[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 3, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46652-46668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19535]


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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 240

[Docket No. R-1428]
RIN 7100-AD 79


Retail Foreign Exchange Transactions (Regulation NN)

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 
(``Board'') is publishing for comment a regulation to permit banking 
organizations under its supervision to engage in off-exchange 
transactions in foreign currency with retail customers. The proposed 
rule also describes various requirements with which banking 
organizations must comply to conduct such transactions.

DATES: Comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking must be received 
by October 11, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket No. R-1428 and 
RIN No. 7100-AD 79, by using any of the methods below. Please submit 
your comments using only one method.
    Agency Web Site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments at htpp://www.federalreserve.gov/
generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket number in 
the subject line of the message.
    Facsimile: (202) 452-3819 or (202) 452-3102.
    Mail: Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20551.
    All public comments are available from the Board's Web site at 
htpp://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as 
submitted, unless modified for technical reasons. Accordingly, your 
comments will not be edited to remove any identifying information. 
Public comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper form in 
Room MP-500 of the Board's Martin Building (20th and C Streets, NW.) 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Holz, Senior Counsel, Legal 
Division, (202) 452-2966.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank 
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank 
Act).\1\ As amended by section 742(c)(2) of the Dodd-Frank Act,\2\ the 
Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) provides that a United States financial 
institution \3\ for which there is a Federal regulatory agency \4\ 
shall not enter into, or offer to enter into, certain types of foreign 
exchange transactions described in section 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(I) of the CEA 
with a retail customer \5\ except pursuant to a rule or regulation of a 
Federal regulatory agency allowing the transaction under such terms and 
conditions as the Federal regulatory agency shall prescribe \6\ (a 
``retail forex rule''). Section 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(I) includes ``an 
agreement, contract, or transaction in foreign currency that * * * is a 
contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery (or an option on 
such a contract) or an option (other than an option executed or traded 
on a national securities exchange registered pursuant to section 6(a) 
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78f(a)).'' \7\ A 
Federal regulatory agency's retail forex rule must treat all such 
futures and options and all agreements, contracts, or transactions that 
are functionally or economically similar to such futures and options 
similarly.\8\
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    \1\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376.
    \2\ Dodd-Frank Act Sec.  742(c)(2) (to be codified at 7 U.S.C. 
2(c)(2)(E)). In this preamble, citations to the retail forex 
statutory provisions will be the section where the provisions will 
be codified in the Commodity Exchange Act.
    \3\ The CEA defines ``financial institution'' to include an 
agreement corporation, an Edge Act corporation, a depository 
institution (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act), a financial holding company (as defined in section 2 
of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956), a trust company, or ``a 
similarly regulated subsidiary or affiliate of an entity'' described 
above. 7 U.S.C. 1a(21).
    \4\ For purposes of the retail forex rules, ``Federal regulatory 
agency'' includes ``an appropriate Federal banking agency.'' 7 
U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E)(i)(III). The Board is an ``appropriate Federal 
banking agency'' under the CEA. 7 U.S.C. 1a(2).
    \5\ A retail customer is a person who is not an ``eligible 
contract participant'' under the CEA. See, 7 U.S.C. 1a(18).
    \6\ 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E)(ii)(I).
    \7\ 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(I).
    \8\ 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E)(iii)(II).

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[[Page 46653]]

    Retail forex rules must prescribe appropriate requirements with 
respect to disclosure, recordkeeping, capital and margin, reporting, 
business conduct, and documentation requirements, and may include such 
other standards or requirements as the Federal regulatory agency 
determines to be necessary.\9\ This Dodd-Frank Act amendment to the CEA 
takes effect 360 days from the enactment of the Act.\10\ Therefore, as 
of July 16, 2011, state member banks, uninsured state-licensed branches 
of foreign banks, financial holding companies, bank holding companies, 
agreement corporations, and Edge Act corporations (collectively, 
banking institutions) may not engage in a retail forex transaction 
except pursuant to a retail forex rule issued by the Board.
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    \9\ 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E)(iii)(I).
    \10\ See Dodd-Frank Act Sec.  754.
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    On September 10, 2010, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission 
(CFTC) adopted a retail forex rule for persons subject to its 
jurisdiction.\11\ After studying and considering the CFTC's retail 
forex rule, and being mindful of the desirability of issuing comparable 
rules, the Board is proposing to adopt a substantially similar rule for 
banking institutions wishing to engage in retail forex transactions. 
The Dodd-Frank Act does not require that retail forex rules be issued 
jointly, or on a coordinated basis, with any other Federal regulatory 
agency. The Federal banking agencies (the Board, Office of the 
Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation (FDIC)) have consulted with each other and generally agree 
on their respective approaches to regulating retail forex transactions. 
However, each banking agency is issuing separate rules.\12\
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    \11\ Regulation of Off-Exchange Retail Foreign Exchange 
Transactions and Intermediaries, 75 FR 55409 (Sept. 10, 2010) (Final 
CFTC Retail Forex Rule). The CFTC proposed these rules prior to the 
enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act. Regulation of Off-Exchange Retail 
Foreign Exchange Transactions and Intermediaries, 75 FR 3281 (Jan. 
20, 2010) (Proposed CFTC Retail Forex Rule).
    \12\ The OCC's proposed rule was published on April 22, 2011 (76 
FR 22633); its final rule was published on July 14, 2011 (76 FR 
41375). The FDIC's proposed rule was published on May 17, 2011 (76 
FR 28358); its final rule was published on July 12, 2011 (76 FR 
40779).
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    The retail forex rule proposed today provides for banking 
institutions to notify the Board before engaging in retail forex 
transactions. It would also require that such banking institutions 
generally be ``well-capitalized,'' and it would prohibit fraudulent 
transactions and unlawful representations in connection with this 
business. The rule would require customers be given a standardized risk 
disclosure statement before engaging in retail forex transactions, 
along with a calculation of the number of profitable retail forex 
accounts maintained by the banking institution in the past year. The 
rule would impose customer margin requirements, and require 
confirmations and monthly statements be provided to the customer. 
Recordkeeping requirements are specified for the banking institution, 
along with certain trading and operational standards.
    The Board's proposed retail forex rule is modeled on the CFTC's 
retail forex rule to promote consistent treatment of retail forex 
transactions regardless of whether a retail forex customer's dealer is 
a banking institution or a CFTC registrant. The proposal includes 
various changes that reflect differences between Board and CFTC 
supervisory regimes and differences between banking organizations and 
CFTC registrants. For example:
     The Board's proposed retail forex rule leverages the 
Board's existing comprehensive supervision of banking institutions. For 
example, the Board's proposed retail forex rule does not include 
registration requirements, because banking institutions are already 
subject to comprehensive supervision by the Board. Thus, instead of a 
registration requirement, banking institutions must provide 60 days 
notice to the Board to conduct a retail forex business.
     Because banking institutions are already subject to 
various capital and other supervisory requirements,\13\ the Board's 
proposed retail forex rule generally requires banking institutions 
wishing to engage in retail forex transactions to be ``well 
capitalized.''
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    \13\ See, e.g., 12 CFR parts 208, 211, and 225.
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     The proposed rule would require that the risk disclosure 
statement highlight that a retail forex transaction is not insured by 
the FDIC. The CFTC's regulations do not address FDIC insurance because 
no financial intermediaries under the CFTC's jurisdiction are insured 
depository institutions.
    The Board has consulted with the OCC and FDIC in preparing its 
proposed retail forex regulation. Although the Board's proposed rule is 
substantially similar to the OCC's and FDIC's rules, there are some 
differences between the Board's proposal and the rules adopted by the 
other two bank regulatory agencies. For example:
     The Board's proposed rule would not prohibit a bank from 
exercising a right of set off, i.e., applying a retail forex customer's 
losses or margin call against other assets of the customer held by bank 
other than money or property given as margin. The OCC and FDIC have 
adopted rules to prohibit retail forex dealers under their supervision 
from exercising a right of set off and have further required that 
retail forex customer margin be held in a separate account that holds 
only retail forex margin. The Board is not proposing to require a 
separate retail forex margin account, but is requesting comment on 
whether these prohibitions would be appropriate.
     The Board's proposed rule would bar the use of mandatory 
pre-dispute arbitration agreements. The CFTC and the OCC have adopted 
rules that permit pre-dispute arbitration agreements, while the FDIC 
has adopted a prohibition similar to the one being proposed by the 
Board. The Board is requesting comment on whether such agreements 
should be permitted.

II. Section-by-Section Description of the Rule

    While many sections contain questions for commenters, the Board 
invites comments on all aspects of the proposed rule.

