoff Point, the institution's ordinary cutoff time will be used. 
Where the institution's ordinary cutoff time for an individual kind of 
transaction is later than the FDIC Cutoff Point, the institution's 
cutoff time will be replaced by the FDIC Cutoff Point. The ``Applicable 
Cutoff Time'' used for any kind of transaction, thus, will be the 
earlier of the institution's ordinary cutoff time or the FDIC Cutoff 
Point. Different kinds of transactions may have different Applicable 
Cutoff Times. Transactions occurring after the Applicable Cutoff Time 
will be posted as a subsequent day's business, if the operations of the 
failed institution are carried on by a successor institution or by the 
FDIC as receiver or insurer.
    As under the interim rule, in a depository institution failure 
where deposit operations are not continued by a successor institution, 
account transactions on the day of failure also will be posted to the 
applicable accounts as described above. Since there is no next business 
day in this case, rather than posting transactions occurring after the 
Applicable Cutoff Time as the next day's business, such transactions 
will be handled depending on the nature of the transaction. In the case 
of a cash or other deposit occurring after the Applicable Cutoff Time, 
such funds--which would not be included in the end-of-day ledger 
balance used for claims purposes--would be disbursed to the account 
owner. If a cash or other withdrawal is made after the Applicable

[[Page 5800]]

Cutoff Time, such funds--again which would not be included in the end-
of-day ledger balance used for claims purposes--could be used by the 
receiver to satisfy a claim against the receivership.\7\
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    \7\ A deposit account withdrawal in the form of an official 
check drawn on the failed depository institution would not be used 
by the receiver to satisfy the insured deposit claim. Official items 
are considered to be deposits for deposit insurance purposes; 
therefore, such official withdrawals would be treated differently 
from cash withdrawals.
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    Like the interim rule, the final rule does not establish any new 
operational requirements for insured institutions relative to the FDIC 
Cutoff Point. Also, the final rule explicitly authorizes the FDIC, as 
receiver, to correct errors and omissions after the day of failure and 
reflect them in the end-of-day ledger balances.
    In response to the comments on this issue, FDIC reiterates that the 
final rule imposes no requirements on institutions to establish 
mechanisms or in any way prepare for the possibility that the FDIC 
would use its own FDIC Cutoff Point if the institution should fail. The 
FDIC emphasizes that it will apply the institution's normal cutoff 
times in most cases, but establishing an FDIC Cutoff Point may be 
essential to efficiently produce end-of-day ledger balances in some 
situations. Strictly applying a depository institution's pre-
established cutoff times in all circumstances is inconsistent with the 
duties and responsibilities of the receiver--as articulated in one of 
the principles, specifically in the event of failure the receiver will 
take control of the failed institution and simultaneously will act to 
stop deposit or other transactions involving creating new liabilities 
or extinguishing existing liabilities. In many cases, this can be done 
consistent with the institution's normal cutoff times, but in others it 
cannot and the FDIC will establish an FDIC Cutoff Point. If the 
receiver is successful in stopping these external transactions after it 
takes control, there will be no new transactions to be posted affected 
by an FDIC Cutoff Point. In this case, the end-of-day ledger balances 
on the day of failure will be calculated using the failed institution's 
pre-established cutoff points. If the receiver is unsuccessful in 
stopping the external transactions, the FDIC Cutoff Point establishes a 
basis for posting these transactions the following day, if that is the 
course of action selected by the receiver.

Treatment of Uncollected Deposited Checks

    As with the interim rule, under the final rule, in determining 
deposit account balances at a failed insured depository institution, 
the FDIC will deem all checks deposited into and posted to a deposit 
account by the Applicable Cutoff Time as part of the end-of-day ledger 
balance for insurance purposes. This treatment of uncollected deposited 
checks is warranted because: Depository institutions use and calculate 
the ledger balance in a more consistent way than other balances; it is 
consistent with the way that depository institutions report deposits on 
Call Reports and Thrift Financial Reports; it is the balance the FDIC 
uses to determine an institution's assessment base for calculating the 
institution's deposit insurance assessments; \8\ it is the easiest 
balance for depositors to understand; and it is the most frequently 
used balance on financial statements provided to customers. Using 
ledger balances also is consistent with the definition of a deposit in 
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (``FDI Act''), which includes 
balances both ``conditionally'' or ``unconditionally'' credited to a 
deposit account. 12 U.S.C. 1813(l).
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    \8\ The FDIC's recent revisions to the FDIC's risk-based 
assessment system have made an institution's assessment base, which 
is used to determine its deposit insurance assessment, virtually 
identical with an institution's deposits as defined in the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Act. The revisions eliminated the ``float'' 
deductions previously used to compute an institution's assessment 
base; hence, deposits posted to a deposit account but not yet 
collected are now part of the assessment base. The stated rationale 
for eliminating the float deduction from the calculation of an 
institution's assessment base was that such deductions were small 
and decreasing as a result of legal, technological and system 
payment changes. 71 FR 69720 (Nov. 30, 2006).
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    Further, especially in a large depository institution failure, 
using end-of-day ledger balances may be the only operationally feasible 
means for the FDIC to make deposit insurance determinations timely and 
expeditiously. As discussed in more detail in the Large Bank 
Modernization Rule, the FDIC is statutorily obligated to pay insured 
deposits ``as soon as possible'' after an insured depository 
institution fails. 12 U.S.C. 1821(f)(1). The FDIC places a high 
priority on providing access to insured deposits promptly and, in the 
past, has usually been able to allow most depositors access to their 
deposits on the business day following closing. The largest insured 
institutions today are much bigger than any institution has been in the 
past and are growing increasingly complex. Providing prompt access to 
depositors if one of these institutions were to fail would prove 
difficult if adjustments for uncollected funds were necessary.