Section 240.1--Authority, Purpose, and Scope

    This section authorizes a banking institution to conduct retail 
forex transactions.
    The Board notes that some state member banks may also engage in 
retail forex transactions through their foreign branches. The CEA does 
not clearly define whether foreign branches or subsidiaries of state 
member banks and foreign subsidiaries of bank holding companies and 
financial holding companies may be considered United States financial 
institutions that can be included in the scope of this proposed rule. 
The proposed retail forex rule would define the term ``banking 
institution'' to include entities organized under the laws of the 
United States or under the laws of any U.S. state, and any branch or 
office of that entity, wherever located. After receiving comments on 
their proposed rules, the OCC and FDIC have adopted retail forex rules 
that exempt foreign branches of national and state nonmember banks when 
they engage in retail forex transactions with non-U.S. customers. This 
allows foreign branches dealing with non-U.S. customers to apply only 
those disclosure, recordkeeping, capital, margin, reporting, business 
conduct, documentation and other requirements of foreign law applicable 
to the branch, while affording U.S. customers the protections of a 
retail forex regulation

[[Page 46654]]

adopted pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act. The Board is proposing to adopt 
this exemption as well. The Board's proposed rule would also include 
U.S. subsidiaries of banking institutions, except for those for which 
there is another federal regulatory agency authorized to prescribe 
rules or regulations under section 2(c)(2)(E) of the CEA.\14\ The term 
``banking institution'' would not include entities organized under the 
laws of a foreign country. Therefore, foreign branches of state member 
banks, as well as foreign offices of U.S. bank holding companies and 
financial holding companies would be subject to the proposed rule when 
dealing with U.S. customers. Subsidiaries of a banking institution that 
are organized under foreign law would not be covered regardless of the 
customer's nationality.
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    \14\ 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E).
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    Question II.1.1: The Board requests comment on whether this rule 
should apply to foreign branches of state member banks, or bank holding 
companies and financial holding companies conducting retail forex 
transactions abroad through entities organized under the laws of the 
United States, and whether this rule should apply to transactions with 
U.S. or foreign customers.

Section 240.2--Definitions

    This section proposes definitions of terms specific to retail forex 
transactions and to the regulatory requirements that apply to retail 
forex transactions.
    The definition of ``retail forex transaction'' generally includes 
the following transactions in foreign currency between a banking 
institution and a person that is not an eligible contract participant: 
\15\ (i) A future or option on such a future; \16\ (ii) options not 
traded on a registered national securities exchange; \17\ and (iii) 
certain leveraged or margined transactions. This definition has several 
important features.
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    \15\ The definition of ``eligible contract participant'' is 
found in section 1a(18) of the CEA and is discussed below.
    \16\ 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(I).
    \17\ 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(I).
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    First, certain transactions in foreign currency are not ``retail 
forex transactions,'' and therefore are not subject to the prohibition 
in section 742(c)(2) of the Dodd-Frank Act. For example, a ``spot'' 
forex transaction where one currency is bought for another and the two 
currencies are exchanged within two days is not a ``future'' and would 
not meet the definition of a ``retail forex transaction,'' since actual 
delivery occurs as soon as practicable.\18\ Similarly, a ``retail forex 
transaction'' does not include a forward contract with a commercial 
entity that creates an enforceable obligation to make or take delivery, 
provided the commercial counterparty has the ability to make delivery 
and accept delivery in connection with its line of business.\19\ In 
addition, ``retail forex transaction'' does not include an ``identified 
banking product'' or a part of an ``identified banking product,'' as 
defined in section 401(b) of the Legal Certainty for Bank Product Act 
of 2000.\20\ Finally, the definition does not include transactions 
executed on an exchange or designated contract market.
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    \18\ See generally, CFTC v. Int'l Fin. Servs. (New York), Inc., 
323 F. Supp. 2d 482, 495 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) (distinguishing between 
foreign exchange futures contracts and spot contracts in foreign 
exchange, and noting that foreign currency trades settled within two 
days are ordinarily spot transactions rather than futures 
contracts); see also Bank Brussels Lambert v. Intermetals Corp., 779 
F. Supp. 741, 748 (S.D.N.Y. 1991).
    \19\ See generally, CFTC v. Int'l Fin. Servs. (New York), Inc., 
323 F. Supp. 2d 482, 495 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) (distinguishing between 
forward contracts in foreign exchange and foreign exchange futures 
contracts); see also William L. Stein, The Exchange-Trading 
Requirement of the Commodity Exchange Act, 41 Vand. L. Rev. 473, 491 
(1988). In contrast to forward contracts, futures contracts 
generally include several or all of the following characteristics: 
(i) Standardized nonnegotiable terms (other than price and 
quantity); (ii) parties are required to deposit initial margin to 
secure their obligations under the contract; (iii) parties are 
obligated and entitled to pay or receive variation margin in the 
amount of gain or loss on the position periodically over the period 
the contract is outstanding; (iv) purchasers and sellers are 
permitted to close out their positions by selling or purchasing 
offsetting contracts; and (v) settlement may be provided for by 
either (a) Cash payment through a clearing entity that acts as the 
counterparty to both sides of the contract without delivery of the 
underlying commodity; or (b) physical delivery of the underlying 
commodity. See, Edward F. Greene et al., U.S. Regulation of 
International Securities and Derivatives Markets Sec.  14.08[2] (8th 
ed. 2006).
    \20\ 7 U.S.C. 27(b).
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    Second, the proposal would cover rolling spot forex transactions 
(so-called Zelener \21\ contracts), including without limitation such 
transactions traded on the Internet, through a mobile phone, or on an 
electronic platform. A rolling spot forex transaction normally requires 
delivery of currency within two days, like spot transactions. However, 
in practice, these contracts are indefinitely renewed every other day 
and no currency is actually delivered until one party affirmatively 
closes out the position.\22\ Therefore, the contracts are economically 
more like futures than spot contracts, although some courts have held 
them to be spot contracts in form.\23\ For this reason, the proposal 
regulates these rolling spot forex transactions as retail forex 
transactions when conducted with a person that is not an eligible 
contract participant.
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    \21\ CFTC v. Zelener, 373 F.3d 861 (7th Cir. 2004); see also 
CFTC v. Erskine, 512 F.3rd 309 (6th Cir. 2008).
    \22\ For example, in Zelener, the retail forex dealer retained 
the right, at the date of delivery of the currency to deliver the 
currency, roll the transaction over, or offset all or a portion of 
the transaction with another open position held by the customer. See 
CFTC v. Zelener, 373 F.3d 861, 869 (7th Cir. 2004).
    \23\ See, e.g., CFTC v. Erskine, 512 F.3d 309, 326 (6th Cir. 
2008); CFTC v. Zelener, 373 F.3d 861, 869 (7th Cir. 2004).
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    This section defines several terms by reference to the CEA, 
including ``eligible contract participant.'' Foreign currency 
transactions with eligible contract participants are not considered 
retail forex transactions and are therefore not subject to this rule. 
The proposed definition covers a variety of financial entities, 
governmental entities, certain businesses, and individuals that meet 
certain investment thresholds.\24\
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    \24\ The term ``eligible contract participant'' is defined at 7 
U.S.C. 1a(18), and for purposes most relevant to this proposed rule 
generally includes:
    (a) A corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, 
trust, or other entity--
    (1) That has total assets exceeding $10,000,000;
    (2) The obligations of which under an agreement, contract, or 
transaction are guaranteed or otherwise supported by a letter of 
credit or keepwell, support, or other agreement by certain other 
eligible contract participants; or
    (3) That--
    (i) Has a net worth exceeding $1,000,000; and
    (ii) Enters into an agreement, contract, or transaction in 
connection with the conduct of the entity's business or to manage 
the risk associated with an asset or liability owned or incurred or 
reasonably likely to be owned or incurred by the entity in the 
conduct of the entity's business;
    (b) Subject to certain exclusions,
    (1) A governmental entity (including the United States, a State, 
or a foreign government) or political subdivision of a governmental 
entity;
    (2) A multinational or supranational governmental entity; or
    (3) An instrumentality, agency or department of an entity 
described in (b)(1) or (2); and
    (c) An individual who has amounts invested on a discretionary 
basis, the aggregate of which is in excess of--
    (1) $10,000,000; or
    (2) $5,000,000 and who enters into the agreement, contract, or 
transaction in order to manage the risk associated with an asset 
owned or liability incurred, or reasonably likely to be owned or 
incurred, by the individual.
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    Question II.2.2: Does the Commodity Exchange Act's definition of 
``eligible contract participant'' appropriately capture who is not a 
retail customer for purposes of this proposed rule? Should the Board 
expand the definition of retail forex customer to include persons who 
are eligible contract participants? If so, which eligible contract 
participants should be considered retail forex customers?

Section 240.3--Prohibited Transactions

    This section prohibits a banking institution and its related 
persons from

[[Page 46655]]

engaging in fraudulent conduct in connection with retail forex 
transactions. This section also addresses potential conflicts of 
interest by prohibiting a banking institution from acting as a 
counterparty to a retail forex transaction if the banking institution 
or its affiliate exercises discretion over the customer's retail forex 
account.
    This section uses wording that is somewhat different from that used 
by the CFTC, OCC and FDIC. First, the Board's proposal prohibits a 
banking institution from defrauding or attempting to defraud a person, 
while the other regulators use the phrase ``cheat or defraud or attempt 
to cheat or defraud a person.'' The Board believes that ``cheat'' is 
synonymous with ``defraud'' and has used only the term ``defraud'' in 
the proposed rule. Second, the Board's proposal would prohibit a 
banking institution from ``knowingly'' making a false report or 
deceiving a person, while the other regulators prohibit their retail 
forex dealers from ``willfully'' engaging in these activities. The 
Board believes that ``knowingly'' sets a more appropriate standard of 
proof.
    Question II.3.1: Does the prohibition on ``cheating'' in other 
retail forex rules add protections not contained in the Board's 
proposal? Does the use of ``knowingly'' instead of ``willfully'' set 
the appropriate standard to protect retail forex customers?