Sweep Accounts and Their Treatment in the Event of an Institution 
Failure

    A sweep account covered by the final rule involves the pre-arranged 
transfer of funds from a deposit account to: (1) An investment vehicle 
located outside the depository institution, or (2) another account or 
investment vehicle located within the depository institution. The pre-
arranged transfer of funds out of the deposit account typically occurs 
prior to the establishment of the depository institution's normal end-
of-day balances for the deposit account. Such arrangements also may 
call for a return of the transferred funds to the deposit account the 
following business day in a cycle that repeats itself daily.
    After funds are swept from the originating deposit account, the 
sweep process may involve one or more intermediate transfer steps 
before the funds arrive at their final destination on any given 
business day, as reflected in the depository institution's end-of-day 
balances. Consistent with the general principles identified in the 
final rule (and discussed above), the FDIC will make its claims 
determinations based on deposit and other account balances reflected on 
the books and records of the depository institution after all normal 
end-of-day processing has been completed.
    In making claims determinations on funds swept from a deposit 
account, yet still residing within the depository institution at the 
institution's normal end-of-day, the FDIC will use the following 
guidelines:
     Ownership of the funds and the nature of the claim will be 
based on records established and maintained by the depository 
institution for that specific account or investment vehicle.
     Depositor owned funds residing in a general ledger account 
as of the institution's end-of-day will be treated as a deposit for 
insurance purposes. Further, in calculating deposit insurance, these 
funds will be aggregated with the balance in the deposit account from 
which they originally were swept if their ownership interest has not 
changed. If there has been a change in ownership, the funds will be 
aggregated with the transaction deposit account balances of the new 
owner.
     The full amount of swept funds attributable to an 
individual customer residing in an omnibus or other commingled account 
as of the depository institution's normal end-of-day will be treated as 
belonging to that customer, regardless of any netting practices 
established by the depository institution.

[[Page 5801]]

    In the case of sweeps out of the depository institution into 
deposits or investment vehicles not residing on the books of the 
depository institution, in the event of failure the swept funds also 
will be treated consistent with their status in the end-of-day ledger 
balances of the depository institution and the external entity. If an 
expected transfer to the external sweep investment vehicle is not 
completed prior to the FDIC Cutoff Point, coinciding with the time the 
FDIC as receiver takes control of the failed institution, the external 
investment will not be purchased and the funds will remain in the 
account identified on the end-of-day ledger balance.
    Most sweep arrangements involve a transactional deposit account. 
Under the final rule, the FDIC will treat deposits and other 
liabilities of the failed institution according to the ownership and 
nature of the underlying obligations based on end-of-day ledger 
balances for each account using the depository institution's normal 
posting procedures, except that, in its role as receiver of a failed 
insured depository institution, the FDIC will use its best efforts to 
take all steps necessary to stop the generation, via transactions or 
transfers coming from or going outside the institution, of new 
liabilities or extinguishing existing liabilities for the depository 
institution. In other words, at the point the FDIC as receiver takes 
control of the failed institution, it will use its best efforts to stop 
funds from flowing into or out of the depository institution (e.g., 
blocking wire transactions). The final rule does not require a 
depository institution to adjust its systems, policies or procedures to 
accommodate the receiver's responsibility in this regard.
    If, after taking control of the failed depository institution, the 
receiver is successful in stopping funds from flowing into or out of 
the depository institution, the end-of-day balances generated from the 
depository institution's normal posting processes will be used for 
insurance purposes. Only if the receiver cannot stop funds from flowing 
into or out of the depository institution will adjustments be 
necessary. Thus, the treatment of swept funds may vary from the 
depository institution's normal end-of-day balances if the receiver 
cannot stop all funds from flowing into or out of the depository 
institution.