Section 240.4--Notification

    This section requires a banking institution to notify the Board 
prior to engaging in a retail forex business. This notice would include 
information on customer due diligence (including credit evaluations, 
customer appropriateness, and ``know your customer'' documentation); 
new product approvals; haircuts for noncash margin; and conflicts of 
interest. In addition, the banking institution must certify that it has 
adequate written policies, procedures, and risk measurement and 
management systems and controls to engage in a retail forex business in 
a safe and sound manner and in compliance with the requirements of the 
Board's retail forex rule. Once a banking institution has notified the 
Board pursuant to this provision, the Board will have sixty days to 
seek additional information or object to the notification in writing, 
or the notification will be deemed effective. If the Board asks for 
additional information, the notice will become effective sixty days 
after all the information requested is received by the Board, unless 
the Board objects in writing.
    Banking institutions engaged in retail forex transactions as of the 
effective date of this rule who promptly notify the Board will have six 
months, or a longer period provided by the Board, to bring their 
operations into conformance with the rule. Under this rule, a banking 
institution that notifies the Board within 30 days of the effective 
date of the final retail forex rule, subject to an extension by the 
Board, and submits the information requested by the Board thereafter 
will be deemed to be operating its retail forex business pursuant to a 
rule or regulation of a Federal regulatory agency, as required under 
the Commodity Exchange Act, for such period.\25\
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    \25\ 7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E)(ii)(I).
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    A banking institution need not join a futures self-regulatory 
organization as a condition of conducting a retail forex business.

Section 240.5--Application and Closing Out of Offsetting Long and Short 
Positions

    This section requires a banking institution to close out offsetting 
long and short positions in a retail forex account. The banking 
institution would have to offset such positions regardless of whether 
the customer has instructed otherwise. The CFTC concluded that 
``keeping open long and short positions in a retail forex customer's 
account removes the opportunity for the customer to profit on the 
transactions, increases the fees paid by the customer and invites 
abuse.'' \26\ Under the proposal, a banking institution may offset 
retail forex transactions as instructed by the retail forex customer or 
the customer's agent (other than the banking institution itself).
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    \26\ Proposed CFTC Retail Forex Rule, 75 FR at 3287 n.54.
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Section 240.6--Disclosure

    This section requires a banking institution to provide retail forex 
customers with a risk disclosure statement similar to the one required 
by the CFTC's retail forex rule, but tailored to address certain unique 
characteristics of retail forex in banking institutions. The prescribed 
risk disclosure statement would describe the risks associated with 
retail forex transactions. The disclosure statement would make clear 
that a banking institution that wishes to use the right of set off to 
collect margin for or cover losses arising out of retail forex 
transactions must include this right in the risk disclosure statement 
and obtain separate written acknowledgement (See discussion of set-off 
below in section 240.9).
    In its retail forex rule, the CFTC requires its registrants to 
disclose to retail customers the percentage of retail forex accounts 
that earned a profit, and the percentage of such accounts that 
experienced a loss, during each of the most recent four calendar 
quarters.\27\ The CFTC initially explained that ``the vast majority of 
retail customers who enter these transactions do so solely for 
speculative purposes, and that relatively few of these participants 
trade profitably.'' \28\ In its final rule, the CFTC found this 
requirement appropriate to protect retail customers from ``inherent 
conflicts embedded in the operations of the retail over-the-counter 
forex industry.'' \29\ The Board's proposed rule requires this 
disclosure; however, the Board invites comments regarding this 
approach.
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    \27\ 17 CFR 5.5(e)(1).
    \28\ Proposed CFTC Retail Forex Rule, 75 FR at 3289.
    \29\ Final CFTC Retail Forex Rule, 75 FR at 55412.
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    Question II.6.1: Does this disclosure provide meaningful 
information to retail customers of banking institutions? Would 
alternative disclosures more effectively accomplish the objectives of 
the disclosure?
    Similarly, the CFTC's retail forex rule requires a disclosure that 
states that the dealer makes money on such trades, in addition to any 
fees, commissions, or spreads, even when a retail customer loses money 
trading.\30\ The proposed rule includes this disclosure requirement.
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    \30\ 17 CFR 5.5(b).
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    Question II.6.2: Does this disclosure provide meaningful 
information to retail customers of banking institutions? Would 
alternative disclosures more effectively accomplish the objectives of 
the disclosure?
    As proposed, the risk disclosure must be provided as a separate 
document.
    Question II.6.3: Should banking institutions be allowed to combine 
the retail forex risk disclosure with other disclosures that banking 
institutions make to their customers? Or would combining disclosures 
diminish the impact of the retail forex disclosure?
    Question II.6.4: Should the rule require disclosure of the fees the 
banking institution charges retail forex customers for retail forex 
transactions? What fees do banking institutions currently charge retail 
forex customers for retail forex transactions? Are there other costs to 
retail forex customers of engaging in retail forex transactions that 
banking institutions should disclose? If so, what are these costs?

[[Page 46656]]

Section 240.7--Recordkeeping

    This section specifies which documents and records a banking 
institution engaged in retail forex transactions must retain for 
examination by the Board. Banking institutions are required to maintain 
retail forex account records, financial ledgers, transactions records, 
daily records, order tickets, and records showing allocations and 
noncash margin, as well as records relating to possible violations of 
law. This section also prescribes document maintenance standards, 
including the manner and length of maintenance. Finally, this section 
requires banking institutions to record and maintain transaction 
records and make them available to customers.

Section 240.8--Capital Requirements

    This proposal does not amend the Board's regulations regarding 
capital. This section generally requires that a banking institution 
that offers or enters into retail forex transactions must be ``well 
capitalized'' as defined in the Board's Regulations H or Y \31\ or the 
banking institution must obtain an exemption from the Board. An 
uninsured state-licensed U.S. branch or agency of a foreign bank must 
apply the capital rules that are made applicable to it pursuant to 
section 225.2(r)(3) of the Board's Regulation Y.\32\ An Edge 
corporation or agreement corporation must comply with the capital 
adequacy guidelines that are made applicable to an Edge corporation 
engaged in banking pursuant to section 211.12(c)(2) of the Board's 
Regulation K.\33\
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    \31\ 12 CFR 208.43 and 12 CFR 225.2(r).
    \32\ 12 CFR 225.2(r)(3).
    \33\ 12 CFR 211.12(c)(2).
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    In addition, a banking institution must continue to hold capital 
against retail forex transactions as provided in the Board's 
regulations.

Section 240.9--Margin Requirements

    Paragraph (a) requires a banking institution that engages in retail 
forex transactions, in advance of any such transaction, to collect from 
the retail forex customer margin equal to at least two percent of the 
notional value of the retail forex transaction if the transaction is in 
a major currency pair, and at least five percent of the notional value 
of the retail forex transaction otherwise. These margin requirements 
are identical to the requirements imposed by the CFTC's retail forex 
rule. A major currency pair is a currency pair with two major 
currencies. Under the proposal, the major currencies would be the U.S. 
Dollar (USD), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Euro (EUR), United Kingdom Pound 
(GBP), Japanese Yen (JPY), Swiss franc (CHF), New Zealand Dollar (NZD), 
Australian Dollar (AUD), Swedish Kronor (SEK), Danish Kroner (DKK), and 
Norwegian Krone (NOK),\34\ or any other currency as determined by the 
Board.
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    \34\ See National Futures Association, Forex Transaction: A 
Regulatory Guide 17 (Feb. 2011); New York Federal Reserve Bank, 
Survey of North American Foreign Exchange Volume tbl. 3e (Jan. 
2011); Bank for International Settlements, Report on Global Foreign 
Exchange Market Activity in 2010 at 15 tbl. B.6 (Dec. 2010).
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    Question II.9.1: The Board requests comment on whether this list of 
major currencies is appropriate and how the Board should identify a 
major currency or major currency pair.
    Prior to the CFTC's rule, non-bank dealers routinely permitted 
customers to trade with 1 percent margin (leverage of 100:1) and 
sometimes with as little as 0.25 percent margin (leverage of 400:1). 
When the CFTC proposed its retail forex rule in January 2010, it 
proposed a margin requirement of 10 percent (leverage of 10:1). In 
response to comments, the CFTC reduced the required margin in the final 
rule to 2 percent (leverage of 50:1) for trades involving major 
currencies and 5 percent (leverage of 20:1) for trades involving non-
major currencies.
    Question II.9.2: The Board's proposed rule would adopt the margin 
requirements adopted in final by the CFTC. The Board invites comments 
on whether the requirements should be adjusted and if so, how.
    Paragraph (b) specifies the acceptable forms of margin that 
customers may post. Under the proposal, banking institutions must 
establish policies and procedures providing for haircuts for noncash 
margin collected from customers and must review these haircuts 
annually. It may be prudent for banking institutions to review and 
modify the size of the haircuts more frequently.
    Question II.9.3: Should the Board specify haircuts for noncash 
margin posted for retail forex transactions? If so, how should those 
haircuts be determined?
    Paragraph (c) requires a banking institution to collect additional 
margin from the customer or to liquidate the customer's position if the 
amount of margin held by the banking institution fails to meet the 
requirements of paragraph (a). The proposed rule requires the banking 
institution to mark the customer's open retail forex positions and the 
value of the customer's margin to the market daily to ensure that a 
retail forex customer does not accumulate substantial losses not 
covered by margin.
    Question II.9.4: How frequently do banking institutions currently 
mark retail forex customers' open retail forex positions and the value 
of the customers' margin to the market? Should the rule require marking 
customer positions and margin to the market daily, or would more 
frequent marks be more appropriate in light of the speed at which 
currency markets move? What is the most frequent mark to market 
requirement that is practical in light of the characteristics of the 
forex markets and the assets that retail forex customers may pledge as 
margin for retail forex transaction?
    The retail forex regulations adopted by the OCC and FDIC both 
prohibit set-off, i.e., the bank forex dealer would be prohibited from 
applying a retail forex customer's losses against any asset or 
liability of the retail forex customer other than money or property 
given as margin. Banks generally have broad rights to set off mutual 
debts to cover customer obligations. It is not clear that limiting a 
bank's right of set-off in these particular transactions would provide 
appropriate incentives for retail forex customers.
    Question II.9.5: Would limiting the right of set-off encourage a 
retail customer to take on more risk in forex transactions, because the 
customer's other assets would be protected against losses from the 
forex transactions? Does allowing a banking institution to exercise its 
right of set-off with regard to retail forex transactions strike the 
appropriate balance of incentives and protections for retail customers?
    In order to effectuate the prohibition against a bank retail forex 
dealer exercising a right of set-off, the OCC and FDIC require that 
each customer's retail forex transaction margin be held in a separate 
account that holds only that customer's retail forex transaction 
margin. The Board is not proposing to require the use of a separate 
margin account, as it is not proposing to prohibit a banking 
institution from exercising a right of set-off.

Section 240.10--Required Reporting to Customers

    This section requires a banking institution engaging in retail 
forex transactions to provide each retail forex customer confirmations 
and monthly statements, and describes the information to be included.
    Question II.10.1: The Board requests comment on whether this 
section provides for statements that would be meaningful and useful to 
retail customers, or whether, in light of the

[[Page 46657]]

distinctive characteristics of retail forex transactions, other 
information would be more appropriate.

Section 240.11--Unlawful Representations

    This section prohibits a banking institution and its related 
persons from representing that the Federal government, the Board, or 
any other Federal agency has sponsored, recommended, or approved retail 
forex transactions or products in any way. This section also prohibits 
a banking institution from implying or representing that it will 
guarantee against or limit retail forex customer losses or not collect 
margin as required by section 240.9. This section does not prohibit a 
banking institution from sharing in a loss resulting from error or 
mishandling of an order, and guaranties entered into prior to the 
effectiveness of the prohibition would only be affected if an attempt 
is made to extend, modify, or renew them. This section also does not 
prohibit a banking institution from hedging or otherwise mitigating its 
own exposure to retail forex transactions or any other foreign exchange 
risk.

Section 240.12--Authorization To Trade

    This section requires a banking institution to have specific 
authorization from a retail forex customer before effecting a retail 
forex transaction for that customer.

Section 240.13--Trading and Operational Standards

    This section largely follows the trading standards of the CFTC's 
retail forex rule, which were developed to prevent some of the 
deceptive or unfair practices identified by the CFTC and the National 
Futures Association.
    Under paragraph (a), a banking institution engaging in retail forex 
transactions is required to establish and enforce internal rules, 
procedures and controls to prevent front running, in which transactions 
in accounts of the banking institution or its related persons are 
executed before a similar customer order, and to establish settlement 
prices fairly and objectively.
    Paragraph (b) prohibits a banking institution engaging in retail 
forex transactions from disclosing that it holds another person's order 
unless disclosure is necessary for execution or is made at the Board's 
request.
    Paragraph (c) ensures that related persons of another retail forex 
counterparty do not open accounts with a banking institution without 
the knowledge and authorization of the account surveillance personnel 
of the other retail forex counterparty to which they are affiliated. 
Similarly, paragraph (d) ensures that related persons of a banking 
institution do not open accounts with other retail forex counterparties 
without the knowledge and authorization of the account surveillance 
personnel of the banking institution to which they are affiliated.
    Paragraph (e) prohibits a banking institution engaging in retail 
forex transactions from (1) Entering a retail forex transaction to be 
executed at a price that is not at or near prices at which other retail 
forex customers have executed materially similar transactions with the 
banking institution during the same time period, (2) changing prices 
after confirmation, (3) providing a retail forex customer with a new 
bid price that is higher (or lower) than previously provided without 
providing a new ask price that is similarly higher (or lower) as well, 
and (4) establishing a new position for a retail forex customer (except 
to offset an existing position) if the banking institution holds one or 
more outstanding orders of other retail forex customers for the same 
currency pair at a comparable price.
    Paragraphs (e)(3) and (e)(4) do not prevent a banking institution 
from changing the bid or ask prices of a retail forex transaction to 
respond to market events. The Board understands that market practice 
among CFTC-registrants is not to offer requotes, but to simply reject 
orders and advise customers they may submit a new order (which the 
dealer may or may not accept). Similarly, a banking institution may 
reject an order and advise customers they may submit a new order.
    Question II.13.1: Does this requirement appropriately protect 
retail forex customers? If not, how should it be modified? Would it be 
simpler for the rule to simply prohibit requoting, because banking 
institutions may instead reject an order and accept new orders from 
their retail forex customers?
    Paragraph (e)(5) requires a banking institution to use consistent 
market prices for customers executing retail forex transactions during 
the same time. It also prevents a banking institution from offering 
preferred execution to some of its retail forex customers but not 
others.

Section 240.14--Supervision

    This section imposes on a banking institution and its agents, 
officers, and employees a duty to supervise subordinates with 
responsibility for retail forex transactions to ensure compliance with 
the Board's retail forex rule.

Section 240.15--Notice of Transfers

    This section describes the requirements for transferring a retail 
forex account. Generally, a banking institution must provide retail 
forex customers 30 days' prior notice before transferring or assigning 
their account. Affected customers may then instruct the banking 
institution to transfer the account to an institution of their choosing 
or liquidate the account. There are three exceptions to the above 
notice requirement: A transfer in connection with the receivership or 
conservatorship under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; a transfer 
pursuant to a retail forex customer's specific request; and a transfer 
otherwise allowed by applicable law. A banking institution that is the 
transferee of retail forex accounts must generally provide the 
transferred customers with the risk disclosure statement of section 
240.6 and obtain each affected customer's written acknowledgement 
within 60 days.

Section 240.16--Customer Dispute Resolution

    This section prohibits a banking institution from entering into any 
agreement or understanding with a retail forex customer in which the 
customer agrees, prior to the time a claim or grievance arises, to 
submit the claim or grievance to any settlement procedure.
    This provision differs from the applicable CFTC dispute settlement 
procedures, which permit mandatory pre-dispute settlement agreements 
under certain conditions.\35\ The substance of the CFTC dispute 
settlement regulation, however, dates back to August 10, 2001. Since 
that time, Congress enacted seven provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act that 
prohibit the use of pre-dispute arbitration provisions.\36\ Consonant 
with this

[[Page 46658]]

demonstrated Congressional concern with such agreements, the Board is 
proposing, pursuant to its authority to adopt ``such other standards or 
requirements as [it] shall determine to be necessary,'' to prohibit a 
banking institution from entering into a pre-dispute settlement 
agreement with a retail forex customer. The OCC's final retail forex 
regulation follows the CFTC's approach, while the FDIC's final 
regulation prohibits pre-dispute settlement agreements similar to the 
approach being proposed by the Board.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ 17 CFT 166.5. The CFTC's regulation permits predispute 
dispute settlement agreements with a customer with certain 
restrictions such as that signing the agreement must not be made a 
condition for the customer to utilize the services offered by the 
CFTC registrant.
    \36\ See Dodd-Frank Act section 748 (amending CEA section 
23(n)(2) to provide: ``No predispute arbitration agreement shall be 
valid or enforceable, if the agreement requires arbitration of a 
dispute arising under this section.''); section 921(a) (adding 
similar provisions to section 15o to the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 and section 205(f) to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940); 
section 922(c) (adding a similar provision to 18 U.S.C. 1514A, which 
provides employee protections, including a right to a jury trial to 
enforce such protections, to employees of publicly registered 
companies and nationally recognized statistical rating 
organizations); section 1028 (requiring the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau (CFPB) to conduct a study and report to Congress 
on the use of predispute arbitration agreements ``between covered 
persons and consumers in connection with the offering or providing 
of consumer financial products or services'' and giving the CFPB 
authority to adopt regulations prohibiting such agreements; section 
1057(d) (prohibiting predispute arbitration agreements that affect 
the employee protection rights of a person that is employed by an 
entity subject to CFPB regulation; and section 1414 (amending 
section 129C of the Truth in Lending Act to prohibit predispute 
arbitration agreements with respect to residential mortgage loans 
and home equity loans).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Question III.16.1: Should the Board permit pre-dispute arbitration 
provisions, as long as the banking institution does not require a 
customer to agree to pre-dispute arbitration as a condition of opening 
a retail forex account?
Interagency Statement on Retail Sales of Nondeposit Investment Products
    For banking institutions, the requirements in this proposed rule 
would overlap with applicable expectations contained in the Interagency 
Statement on Retail Sales of Nondeposit Investment Products (NDIP 
Policy Statement).\37\ The NDIP Policy Statement sets out guidance 
regarding the Board's expectations when a banking institution engages 
in the sale of nondeposit investment products to retail customers. The 
NDIP Policy Statement addresses issues such as disclosure, suitability, 
sales practices, compensation, and compliance. The Board views retail 
forex transactions as nondeposit investment products, but the terms 
``retail forex customer'' in this proposed rule and ``retail customer'' 
in the NDIP Policy Statement are not necessarily co-extensive. After 
the effective date of the final version of this proposed rule, the 
Board will expect banking institutions engaging in or offering retail 
forex transactions to also comply with the NDIP Policy Statement to the 
extent such compliance does not conflict with the requirements of the 
Board's final retail forex rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ See SR Letter 94-11 (Feb. 17, 1994); see also SR Letter 95-
46 (Sept. 14, 1995).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Question II.17: Does the proposed regulation create issues 
concerning application of the NDIP Policy Statement to retail forex 
transactions that the Board should address?