    The following is a discussion of how, under the final rule, the 
FDIC will treat funds associated with various sweep products in the 
event of failure.
    Deposit-to-deposit sweeps. A deposit-to-deposit sweep moves funds 
between two deposit accounts within the same insured depository 
institution (``internal sweep''). Deposit-to-deposit sweeps include 
``zero balance accounts'' (``ZBAs'') where funds are moved between a 
master demand deposit account (``parent'') and various subsidiary 
demand deposit accounts (``child''), typically leaving a zero balance 
in the subsidiary accounts at the institution's end-of-day. ZBAs allow 
a customer to have multiple demand deposit accounts, each with a 
different business purpose, while permitting an automatic movement of 
funds between accounts necessary to fund deposit transactions. Under 
the final rule, the FDIC will treat for insurance purposes each account 
as it is determined at the institution's normal end-of-day for each 
account. Since ZBA arrangements typically call for all child accounts 
to have a zero balance at the institution's end-of-day, then all child 
accounts associated with a ZBA will have been reduced to zero with all 
of the customer's funds residing in the parent account.
    Many depository institutions have established ``retail sweep'' or 
``reserve sweep'' products where a single account is divided into two 
sub-accounts--a transaction account and a money market deposit account 
(``MMDA''). Retail sweep accounts are established for the purpose of 
lowering required reserves. The amount and frequency of sweeps are 
determined by the depository institution using an algorithm designed to 
minimize required reserves yet still honor the limit of six 
transactions per month imposed on MMDAs. The customer may be unaware 
that this sweep mechanism is in place, as it may not be indicated in 
the original account agreement signed by the customer. For statement 
purposes the customer sees all deposit balances as being in the 
transaction account; the MMDA is not indicated. Under the final rule a 
sweep account involves the pre-arranged transfer of funds from a 
deposit account to another account or investment vehicle. In the case 
of retail or reserve sweep accounts only a single deposit account has 
been established; thus, under the final rule retail or reserve sweep 
arrangements would not be treated as a sweep account, rather as a 
single account as viewed by the customer.
    An alternative arrangement with a single account, also not 
considered to be a sweep product under the final rule, involves a MMDA 
with a linked NOW account (sub-account). The customer only is aware of 
the MMDA, as all funds reported on statements are listed as MMDA 
balances. Any transactions presented against this account are cleared 
using the NOW sub-account. The depository institution uses an algorithm 
for transferring funds from the MMDA to the NOW sub-account to ensure 
the NOW sub-account has the necessary funds to clear transactions yet 
honor the limit of six monthly transactions from the MMDA.
    Eurodollar and IBF sweep accounts. Eurodollar and IBF accounts also 
are two examples of internal sweep investment vehicles. As indicated in 
the account agreement, funds in the deposit account above a specified 
threshold are swept into the Eurodollar or IBF account owned by the 
same customer. Thus, at the end of the business day, the customer's 
funds in excess of the pre-established threshold are reported as 
residing in a Eurodollar account (typically associated with the 
institution's branch in the Cayman Islands or Bahamas) or an IBF 
account. At the start of the next business day, the depository 
institution will sweep the balance back into the domestic deposit 
account. The cycle typically repeats itself daily.
    In the case of Eurodollar and IBF sweep accounts the FDIC will, for 
insurance purposes, use deposit and account balances as they are 
reflected as of the institution's normal end-of-day. Thus, funds 
remaining in the domestic deposit account (below the pre-established 
threshold) will be treated as a deposit for insurance purposes. Funds 
that have been swept into the Eurodollar or IBF account, as reflected 
on the institution's end-of-day records, will be treated as unsecured 
general creditor claims against the receivership. Usually the 
underlying contract for a Eurodollar sweep specifies that the 
obligation at the foreign branch is not payable in the United States 
and, hence, is not a deposit,\9\ for deposit insurance and depositor 
preference purposes. Upon an institution's failure, amounts in a 
Eurodollar account in a foreign branch of the failed institution are 
treated as unsecured, non-deposit liabilities and are not eligible for 
insurance or depositor preference status. The same treatment will apply 
to sweeps to IBFs, which by statutory definition are not