III. Request for Comments

    The Board requests comment on all aspects of the proposed rule, 
including the questions posed in the preamble. In addition, the Board 
requests comments on the following questions:
     Question III.1: Does the proposed rule appropriately 
protect retail forex customers of banking institutions?
     Question III.2: Are the proposed rule's variations from 
the CFTC retail forex rule appropriately tailored to the differences 
between banking institutions and CFTC registrants and the regulatory 
regimes applicable to each?

To assist in the review of comments, the Board requests that commenters 
identify their comments by question number.

IV. Regulatory Analysis

A. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    In accordance with section 3(a) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. (RFA), the Board is publishing an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis for the proposed rule. The RFA 
generally requires an agency to provide an initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis with the proposed rule or to certify that the 
proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. The Board welcomes comment on all 
aspects of the initial regulatory flexibility analysis. A final 
regulatory flexibility analysis will be conducted after consideration 
of the comments received during the comment period.
    1. Statement of objectives of the proposal. Section 2(c)(2)(E) of 
the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E)) will prohibit a U.S. 
financial institution from conducting retail foreign exchange 
transactions unless done pursuant a rule or regulation of a Federal 
regulatory agency allowing such transactions. The Board is proposing a 
new regulation to allow banking institutions under its supervision to 
engage in retail foreign exchange transactions.
    2. Small entities affected by the proposal. Under regulations 
issued by the Small Business Administration, a banking institution is 
considered a ``small entity'' if it has assets of $175 million or 
less.\38\ As of December 21, 2010, there were approximately 398 small 
state member banks, 20 small Edge Act and agreement corporations, 62 
small uninsured branches of foreign banks, 3,988 small bank holding 
companies and 267 small financial holding companies. The Board is not 
aware of any small institutions engaged in retail forex transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ U.S. Small Business Administration, Table of Small Business 
Size Matched to North American Industry Classification System Codes, 
13 CFR 121.201.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Compliance requirements. A description of the projected 
recordkeeping and other compliance requirements can be found below in 
section B, ``Paperwork Reduction Act,'' under the following headings: 
Reporting Requirements, Disclosure Requirements, and Policies and 
Procedures; Recordkeeping. The Board believes that there are no other 
compliance requirements for this proposed rule.
    4. Other Federal rules. The Board believes that no Federal rules 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the proposed rule. As noted in the 
supplementary information above, retail forex transactions would also 
be subject to the Interagency Statement on Retail Sales of Nondeposit 
Investment Products, but this rule would govern to the extent of a 
conflict.
    5. Significant alternatives to the proposed rule. As discussed 
above, the Board has requested comment on required disclosures, margin, 
and reporting requirements for all banking institutions engaging in 
retail foreign exchange transactions and has solicited comment on any 
approaches that would reduce the burden on all counterparties, 
including small entities. The Board welcomes comment on any significant 
alternatives that would minimize the impact of the proposal on small 
entities.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

Request for Comment on Proposed Information Collection
    In accordance with section 3512 of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), the Board may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information 
collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) control number. The information collection 
requirements are found in Sec. Sec.  240.4-240.7, 240.9-240.10, 240.13, 
240.15-24016.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the Board's functions, including whether the 
information has practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the estimate 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;

[[Page 46659]]

    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of information collection on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and
    (e) Estimates of capital or startup costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.
    Comments on the collection of information should be sent to Cynthia 
Ayouch, Acting Federal Reserve Clearance Officer, Division of Research 
and Statistics, Mail Stop 95-A, Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551, with copies of such comments sent 
to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project 
(7100-New), Washington, DC 20503. You may also submit comments 
electronically, identified by Docket number, by any of the following 
methods:
     Agency Web Site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments on the http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket 
number in the subject line of the message. All comments will become a 
matter of public record.
Proposed Information Collection
    Title of Information Collection: Reporting, recordkeeping, and 
disclosure requirements associated with Regulation NN.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Respondents: Agreement corporations, Edge Act corporations, state 
member banks, uninsured branches of foreign banks, financial holding 
companies and bank holding companies (collectively, ``banking 
institutions'').
Reporting Requirements
    The reporting requirements in Sec.  240.4 would require that, prior 
to initiating a retail forex business, a banking institution provide 
the Board with prior notice. The notice must certify that the banking 
institution has written policies and procedures, and risk measurement 
and management systems in controls in place to ensure that retail forex 
transactions are conducted in a safe and sound manner. The banking 
institution must also provide other information required by the Board, 
such as documentation of customer due diligence, new product approvals, 
and haircuts applied to noncash margins. A banking institution already 
engaging in a retail forex business may continue to do so, provided it 
requests an extension of time.
Disclosure Requirements
    Section 240.5, regarding the application and closing out of 
offsetting long and short positions, would require a banking 
institution to promptly provide the customer with a statement 
reflecting the financial result of the transactions and the name of the 
introducing broker to the account. The customer would provide specific 
written instructions on how the offsetting transaction should be 
applied.
    Section 240.6 would require that a banking institution furnish a 
retail forex customer with a written disclosure before opening an 
account that will engage in retail forex transactions for a retail 
forex customer and receive an acknowledgment from the customer that it 
was received and understood. It also requires the disclosure by a 
banking institution of its fees and other charges and its profitable 
accounts ratio.
    Section 240.10 would require a banking institution to issue monthly 
statements to each retail forex customer and to send confirmation 
statements following transactions.
    Section 240.13(b) would allow disclosure by a banking institution 
that an order of another person is being held by them only when 
necessary to the effective execution of the order or when the 
disclosure is requested by the Board. Section 240.13(c) would prohibit 
a banking institution engaging in retail forex transactions from 
knowingly handling the account of any related person of another retail 
forex counterparty unless it receives proper written authorization, 
promptly prepares a written record of the order, and transmits to the 
counterparty copies of all statements and written records. Section 
240.13(d) would prohibit a related person of a banking institution 
engaging in forex transactions from having an account with another 
retail forex counterparty unless it receives proper written 
authorization and copies of all statements and written records for such 
accounts are transmitted to the counterparty.
    Section 240.15 would require a banking institution to provide a 
retail forex customer with 30 days' prior notice of any assignment of 
any position or transfer of any account of the retail forex customer. 
It would also require a banking institution to which retail forex 
accounts or positions are assigned or transferred to provide the 
affected customers with risk disclosure statements and forms of 
acknowledgment and receive the signed acknowledgments within 60 days.
    The customer dispute resolution provisions in Sec.  240.16 would 
require certain endorsements, acknowledgments, and signature language. 
It also would require that within 10 days after receipt of notice from 
the retail forex customer that they intend to submit a claim to 
arbitration, the banking institution provide them with a list of 
persons qualified in the dispute resolution and that the customer must 
notify the banking institution of the person selected within 45 days of 
receipt of such list.
Policies and Procedures; Recordkeeping
    Section 240.7 would require that a banking institution engaging in 
retail forex transactions keep full, complete, and systematic records 
and establish and implement internal rules, procedures, and controls. 
Section 240.7 also would require that a banking institution keep 
account, financial ledger, transaction and daily records, as well as 
memorandum orders, post-execution allocation of bunched orders, records 
regarding its ratio of profitable accounts, possible violations of law, 
records for noncash margin, and monthly statements and confirmations. 
Section 240.9 would require policies and procedures for haircuts for 
noncash margin collected under the rule's margin requirements, and 
annual evaluations and modifications of the haircuts.
Estimated PRA Burden
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5 banking institutions; 2 service 
providers.
    Total Reporting Burden: 80 hours.
    Total Disclosure Burden: 5,510 hours.
    Total Recordkeeping Burden: 1,280 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 6,870 hours.

C. Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires the Board to use 
plain language in all proposed and final rules published after January 
1, 2000. The Board invites comment on how to make this proposed rule 
easier to understand. For example, the Board requests comment on such 
questions as:
     Have we organized the material to suit your needs? If not, 
how could the material be better organized?
     Have we clearly stated the requirements of the rule? If 
not, how could the rule be more clearly stated?
     Does the rule contain technical language or jargon that is 
not clear? If

[[Page 46660]]

so, which language requires clarification?
     Would a different format (grouping and order of sections, 
use of headings, paragraphing) make the regulation easier to 
understand? If so, what changes would make the regulation easier to 
understand?
     What else could we do to make the regulation easier to 
understand?

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 240

    Banks, Banking, Consumer protection, Foreign currencies, Foreign 
exchange, Holding companies, Investments, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Board proposes to amend 
12 CFR Chapter II as follows:
    1. Add new part 240 to read as follows:

PART 240--RETAIL FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSACTIONS (REGULATION NN)

Sec.
240.1 Authority, purpose, and scope.
240.2 Definitions.
240.3 Prohibited transactions.
240.4 Notification.
240.5 Application and closing out of offsetting long and short 
positions.
240.6 Disclosure.
240.7 Recordkeeping.
240.8 Capital requirements.
240.9 Margin requirements.
240.10 Required reporting to customers.
240.11 Unlawful representations.
240.12 Authorization to trade.
240.13 Trading and operational standards.
240.14 Supervision.
240.15 Notice of transfers.
240.16 Customer dispute resolution.