[[Page 5802]]

deposits. Eurodollar and IBF accountholders will thus be accorded 
general creditor status in the receivership estate.
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    \9\ The definition of ``deposit'' in the FDI Act expressly 
excludes: ``any obligation of a depository institution which is 
carried on the books and records of an office of such bank or 
savings association located outside of any State, unless (i) such 
obligation would be a deposit if it were carried on the books and 
records of the depository institution, and would be payable at an 
office located in any State; and (ii) the contract evidencing the 
obligation provides by express terms, and not by implication, for 
payment at an office of the depository institution located in any 
State.'' 12 U.S.C. 1813(l)(5)(A). Also, the FDI Act defines IBF 
obligations as non-deposits, which are not eligible for deposit 
insurance or deposit preference status. 12 U.S.C. 1813(l)(5)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Repo sweep accounts. Repo sweep arrangements typically are 
conducted via internal transfers on the institution's books. As with 
Eurodollar and IBF sweep accounts, repo sweep arrangements move funds 
out of a deposit account as of the depository institution's end-of-day. 
The swept funds could be processed differently depending on the 
institution's particular sweep mechanism.
    In a properly executed repo sweep arrangement, as of the depository 
institution's normal end-of-day, the sweep customer either becomes the 
legal owner of identified assets (typically government securities) 
subject to a repurchase agreement or obtains a perfected security 
interest in those assets. In such cases, where the sweep customer 
either owns or possesses a perfected security interest in the 
identified securities, upon an institution failure, the FDIC will 
recognize the customer's ownership or security interest in the 
securities. If the value of the securities at least equals the dollar 
amount of funds swept from the customer's account, the customer's swept 
funds will be fully protected in the event of failure. After failure, 
the disposition of the swept funds invested in securities will depend 
on the nature of the transaction structured by the FDIC. In a purchase 
and assumption transaction, the securities and the underlying repo 
arrangement will be transferred to an acquiring institution, which 
could include a bridge institution. Under this transaction structure, 
the funds normally would be swept back into the customer's deposit 
account on the business day following failure, thus giving the customer 
full access to these funds at that point. In a payoff of insured 
deposits, the customer would receive a check or other payment from the 
FDIC to reacquire the customer's interest in the securities according 
to the FDIC normal procedures.
    The FDIC has observed that some institutions' repo arrangements are 
not properly executed. In those situations, the sweep customer obtains 
neither an ownership interest nor a perfected security interest in the 
applicable securities. A common example is where a customer's swept 
funds rest (as of the institution's end-of-day) in an account in which 
a pool of securities are also transferred, but where the customer has 
neither an ownership interest or a perfected security interest in any 
identified security(ies). In such cases, upon an institution failure, 
under the final rule the FDIC will treat the swept funds as if they had 
not left the deposit account from which they originated. The FDIC notes 
that, in cases where repo sweeps are improperly executed (so that the 
customer obtains neither an ownership interest or perfected security 
interest in the applicable securities), institutions should report the 
swept funds as deposits in their Call or Thrift Financial Reports, for 
assessment and other purposes.
    Money market mutual fund sweep accounts. Money market mutual fund 
sweeps are structured in a variety of ways. In some cases the money 
market mutual fund shares are held directly in the name of the sweep 
account holder, but in other cases the money market mutual fund account 
is either in the name of the depository institution or in the name of 
the transfer agent for the mutual fund. Shares are sold or allocated to 
the individual sweep customer depending on the particulars of the sweep 
arrangement. Some money market mutual fund sweep arrangements result in 
a ``same-day'' purchase of fund shares while ``next-day'' sweeps delay 
the purchase of fund shares by the customer until the day following the 
investment decision. In some cases the depository institution will wire 
funds to the money market mutual fund in payment for shares purchased, 
while in other cases the money market mutual fund will maintain an 
account at the depository institution for the purpose of accepting new 
purchases. Under the final rule, the FDIC will treat funds swept to a 
money market mutual fund depending on whether it is a same-day or next-
day sweep arrangement, and whether the money market mutual fund 
maintains an account at the depository institution used for share 
purchases. These different variations of money market fund sweep 
arrangements and the FDIC's treatment of them in the event of an 
institution failure are discussed below.
    The first type of account is a same-day money market mutual fund 
sweep where the mutual fund does not maintain an account at the 
depository institution. The investment decision on funds to be swept 
from a customer's account typically is made in the early afternoon. 
Funds are wired to the money market mutual fund prior to a pre-
established cutoff point that same afternoon, usually by 4 p.m. Most 
failed depository institutions are closed after 4 p.m. If this is the 
case, on the day of failure, funds associated with same-day money 
market mutual fund sweeps will already have been wired outside the 
depository institution prior to the failure. In this case, the sweep 
transaction will be deemed as completed and the customer's deposit 
account will reflect the sweep before arriving at the end-of-day 
balance for that day. In a purchase and assumption transaction, the 
customer's deposit account associated with the sweep product normally 
would be transferred to the acquiring institution, which could include 
a bridge bank. Under this arrangement, the funds held with the money 
market mutual fund would be available to be swept back into the 
customer's deposit account on the business day following failure.\10\ 
In a payoff the sweep customer will receive a check or other means of 
payment for the value of the ownership interest in the money market 
mutual fund.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ This assumes the assets of the money market mutual fund are 
sufficient to maintain a $1.00 share price. If the value of the 
money market share price is compromised below $1.00 the sweep 
customer's interests will reflect this loss in value. The customer 
is not eligible to file a claim against the receiver to recover the 
loss in value of the money market mutual fund shares as such shares 
are not part of the receivership estate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For same-day money market mutual fund sweeps, the depository 
institution may be closed prior to completion of the transmission of 
funds to the money market mutual fund. In this case, the FDIC as 
receiver will use its best efforts to stop this transmission. If the 
transmission of funds is blocked, the sweep transaction will not be 
completed and the customer's deposit account will not reflect the sweep 
before arriving at the end-of-day balance for that day. In this case, 
for insurance purposes, the funds swept on the day of failure will be 
treated as if they had not left the originating deposit account.
    The second type of arrangement is a next-day money market mutual 
fund sweep where the mutual fund does not maintain an account at the 
depository institution. The investment decision on funds to be swept 
from a customer's account typically is made after the day's 
transactions are posted against the deposit account, usually in the 
late evening or early the following morning. Funds above the pre-
established threshold are swept from the deposit account into a 
temporary holding account, which could be an omnibus account, where 
they reside as of the institution's normal end-of-day. The transaction 
with the money market mutual fund to complete the purchase of shares is 
made the following business day, usually in the morning. For insurance 
purposes the FDIC will use end-of-day ledger balances on the day of 
failure. In this case, on the day of

[[Page 5803]]

failure, funds associated with next-day money market mutual fund sweeps 
for that day will not have left the depository institution, but will 
reside in the omnibus account. In this case, for insurance purposes, 
the funds swept on the day of failure will be treated as if they had 
not left the originating deposit account. Funds already residing in the 
money market mutual fund resulting from prior day sweeps will be 
treated as described above for fully completed same-day money market 
mutual fund sweeps.
    Under the next-day sweep arrangement, on any given day the deposit 
account balance could fall below the pre-established threshold, thus 
triggering a sweep of funds from the money market mutual fund to the 
deposit account. In this case, prior to the depository institution's 
normal end-of-day, the deposit account will be credited for the 
shortfall below the pre-established threshold and the omnibus account 
used by the institution for this next-day money market mutual fund 
sweep product will receive an offsetting debit entry. As of the 
depository institution's normal end-of-day, the next-day money market 
mutual fund omnibus account will consist of a series of debit entries 
(reflecting instances where funds are to be moved from the money market 
mutual fund to a deposit account) and credit entries (where funds are 
to be moved from a deposit account to the money market mutual fund). 
For claims purposes, the FDIC will not net the debits and credit 
entries in the omnibus account. In effect, as discussed in the previous 
paragraph, the sweep transaction with the money market mutual fund will 
not have occurred as of the depository institution's end-of-day--and 
the FDIC will regard the funds as remaining in the money market mutual 
fund. Thus, the debit entry in the omnibus account will be used to 
offset the corresponding credit to the originating deposit account to 
determine account balances for insurance purposes.
    A variation of the next-day money market mutual fund sweep does not 
involve the use of a temporary holding account such as an omnibus 
account. Under this structure the investment decision on funds to be 
swept from a customer's account still is made after the day's 
transactions are posted against the deposit account, but excess funds 
are not debited from the deposit account until the following morning, 
after end-of-day balances have been determined. Funds are wired to the 
money market mutual fund the following business day as well. For 
insurance purposes, the FDIC will use end-of-day ledger balances on the 
day of failure. In this case, on the day of failure, funds associated 
with next-day money market mutual fund sweeps for that day will not 
have been removed from the deposit account; thus the sweep will not 
have occurred on the day of failure and all funds will reside in the 
deposit account. Funds already residing in the money market mutual fund 
resulting from prior day sweeps will be treated in the event of failure 
as described above for fully completed same-day money market mutual 
fund sweeps.
    The third type of account is a money market mutual fund sweep where 
the mutual fund maintains an account with the depository institution 
for the purpose of accepting new share purchases. Under this 
arrangement funds swept out of a customer's deposit account are 
credited, either directly or through a series of intermediate 
transactions, to an account owned solely by the money market mutual 
fund. The structure does not require that funds be wired to the money 
market mutual fund in order to purchase new shares. The movement of 
funds from the customer's deposit account into another account at the 
depository institution, in this case one owned by the money market 
mutual fund, constitutes an internal deposit transaction. Accordingly, 
in the event of failure, the FDIC as receiver would process all 
internal transactions prior to arriving at end-of-day balances used for 
insurance purposes. If the depository institution's ownership records 
establish the money market mutual fund as the actual owner of the swept 
funds,\11\ these sweep transactions would be deemed to be completed. In 
the event of failure the funds residing in the money market mutual fund 
would be treated as described earlier, depending on whether the FDIC 
engages in a purchase and assumption or payoff transaction to resolve 
the institution. If the depository institution's ownership records 
establish the depositors as the actual owners of the swept funds, such 
as if the money market mutual fund's account was established for the 
benefit of the sweep customers, then the swept funds would be deemed to 
be owned by the sweep customers. In this case, for insurance purposes, 
the funds swept on the day of failure will be treated as if they had 
not left the deposit account.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ Deposits owned by a mutual fund are insured under the 
FDIC's insurance rules as funds owned by a corporation. 12 CFR 
330.11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Fed Funds sweep accounts. A Fed Funds account is another example of 
an internal sweep investment vehicle. These sweep arrangements function 
similarly to a Eurodollar or IBF sweep. Thus, at the end of the 
business day, the customer's funds in excess of the pre-established 
threshold are swept to a Fed Funds account, a liability of the 
depository institution. At the start of the next business day, the 
depository institution will sweep the balance back to the deposit 
account. The cycle typically repeats itself daily.
    In the case of Fed Funds sweep accounts the FDIC will for insurance 
purposes use deposit and account balances as they are reflected as of 
the institution's normal end-of-day. Thus, funds remaining in the 
domestic deposit account (below the pre-established threshold) will be 
treated as a deposit for insurance purposes. Funds having been swept to 
the Fed Funds account, as reflected on the institution's end-of-day 
records, will be treated as other similarly situated Fed Funds 
liabilities. Upon an institution's failure, amounts in a Fed Funds 
account in a failed institution generally are treated as unsecured, 
non-deposit liabilities and are not eligible for insurance or depositor 
preference status.
    Holding company commercial paper sweep account. Under this 
arrangement the investment decision on funds to be swept from a 
customer's account typically is made after the day's transactions are 
posted against the deposit account, usually in the late evening or 
early the following morning. The customer's funds in excess of the pre-
established threshold are swept out of the deposit account to a general 
ledger account on the depository institution's books. The depository 
institution, acting as agent for its holding company, will book the 
commercial paper on the holding company's books. The treatment of the 
swept funds in the event of failure will depend on the ownership of the 
general ledger account into which the funds are swept. If the general 
ledger account is held for the benefit of the sweep customers, then a 
purchase of commercial paper will not have been completed. Thus, the 
swept funds will be treated as if they had not left the deposit 
account. If the general ledger account is owned solely by the holding 
company, then a purchase of commercial paper will have been completed. 
Thus, the swept funds will be treated as having purchased the holding 
company commercial paper.
    If the swept funds have purchased the holding company commercial 
paper, in the event of the depository institution's failure the ability 
of the sweep customer to redeem the commercial paper the day following 
failure will depend upon a number of factors, including the holding 
company's liquidity position and

[[Page 5804]]