    Authority:  7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E), 12 U.S.C. 248, 321-338, 
1813(q), 1818, 1844(b), 3106a, 3108.


Sec.  240.1  Authority, purpose and scope.

    (a) Authority. This part is issued by the Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System (the Board) under the authority of section 
2(c)(2)(E) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(E)), 
sections 9 and 11 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 321-338 and 
248), section 5(b) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 
1844(b)), sections 9 and 13a of the International Banking Act of 1978 
(12 U.S.C. 3106a and 3108), and sections 3 and 8 of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(q) and 1818).
    (b) Purpose. This part establishes rules applicable to retail 
foreign exchange transactions engaged in by banking institutions and 
applies on or after the effective date.
    (c) Scope. Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, 
this part applies to banking institutions, as defined in section 
240.2(b) of this part, and any branches or offices of those 
institutions wherever located. This part applies to subsidiaries of 
banking institutions organized under the laws of the United States or 
any U.S. state that are not subject to the jurisdiction of another 
federal regulatory agency authorized to prescribe rules or regulations 
under section 2(c)(2)(E) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 
(2)(c)(2)(E)).
    (d) International applicability. Sections 240.3 and 240.5 through 
240.16 do not apply to retail foreign exchange transactions between a 
foreign branch or office of a banking institution and a non-U.S. 
customer. With respect to those transactions, the foreign branch or 
office remains subject to any disclosure, recordkeeping, capital, 
margin, reporting, business conduct, documentation, and other 
requirements of applicable foreign law.


Sec.  240.2  Definitions.

    For purposes of this part, the following terms have the same 
meaning as in the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.): 
``affiliated person of a futures commission merchant''; ``associated 
person''; ``contract of sale''; ``commodity''; ``eligible contract 
participant''; ``futures commission merchant''; ``future delivery''; 
``option''; ``security''; and ``security futures product.''
    (a) Affiliate has the same meaning as in section 2(k) of the Bank 
Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841(k)).
    (b) Banking institution means:
    (1) A state member bank (as defined in 12 CFR 208.2);
    (2) An uninsured state-licensed U.S. branch or agency of a foreign 
bank;
    (3) A financial holding company (as defined in section 2 of the 
Bank Holding Company Act of 1956; 12 U.S.C. 1841);
    (4) A bank holding company (as defined in section 2 of the Bank 
Holding Company Act of 1956; 12 U.S.C. 1841);
    (5) A corporation operating under the fifth undesignated paragraph 
of section 25 of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 603), commonly 
known as ``an agreement corporation;'' and
    (6) A corporation organized under section 25A of the Federal 
Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 611 et seq.), commonly known as an ``Edge Act 
corporation.''
    (c) Commodity Exchange Act means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 
U.S.C. 1 et seq.).
    (d) Forex means foreign exchange.
    (e) Identified banking product has the same meaning as in section 
401(b) of the Legal Certainty for Bank Products Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 
27(b)).
    (f) Institution-affiliated party or IAP has the same meaning as in 
12 U.S.C. 1813(u)(1), (2), or (3).
    (g) Introducing broker means any person who solicits or accepts 
orders from a retail forex customer in connection with retail forex 
transactions.
    (h) Related person, when used in reference to a retail forex 
counterparty, means:
    (1) Any general partner, officer, director, or owner of ten percent 
or more of the capital stock of the banking institution;
    (2) An associated person or employee of the retail forex 
counterparty, if the retail forex counterparty is not an insured 
depository institution;
    (3) An IAP, if the retail forex counterparty is an insured 
depository institution; and
    (4) Any relative or spouse of any of the foregoing persons, or any 
relative of such spouse, who shares the same home as any of the 
foregoing persons.
    (i) Retail foreign exchange dealer means any person other than a 
retail forex customer that is, or that offers to be, the counterparty 
to a retail forex transaction, except for a person described in item 
(aa), (bb), (cc)(AA), (dd), or (ff) of section 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(II) of the 
Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 2(c)(2)(B)(i)(II)).
    (j) Retail forex account means the account of a retail forex 
customer, established with a banking institution, in which retail forex 
transactions with the banking institution as counterparty are 
undertaken, or the account of a retail forex customer that is 
established in order to enter into such transactions.
    (k) Retail forex account agreement means the contractual agreement 
between a banking institution and a retail forex customer that contains 
the terms governing the customer's retail forex account with the 
banking institution.
    (l) Retail forex business means engaging in one or more retail 
forex transactions with the intent to derive income from those 
transactions, either directly or indirectly.
    (m) Retail forex counterparty includes, as appropriate:
    (1) A banking institution;
    (2) A retail foreign exchange dealer;
    (3) A futures commission merchant;
    (4) An affiliated person of a futures commission merchant; and
    (5) A broker or dealer registered under section 15(b) (except 
paragraph (11) thereof) or 15C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
(15 U.S.C. 78o(b), 78o-5) or a U.S. financial institution

[[Page 46661]]

other than a banking institution, provided the counterparty is subject 
to a rule or regulation of a Federal regulatory agency covering retail 
forex transactions.
    (n) Retail forex customer means a customer that is not an eligible 
contract participant, acting on his, her, or its own behalf and 
engaging in retail forex transactions.
    (o) Retail forex proprietary account means a retail forex account 
carried on the books of a banking institution for one of the following 
persons; a retail forex account of which 10 percent or more is owned by 
one of the following persons; or a retail forex account of which an 
aggregate of 10 percent or more of which is owned by more than one of 
the following persons:
    (1) The banking institution;
    (2) An officer, director or owner of ten percent or more of the 
capital stock of the banking institution; or
    (3) An employee of the banking institution, whose duties include:
    (i) The management of the banking institution's business;
    (ii) The handling of the banking institution's retail forex 
transactions;
    (iii) The keeping of records, including without limitation the 
software used to make or maintain those records, pertaining to the 
banking institution's retail forex transactions; or
    (iv) The signing or co-signing of checks or drafts on behalf of the 
banking institution;
    (4) A spouse or minor dependent living in the same household as of 
any of the foregoing persons; or
    (5) An affiliate of the banking institution;
    (p) Retail forex transaction means an agreement, contract, or 
transaction in foreign currency, other than an identified banking 
product or a part of an identified banking product, that is offered or 
entered into by a banking institution with a person that is not an 
eligible contract participant and that is:
    (1) A contract of sale of a commodity for future delivery or an 
option on such a contract; or
    (2) An option, other than an option executed or traded on a 
national securities exchange registered pursuant to section 6(a) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78f(a)); or
    (3) Offered or entered into on a leveraged or margined basis, or 
financed by a banking institution, its affiliate, or any person acting 
in concert with the banking institution or its affiliate on a similar 
basis, other than:
    (i) A security that is not a security futures product as defined in 
section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1a(47)); or
    (ii) A contract of sale that--
    (A) Results in actual delivery within two days; or
    (B) Creates an enforceable obligation to deliver between a seller 
and buyer that have the ability to deliver and accept delivery, 
respectively, in connection with their line of business; or
    (iii) An agreement, contract, or transaction that the Board 
determines is not functionally or economically similar to an agreement, 
contract, or transaction described in paragraph (p)(1) or (p)(2) of 
this section.


Sec.  240.3   Prohibited transactions.

    (a) Fraudulent conduct prohibited. No banking institution or its 
related persons may, directly or indirectly, in or in connection with 
any retail forex transaction:
    (1) Defraud or attempt to defraud any person;
    (2) Knowingly make or cause to be made to any person any false 
report or statement or cause to be entered for any person any false 
record; or
    (3) Knowingly deceive or attempt to deceive any person by any means 
whatsoever.
    (b) Acting as counterparty and exercising discretion prohibited. A 
banking institution that has authority to cause retail forex 
transactions to be effected for a retail forex customer without the 
retail forex customer's specific authorization may not (and an 
affiliate of such an institution may not) act as the counterparty for 
any retail forex transaction with that retail forex customer.


Sec.  240.4  Notification.

    (a) Notification required. Before commencing a retail forex 
business, a banking institution shall provide the Board with prior 
written notice in compliance with this section. The notice will become 
effective 60 days after a complete notice is received by the Board, 
provided the Board does not request additional information or object in 
writing. In the event the Board requests additional information, the 
notice will become effective 60 days after all information requested by 
the Board is received by the Board unless the Board objects in writing.
    (b) Notification requirements. A banking institution shall provide 
the following in its written notification:
    (1) Information concerning customer due diligence, including 
without limitation credit evaluations, customer appropriateness, and 
``know your customer'' documentation;
    (2) The haircuts to be applied to noncash margin as provided in 
240.9(b)(2);
    (3) Information concerning new product approvals;
    (4) Information on addressing conflicts of interest; and
    (5) A resolution by the banking institution's Board of Directors 
that the banking institution has established and implemented written 
policies, procedures, and risk measurement and management systems and 
controls for the purpose of ensuring that it conducts retail forex 
transactions in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with this 
part.
    (c) Treatment of existing retail forex businesses. A banking 
institution that is engaged in a retail forex business on the effective 
date of this part may continue to do so, until and unless the Board 
objects in writing, so long as the institution submits the information 
required to be submitted under paragraphs (b)(1) through (5) of this 
section within 30 days of the effective date of this part, subject to 
an extension of time by the Board, and such additional information as 
requested by the Board thereafter.
    (d) Compliance with the Commodity Exchange Act. A banking 
institution that is engaged in a retail forex business on the effective 
date of this part and complies with paragraph (c) of this section shall 
be deemed to be acting pursuant to a rule or regulation described in 
section 2(c)(2)(E)(ii)(I) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 
2(c)(2)(E)(ii)(I)).


Sec.  240.5  Application and closing out of offsetting long and short 
positions.

    (a) Application of purchases and sales. Any banking institution 
that--
    (1) Engages in a retail forex transaction involving the purchase of 
any currency for the account of any retail forex customer when the 
account of such retail forex customer at the time of such purchase has 
an open retail forex transaction for the sale of the same currency;
    (2) Engages in a retail forex transaction involving the sale of any 
currency for the account of any retail forex customer when the account 
of such retail forex customer at the time of such sale has an open 
retail forex transaction for the purchase of the same currency;
    (3) Purchases a put or call option involving foreign currency for 
the account of any retail forex customer when the account of such 
retail forex customer at the time of such purchase has a short put or 
call option position with the same underlying currency, strike price, 
and expiration date as that purchased; or

[[Page 46662]]

    (4) Sells a put or call option involving foreign currency for the 
account of any retail forex customer when the account of such retail 
forex customer at the time of such sale has a long put or call option 
position with the same underlying currency, strike price, and 
expiration date as that sold shall:
    (i) Immediately apply such purchase or sale against such previously 
held opposite transaction with the same customer; and
    (ii) Promptly furnish such retail forex customer with a statement 
showing the financial result of the transactions involved and the name 
of any introducing broker to the account.
    (b) Close-out against oldest open position. In all instances in 
which the short or long position in a customer's retail forex account 
immediately prior to an offsetting purchase or sale is greater than the 
quantity purchased or sold, the banking institution shall apply such 
offsetting purchase or sale to the oldest portion of the previously 
held short or long position.
    (c) Transactions to be applied as directed by customer. 
Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the offsetting 
transaction shall be applied as directed by a retail forex customer's 
specific instructions. These instructions may not be made by the 
banking institution or a related person.


Sec.  240.6  Disclosure.

    (a) Risk disclosure statement required. No banking institution may 
open or maintain an account that will engage in retail forex 
transactions for a retail forex customer unless the banking institution 
has furnished the retail forex customer with a separate written 
disclosure statement containing only the language set forth in 
paragraph (d) of this section and the disclosures required by 
paragraphs (e), (f), and (g) of this section.
    (b) Acknowledgement of risk disclosure statement required. The 
banking institution must receive from the retail forex customer a 
written acknowledgement signed and dated by the customer that the 
customer received and understood the written disclosure statement 
required by paragraph (a) of this section.
    (c) Placement of risk disclosure statement. The disclosure 
statement may be attached to other documents as the initial page(s) of 
such documents and as the only material on such page(s).
    (d) Content of risk disclosure statement. The language set forth in 
the written disclosure statement required by paragraph (a) of this 
section shall be as follows:

Risk Disclosure Statement

    Retail forex transactions generally involve the leveraged trading 
of contracts denominated in foreign currency with a banking institution 
as your counterparty. Because of the leverage and the other risks 
disclosed here, you can rapidly lose all of the funds or property you 
give the banking institution as margin for such trading and you may 
lose more than you pledge as margin.
    You should be aware of and carefully consider the following points 
before determining whether such trading is appropriate for you.
    (1) Trading foreign currencies is a not on a regulated market or 
exchange--your banking institution is your trading counterparty and has 
conflicting interests. The retail forex transaction you are entering 
into is not conducted on an interbank market, nor is it conducted on a 
futures exchange subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission. The foreign currency trades you transact are trades with 
your banking institution as the counterparty. When you sell, the 
banking institution is the buyer. When you buy, the banking institution 
is the seller. As a result, when you lose money trading, your banking 
institution is making money on such trades, in addition to any fees, 
commissions, or spreads the banking institution may charge.
    (2) Any electronic trading platform that you may use for retail 
foreign currency transactions with your banking institution is not a 
regulated exchange. It is an electronic connection for accessing your 
banking institution. The terms of availability of such a platform are 
governed only by your contract with your banking institution. Any 
trading platform that you may use to enter into off-exchange foreign 
currency transactions is only connected to your banking institution. 
You are accessing that trading platform only to transact with your 
banking institution. You are not trading with any other entities or 
customers of the banking institution by accessing such platform. The 
availability and operation of any such platform, including the 
consequences of the unavailability of the trading platform for any 
reason, is governed only by the terms of your account agreement with 
the banking institution.
    (3) You may be able to offset or liquidate any trading positions 
only through your banking institution because the transactions are not 
made on an exchange, and your banking institution may set its own 
prices. Your ability to close your transactions or offset positions is 
limited to what your banking institution will offer to you, as there is 
no other market for these transactions. Your banking institution may 
offer any prices it wishes. Your banking institution may establish its 
prices by offering spreads from third party prices, but it is under no 
obligation to do so or to continue to do so. Your banking institution 
may offer different prices to different customers at any point in time 
on its own terms. The terms of your account agreement alone govern the 
obligations your banking institution has to you to offer prices and 
offer offset or liquidating transactions in your account and make any 
payments to you. The prices offered by your banking institution may or 
may not reflect prices available elsewhere at any exchange, interbank, 
or other market for foreign currency.
    (4) Paid solicitors may have undisclosed conflicts. The banking 
institution may compensate introducing brokers for introducing your 
account in ways that are not disclosed to you. Such paid solicitors are 
not required to have, and may not have, any special expertise in 
trading, and may have conflicts of interest based on the method by 
which they are compensated. You should thoroughly investigate the 
manner in which all such solicitors are compensated and be very 
cautious in granting any person or entity authority to trade on your 
behalf. You should always consider obtaining dated written confirmation 
of any information you are relying on from your banking institution in 
making any trading or account decisions.
    (5) Retail forex transactions are not insured by the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation.
    (6) Retail forex transactions are not a deposit in, or guaranteed 
by, a banking institution.
    (7) Retail forex transactions are subject to investment risks, 
including possible loss of all amounts invested.
    Finally, you should thoroughly investigate any statements by any 
banking institution that minimize the importance of, or contradict, any 
of the terms of this risk disclosure. Such statements may indicate 
sales fraud.
    This brief statement cannot, of course, disclose all the risks and 
other aspects of trading off-exchange foreign currency with a banking 
institution.
    I hereby acknowledge that I have received and understood this risk 
disclosure statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Signature of Customer


[[Page 46663]]


    (e)(1) Disclosure of profitable accounts ratio. Immediately 
following the language set forth in paragraph (d) of this section, the 
statement required by paragraph (a) of this section shall include, for 
each of the most recent four calendar quarters during which the banking 
institution maintained retail forex customer accounts:
    (i) The total number of retail forex customer accounts maintained 
by the banking institution over which the banking institution does not 
exercise investment discretion;
    (ii) The percentage of such accounts that were profitable for 
retail forex customer accounts during the quarter; and
    (iii) The percentage of such accounts that were not profitable for 
retail forex customer accounts during the quarter.
    (2) Statement of profitable trades. (i) The banking institution's 
statement of profitable trades shall include the following legend: Past 
performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
    (ii) Each banking institution shall provide, upon request, to any 
retail forex customer or prospective retail forex customer the total 
number of retail forex accounts maintained by the banking institution 
for which the banking institution does not exercise investment 
discretion, the percentage of such accounts that were profitable, and 
the percentage of such accounts that were not profitable for each 
calendar quarter during the most recent five-year period during which 
the banking institution maintained such accounts.
    (f) Disclosure of fees and other charges. Immediately following the 
language required by paragraph (e) of this section, the statement 
required by paragraph (a) of this section shall include:
    (1) The amount of any fee, charge, or commission that the banking 
institution may impose on the retail forex customer in connection with 
a retail forex account or retail forex transaction;
    (2) An explanation of how the banking institution will determine 
the amount of such fees, charges, or commissions; and
    (3) The circumstances under which the banking institution may 
impose such fees, charges, or commissions.
    (g) Set off. Immediately following the language required by 
paragraph (f) of this section, the statement required by paragraph (a) 
of this section shall include:
    (1) A statement as to whether the banking institution will or will 
not retain the right to set off obligations of the retail forex 
customer arising from the customer's retail forex transactions, 
including margin calls and losses, against the customer's other assets 
held by the banking institution;
    (2) If the banking institution states that it reserves its right to 
set off obligations of the retail forex customer arising from the 
customer's retail forex transactions against the customer's other 
assets, the banking institution must receive from the retail forex 
customer a written acknowledgement signed and dated by the customer 
that the customer received and understood the written disclosure 
required by paragraph (g)(1) of this section.
    (h) Future disclosure requirements. If, with regard to a retail 
forex customer, the banking institution changes any fee, charge, or 
commission required to be disclosed under paragraph (f) of this 
section, then the banking institution shall mail or deliver to the 
retail forex customer a notice of the changes at least 15 days prior to 
the effective date of the change.
    (i) Form of disclosure requirements. The disclosures required by 
this section shall be clear and conspicuous and designed to call 
attention to the nature and significance of the information provided.
    (j) Other disclosure requirements unaffected. This section does not 
relieve a banking institution from any other disclosure obligation it 
may have under applicable law.


Sec.  240.7  Recordkeeping.