whether it enters bankruptcy. In a purchase and assumption transaction, 
the FDIC as receiver normally will seek to recover the swept funds, but 
the ability of the sweep customer to access these funds, and the 
ultimate recovery of these funds, may depend on factors outside the 
control of the receivership. In the event of a payoff, the sweep 
customer's recovery of swept funds will likewise be limited by the same 
factors outside the control of the receivership.
    Loan sweep account. A loan sweep account uses a customer's excess 
deposit balances to automatically pay down a loan or other credit 
account balance at the depository institution. This is another example 
of an internal sweep transaction. In this case excess balances in a 
customer's deposit account, above a pre-established threshold, are 
swept out of the deposit account and used to pay down a loan at the 
depository institution. In the event of failure this transaction will 
be completed prior to determining end-of-day deposit and account 
balances. Thus, the funds will have been swept out of the deposit 
account and used to reduce the loan balance. For insurance purposes the 
FDIC would treat the funds residing in the deposit account, those below 
the pre-established threshold, as a deposit account.
Disclosure Requirements
    The interim rule imposed certain disclosure requirements in 
connection with sweep accounts, effective July 1, 2009. In particular, 
institutions must prominently disclose in all sweep account contracts 
and account statements reflecting sweep account balances whether swept 
funds are deposits (as defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(l)). If the funds are 
not deposits, the institution must further disclose the status such 
funds would have if the institution failed. In addition, the interim 
rule required that the disclosures be consistent with how the 
institution reports such funds on its Call Reports or Thrift Financial 
Reports. In issuing the interim rule, the FDIC asked for comments on 
specific issues associated with the sweep account disclosure 
requirements.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ Specifically, the FDIC asked for information on what 
disclosures are currently made in connection with sweep account 
arrangements which allow sweep customers to ascertain the treatment 
of such funds if the institution should fail? Also, what form the 
disclosures take, when they are provided and what is their 
frequency? In addition, the FDIC asked if the disclosures are 
consistent with how such funds are reported in Call and Thrift 
Financial Reports.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed below, based on comments received, the final rule 
reflects modifications to the disclosure requirements in the interim 
rule. Under the final rule, effective July 1, 2009, institutions must 
prominently disclose in writing to sweep account customers whether 
their swept funds are deposits within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 1813(l): 
(1) Within sixty days after July 1, 2009, and no less than annually 
thereafter, (2) in all new sweep account contracts, and (3) in renewals 
of existing sweep account contracts. If the funds are not deposits, the 
institution must further disclose the status such funds would have if 
the institution failed--for example, general creditor status or secured 
creditor status. Such disclosures must be consistent with how the 
institution reports such funds on its Call Reports or Thrift Financial 
Reports. The disclosure requirements do not apply to sweep accounts 
where: The transfers are within a single account, or a sub-account; or 
the sweep account involves only deposit-to-deposit sweeps, such as 
zero-balance accounts, unless the sweep results in a change in the 
customer's insurance coverage.
    As noted in the comment summary, the three industry trade 
associations that commented on this issue agreed with the FDIC's intent 
to have institutions provide clear disclosures to sweep account 
customers. In response to the comment that institutions already provide 
adequate disclosures to sweep account customers, the FDIC notes that 
under the final rule (as under the interim rule) no change to such 
preexisting disclosures would be required as long as they indicate: (1) 
Whether the swept funds are deposits; and (2) if the swept funds are 
not deposits, how they would be treated if the institution should fail.
    Several commenters asked for greater clarity regarding which sweep 
products would be subject to the disclosure requirement. Under the 
final rule a sweep account involves the pre-arranged transfer of funds 
from a deposit account to: (1) An investment vehicle located outside 
the depository institution, or (2) another account or investment 
vehicle located within the depository institution. The transaction must 
be pre-arranged according to the terms of the account agreement which 
specifies rules governing the automated transfer of funds out of and 
into the deposit account. Further, the funds must be transferred from a 
deposit account to an account or investment vehicle, either located 
within or outside the depository institution. Under the final rule, the 
disclosure requirements do not apply to arrangements where the customer 
initiates transfers through instructions provided to the depository 
institution, which could be on a daily basis, to move funds from a 
deposit account to another account or investment vehicle. The 
disclosure rules also do not apply to arrangements where transfers are 
within a single account (to a sub-account), such as may be the case 
with retail or reserve sweeps. In addition, the disclosure rules do not 
apply to other deposit-to-deposit sweeps, such as ZBAs, unless the 
sweep results in a change in the customer's insurance coverage. In the 
deposit-to-deposit sweep arrangements of which the FDIC is aware, the 
sweep does not change the insurance coverage available to the customer.
    The FDIC agrees with the commenters who stated that the disclosure 
requirements should not be overly prescriptive and, specifically, 
should not require that specific language be included in the 
disclosures. Hence, the final rule does not impose specific disclosure 
language, allowing institutions to fashion their own disclosures, as 
long as they satisfy the disclosure requirements.
    Despite the comment that the disclosures should be required to be 
provided just one time to sweep account customers, the FDIC continues 
to believe that, in order for the disclosure requirements to be 
meaningful and effective, they must be provided at the initiation of a 
new sweep account agreement between the institution and the customer, 
in all agreement renewals and on a periodic basis, but not less than 
annually.
    The FDIC agrees with the trade association that suggested 
flexibility in communicating the disclosure requirements to sweep 
customers. Hence, in complying with the final rule, institutions need 
not modify their existing contracts with sweep customers, but the 
disclosures should be made in all new agreements and agreement 
renewals. Also, an institution may comply with the requirement for the 
initial and periodic disclosures through, for example, client letters, 
transaction confirmation statements or account statements. The 
requirement in the interim rule that such disclosures be provided in 
account statements, therefore, is not part of the final rule.
    The FDIC agrees with the comments that the potential, under the 
final rule, for the FDIC using the FDIC Cutoff Point (instead of the 
institution's ordinary cutoff point) upon the institution failure 
complicates the disclosure requirements. As discussed above, for 
internal sweep arrangements, it would not matter whether the FDIC uses 
the institution's ordinary cutoff point or an FDIC Cutoff Point, the 
sweep would still be completed as of the failure date; thus,

[[Page 5805]]

the status of the swept funds would be the same under either cutoff 
point. For external sweep arrangements (for example, external money 
market mutual fund sweeps), the required disclosures should indicate 
the possibility that, if the institution should fail, the applicable 
funds might not be swept to the source outside the institution and 
should indicate how the funds would be treated in that situation--for 
example, they would be treated as deposits and insured under the 
applicable insurance rules and limits.
    As to the question raised in the comments about this issue, the 
final rule does not require institutions to disclose to customers the 
possibility that the FDIC would impose provisional holds on their 
deposits if the institution should fail.

VIII. Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Public Law 106-102, 113 
Stat. 1338, 1471 (Nov. 12, 1999), requires the Federal banking agencies 
to use plain language in all proposed and final rules published after 
January 1, 2000. No commenters suggested that the interim rule was 
unclear, and the final rule is substantively similar to the interim 
rule.

IX. Paperwork Reduction Act

    OMB Number: New Collection.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Insured depository institutions offering sweep 
account products.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,170 to 1,970.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25-43 hours per respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 28,870-84,400 hours.
    Background/General Description of Collection: The final rule 
contains a collection of information pursuant to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) (``PRA''). In particular, the 
final rule requires, subject to a delayed effective date, depository 
institutions offering sweep products to disclose whether the swept 
funds are deposits for insurance purposes and, if not, how these funds 
would be treated in the event of failure. In accordance with the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the FDIC may not 
conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, an 
information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of 
Management and Budget (``OMB'') control number. The FDIC submitted the 
information collection contained in this rule to OMB for review. No 
collection of information will be made until OMB approval has been 
obtained.
    Estimated costs: Compliance with the disclosure requirement will 
require insured depository institutions offering sweep products, which 
do not currently provide adequate disclosures, to modify their sweep 
account documentation to include new language indicating whether swept 
funds are a deposit for insurance purposes and, if not, how such funds 
would be treated in the event of failure. Further, additional 
documentation may be provided to sweep customers as part of a statement 
or other mailing. Implementation cost will be mitigated by the delayed 
effective date of this requirement. Sweep account documents must be 
reprinted periodically in any case, and the cost of including the 
disclosure requirement should be minimal. Further, most insured 
depository institutions already make certain disclosures to customers, 
and the new requirements would simply replace or supplement these 
disclosures. After implementation, on-going cost should be negligible. 
Future printings of sweep account documentation will have to be 
conducted in any case to replenish stock, and the disclosure 
requirement should not add to the cost of such printings given its 
brief nature. Customer account statements would continue to be provided 
according to normal business practices. Further, staff training must be 
conducted periodically, and the disclosure requirement should not 
materially add to the length or complexity of this training.
    The exact number of insured depository institutions offering sweep 
products is unknown. It is the FDIC's experience that the vast majority 
of large institutions offer some sweep arrangement as part of their 
cash management services. The prevalence of sweep offerings among 
smaller community banks is far less prevalent. The FDIC's analysis 
assumes that all insured depository institutions with total assets of 
at least $2 billion offer at least one sweep product (370 
institutions). It is further assumed that between 10 and 20 percent of 
the remaining 8,000 insured institutions also offer a sweep product 
(800 to 1,600 institutions). The total number of respondents is 
estimated to be between 1,170 and 1,970. The FDIC estimates that the 
hourly burden will range from 25 hours per institution to 43 hours per 
institution. The total hours are estimated to be from 28,870 hours to 
84,400 hours.

Request for Comment

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the FDIC's functions, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the 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; and (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. All 
comments will become a matter of public record.

ADDRESSES:  Interested parties are invited to submit written comments 
to the FDIC concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act implications of this 
proposal. Such comments should refer to ``Processing of Deposit 
Accounts, 3064-AD26,'' in the subject line of the message. Comments may 
be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Agency Web Site: http://www.FDIC.gov/regulations/laws/federal. Follow instructions for submitting comments on the agency Web 
site.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Processing of Deposit 
Accounts,'' 3064-AD26'' in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Executive Secretary, Attention: Comments, FDIC, 550 
17th St., NW., Room F-1066, Washington, DC 20429.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Comments may be hand-delivered to 
the guard station at the rear of the 550 17th Street Building (located 
on F Street), on business days between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST).
     A copy of the comments may also be submitted to the OMB 
desk officer for the FDIC, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office 
Building, Room 3208, Washington, DC 20503.
    Public Inspection: All comments received will be posted without 
change to http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal including any 
personal information provided.

X. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (``RFA'') requires a federal agency 
publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking to prepare and make 
available for public comment an initial regulatory flexibility analysis 
that describes the impact of the proposed rule on small entities. 5 
U.S.C. 603(a).

[[Page 5806]]

As defined in regulations issued by the Small Business Administration 
(13 CFR 121.201), a ``small entity'' includes a bank holding company, 
commercial bank or savings association with assets of $165 million or 
less (collectively, small banking organizations). The RFA provides that 
an agency is not required to prepare and publish a regulatory 
flexibility analysis if the agency certifies that the proposed rule 
would not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. 5 U.S.C. 605(b).
    In publishing the interim rule the FDIC certified that the interim 
rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. The rationale for this certification was that 
the interim rule would establish the FDIC's practice for determining 
deposit account balances at a failed insured depository institution and 
would impose no requirements on insured depository institutions.
    The final rule imposes a disclosure requirement on all insured 
depository institutions offering one or more sweep account products. 
This requirement is subject to a delayed effective date. The FDIC 
believes the disclosure requirement in the final rule will not have a 
substantial impact on a substantial number of small banking 
organizations, mainly because such entities are much less likely than 
larger insured depository institutions to offer sweep account products. 
Such products are typically offered by insured depository institutions 
serving large commercial and institutional customers. The FDIC received 
no comments on whether and, if so, to what extent small banking 
organizations will be affected by the disclosure requirement in the 
final rule rule.

XI. The Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999--
Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    The FDIC has determined that the final rule will not affect family 
well-being within the meaning of section 654 of the Treasury and 
General Government Appropriations Act, enacted as part of the Omnibus 
Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1999 
(Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681).

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 360

    Banks, Banking, Savings associations.

0
For the reasons stated above, the Board of Directors of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation hereby amends part 360 of title 12 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 360--RESOLUTION AND RECEIVERSHIP RULES

0
1. The authority citation for part 360 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1819(a) Tenth, 1821(d)(1), 1821(d)(10)(c), 
1821(d)(11), 1821(e)(1), 1821(e)(8)(D)(i), 1823(c)(4), 1823(e)(2); 
Sec. 401(h), Public Law 101-73, 103 Stat. 357.


0
2. Section 360.8 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  360.8  Method for determining deposit and other liability account 
balances at a failed insured depository institution.

    (a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to describe the process 
the FDIC will use to determine deposit and other liability account 
balances for insurance coverage and receivership purposes at a failed 
insured depository institution.
    (b) Definitions--(1) The FDIC Cutoff Point means the point in time 
the FDIC establishes after it has been appointed receiver of a failed 
insured depository institution and takes control of the failed 
institution.
    (2) The Applicable Cutoff Time for a specific type of deposit 
account transaction means the earlier of either the failed 
institution's normal cutoff time for that specific type of transaction 
or the FDIC Cutoff Point.
    (3) Close-of-Business Account Balance means the closing end-of-day 
ledger balance of a deposit or other liability account on the day of 
failure of an insured depository institution determined by using the 
Applicable Cutoff Times. This balance may be adjusted to reflect steps 
taken by the receiver to ensure that funds are not received by or 
removed from the institution after the FDIC Cutoff Point.
    (4) A sweep account is an account held pursuant to a contract 
between an insured depository institution and its customer involving 
the pre-arranged, automated transfer of funds from a deposit account to 
either another account or investment vehicle located within the 
depository institution (internal sweep account), or an investment 
vehicle located outside the depository institution (external sweep 
account).
    (c) Principles--(1) In making deposit insurance determinations and 
in determining the value and nature of claims against the receivership 
on the institution's date of failure, the FDIC, as insurer and 
receiver, will treat deposits and other liabilities of the failed 
institution according to the ownership and nature of the underlying 
obligations based on end-of-day ledger balances for each account using, 
except as expressly provided otherwise in this section, the depository 
institution's normal posting procedures.
    (2) In its role as receiver of a failed insured depository 
institution, in order to ensure the proper distribution of the failed 
institution's assets under the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. 1821(d)(11)) as of 
the FDIC Cutoff Point, the FDIC will use its best efforts to take all 
steps necessary to stop the generation, via transactions or transfers 
coming from or going outside the institution, of new liabilities or 
extinguishing existing liabilities for the depository institution.
    (3) End-of-day ledger balances are subject to corrections for 
posted transactions that are inconsistent with the above principles.
    (d) Determining closing day balances--(1) In determining account 
balances for insurance coverage and receivership purposes at a failed 
insured depository institution, the FDIC will use Close-of-Business 
Account Balances.
    (2) A check posted to the Close-of-Business Account Balance but not 
collected by the depository institution will be included as part of the 
balance, subject to the correction of errors and omissions and 
adjustments for uncollectible items that the FDIC may make in its role 
as receiver of the failed depository institution.
    (3) In determining Close-of-Business Account Balances involving 
sweep accounts:
    (i) For internal sweep accounts, the FDIC will determine the 
ownership of the funds and the nature of the receivership claim based 
on the records established and maintained by the institution for that 
specific account or investment vehicle as of the closing day end-of-day 
ledger balance. (For example, if a sweep account entails the daily 
transfer of funds from a demand deposit account to a Eurodollar account 
at a foreign branch of the insured depository institution, if the 
institution should fail on that day, the FDIC would treat the funds 
swept to the Eurodollar account, as reflected on the institution's end-
of-day records, as an unsecured general creditor's claim against the 
receivership.);
    (ii) For external sweep accounts, the FDIC will treat swept funds 
consistent with their status in the end-of-day ledger balances of the 
depository institution and the external entity, as long as the transfer 
of funds is completed prior to the Applicable Cutoff Time. (For 
example, if funds held in connection with a money market sweep account 
are wired from a customer's deposit account at the insured depository 
institution to the mutual fund prior to the Applicable

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Cutoff Time, if the institution should fail on that day, the FDIC would 
recognize that sweep transaction as completed for claims and 
receivership purposes.);
    (iii) For repurchase agreement sweep accounts, where, as a result 
of the sweep transaction, the customer becomes either the legal owner 
of identified assets subject to repurchase or obtains a perfected 
security interest in those assets, the FDIC will recognize, for 
receivership purposes, the customer's ownership interest or security 
interest in the assets.
    (4) For deposit insurance and receivership purposes in connection 
with the failure of an insured depository institution, the FDIC will 
determine the rights of the depositor or other liability holder as of 
the point the Close-of-Business Account Balance is calculated.
    (e) Disclosure requirements. Beginning July 1, 2009, in all new 
sweep account contracts, in renewals of existing sweep account 
contracts and within sixty days after July 1, 2009, and no less than 
annually thereafter, institutions must prominently disclose in writing 
to sweep account customers whether their swept funds are deposits 
within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 1813(l). If the funds are not deposits, 
the institution must further disclose the status such funds would have 
if the institution failed--for example, general creditor status or 
secured creditor status. Such disclosures must be consistent with how 
the institution reports such funds on its quarterly Consolidated 
Reports of Condition and Income or Thrift Financial Reports. The 
disclosure requirements imposed under this provision do not apply to 
sweep accounts where: The transfers are within a single account, or a 
sub-account; or the sweep account involves only deposit-to-deposit 
sweeps, such as zero-balance accounts, unless the sweep results in a 
change in the customer's insurance coverage.

    By order of the Board of Directors.

    Dated at Washington, DC, this 27th day of January, 2009.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-2113 Filed 1-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6714-01-P