    (a) General rule. A banking institution engaging in retail forex 
transactions shall keep full, complete and systematic records, together 
with all pertinent data and memoranda, of all transactions relating to 
its retail forex business, including:
    (1) Retail forex account records. For each retail forex account:
    (i) The name and address of the person for whom such retail forex 
account is carried or introduced and the principal occupation or 
business of the person.
    (ii) The name of any other person guaranteeing the account or 
exercising trading control with respect to the account;
    (iii) The establishment or termination of the account;
    (iv) A means to identify the person who has solicited and is 
responsible for the account or assign account numbers in such a manner 
as to identify that person;
    (v) The funds in the account, net of any commissions and fees;
    (vi) The account's net profits and losses on open trades;
    (vii) The funds in the account plus or minus the net profits and 
losses on open trades, adjusted for the net option value in the case of 
open options positions;
    (viii) Financial ledger records that show separately for each 
retail forex customer all charges against and credits to such retail 
forex customer's account, including but not limited to retail forex 
customer funds deposited, withdrawn, or transferred, and charges or 
credits resulting from losses or gains on closed transactions; and
    (ix) A list of all retail forex transactions executed for the 
account, with the details specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section.
    (2) Retail forex transaction records. For each retail forex 
transaction:
    (i) The date and time the banking institution received the order;
    (ii) The price at which the banking institution placed the order, 
or, in the case of an option, the premium that the retail forex 
customer paid;
    (iii) The customer account identification information;
    (iv) The currency pair;
    (v) The size or quantity of the order;
    (vi) Whether the order was a buy or sell order;
    (vii) The type of order, if the order was not a market order;
    (viii) The size and price at which the order is executed, or in the 
case of an option, the amount of the premium paid for each option 
purchased, or the amount credited for each option sold;
    (ix) For options, whether the option is a put or call, expiration 
date, quantity, underlying contract for future delivery or underlying 
physical, strike price, and details of the purchase price of the 
option, including premium, mark-up, commission, and fees;
    (x) For futures, the delivery date; and
    (xi) If the order was made on a trading platform:
    (A) The price quoted on the trading platform when the order was 
placed, or, in the case of an option, the premium quoted;
    (B) The date and time the order was transmitted to the trading 
platform; and
    (C) The date and time the order was executed.
    (3) Price changes on a trading platform. If a trading platform is 
used, daily logs showing each price change on the platform, the time of 
the change to the nearest second, and the trading volume at that time 
and price.
    (4) Methods or algorithms. Any method or algorithm used to 
determine the bid or asked price for any retail forex transaction or 
the prices at which customers orders are executed, including, but not 
limited to, any mark-ups, fees, commissions or other items which affect 
the profitability or risk of loss of a retail forex customer's 
transaction.

[[Page 46664]]

    (5) Daily records which show for each business day complete details 
of:
    (i) All retail forex transactions that are futures transactions 
executed on that day, including the date, price, quantity, market, 
currency pair, delivery date, and the person for whom such transaction 
was made;
    (ii) All retail forex transactions that are option transactions 
executed on that day, including the date, whether the transaction 
involved a put or call, the expiration date, quantity, currency pair, 
delivery date, strike price, details of the purchase price of the 
option, including premium, mark-up, commission and fees, and the person 
for whom the transaction was made; and
    (iii) All other retail forex transactions executed on that day for 
such account, including the date, price, quantity, currency and the 
person for whom such transaction was made.
    (6) Other records. Written acknowledgements of receipt of the risk 
disclosure statement required by Sec.  240.6(b), offset instructions 
pursuant to Sec.  240.5(c), records required under paragraphs (b) 
through (f) of this section, trading cards, signature cards, street 
books, journals, ledgers, payment records, copies of statements of 
purchase, and all other records, data and memoranda that have been 
prepared in the course of the banking institution's retail forex 
business.
    (b) Ratio of profitable accounts. (1) With respect to its active 
retail forex customer accounts over which it did not exercise 
investment discretion and that are not retail forex proprietary 
accounts open for any period of time during the quarter, a banking 
institution shall prepare and maintain on a quarterly basis (calendar 
quarter):
    (i) A calculation of the percentage of such accounts that were 
profitable;
    (ii) A calculation of the percentage of such accounts that were not 
profitable; and
    (iii) Data supporting the calculations described in paragraphs 
(b)(1)(i) and (b)(1)(ii) of this section.
    (2) In calculating whether a retail forex account was profitable or 
not profitable during the quarter, the banking institution shall 
compute the realized and unrealized gains or losses on all retail forex 
transactions carried in the retail forex account at any time during the 
quarter, and subtract all fees, commissions, and any other charges 
posted to the retail forex account during the quarter, and add any 
interest income and other income or rebates credited to the retail 
forex account during the quarter. All deposits and withdrawals of funds 
made by the retail forex customer during the quarter must be excluded 
from the computation of whether the retail forex account was profitable 
or not profitable during the quarter. Computations that result in a 
zero or negative number shall be considered a retail forex account that 
was not profitable. Computations that result in a positive number shall 
be considered a retail forex account that was profitable.
    (3) A retail forex account shall be considered ``active'' for 
purposes of paragraph (b)(1) of this section if and only if, for the 
relevant calendar quarter, a retail forex transaction was executed in 
that account or the retail forex account contained an open position 
resulting from a retail forex transaction.
    (c) Records related to possible violations of law. A banking 
institution engaging in retail forex transactions shall make a record 
of all communications received by the banking institution or its 
related persons concerning facts giving rise to possible violations of 
law related to the banking institution's retail forex business. The 
record shall contain: the name of the complainant, if provided; the 
date of the communication; the relevant agreement, contract, or 
transaction; the substance of the communication; and the name of the 
person who received the communication and the final disposition of the 
matter.
    (d) Records for noncash margin. A banking institution shall 
maintain a record of all noncash margin collected pursuant to Sec.  
240.9. The record shall show separately for each retail forex customer:
    (1) A description of the securities or property received;
    (2) The name and address of such retail forex customer;
    (3) The dates when the securities or property were received;
    (4) The identity of the depositories or other places where such 
securities or property are segregated or held, if applicable;
    (5) The dates on which the banking institution placed or removed 
such securities or property into or from such depositories; and
    (6) The dates of return of such securities or property to such 
retail forex customer, or other disposition thereof, together with the 
facts and circumstances of such other disposition.
    (e) Order tickets.
    (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, 
immediately upon the receipt of a retail forex transaction order, a 
banking institution shall prepare an order ticket for the order 
(whether unfulfilled, executed or canceled). The order ticket shall 
include:
    (i) Account identification (account or customer name with which the 
retail forex transaction was effected);
    (ii) Order number;
    (iii) Type of order (market order, limit order, or subject to 
special instructions);
    (iv) Date and time, to the nearest minute, the retail forex 
transaction order was received (as evidenced by timestamp or other 
timing device);
    (v) Time, to the nearest minute, the retail forex transaction order 
was executed; and
    (vi) Price at which the retail forex transaction was executed.
    (2) Post-execution allocation of bunched orders. Specific 
identifiers for retail forex accounts included in bunched orders need 
not be recorded at time of order placement or upon report of execution 
as required under paragraph (e)(1) of this section if the following 
requirements are met:
    (i) The banking institution placing and directing the allocation of 
an order eligible for post-execution allocation has been granted 
written investment discretion with regard to participating customer 
accounts and makes the following information available to customers 
upon request:
    (A) The general nature of the post-execution allocation methodology 
the banking institution will use;
    (B) Whether the banking institution has any interest in accounts 
which may be included with customer accounts in bunched orders eligible 
for post-execution allocation; and
    (C) Summary or composite data sufficient for that customer to 
compare the customer's results with those of other comparable customers 
and, if applicable, any account in which the banking institution has an 
interest.
    (ii) Post-execution allocations are made as soon as practicable 
after the entire transaction is executed;
    (iii) Post-execution allocations are fair and equitable, with no 
account or group of accounts receiving consistently favorable or 
unfavorable treatment; and
    (iv) The post-execution allocation methodology is sufficiently 
objective and specific to permit the Board to verify fairness of the 
allocations using that methodology.
    (f) Record of monthly statements and confirmations. A banking 
institution shall retain a copy of each monthly statement and 
confirmation required by Sec.  240.10.
    (g) Form of record and manner of maintenance. The records required 
by this section must clearly and accurately reflect the information 
required and provide an adequate basis for the audit of the 
information. A banking institution must create and maintain

[[Page 46665]]

audio recordings of oral orders and oral offset instructions. Record 
maintenance may include the use of automated or electronic records 
provided that the records are easily retrievable, and readily available 
for inspection.
    (h) Length of maintenance. A banking institution shall keep each 
record required by this section for at least five years from the date 
the record is created.


Sec.  240.8  Capital requirements.

    (a) Capital required for a state member bank. A banking institution 
defined in section 240.2(b)(1) offering or entering into retail forex 
transactions must be well-capitalized as defined in section 208.43 of 
Regulation H (12 CFR 208.243).
    (b) Capital required for an uninsured state-licensed branch of a 
foreign bank. A banking institution defined in section 240.2(b)(2) 
offering or entering into retail forex transactions must be well-
capitalized under the capital rules made applicable to it pursuant to 
section 225.2(r)(3) of Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.2(r)(3).
    (c) Capital required for financial holding companies and bank 
holding companies. A banking institution defined in section 240.2(b)(3) 
or (4) offering or entering into retail forex transactions must be 
well-capitalized as defined in section 225.2(r) of Regulation Y (12 CFR 
Part 225.2(r)).
    (d) Capital required for an agreement corporation or Edge Act 
corporation. A banking institution defined in section 240.2(b)(5) or 
(6) offering or entering into retail forex transactions must maintain 
capital in compliance with the capital adequacy guidelines that are 
made applicable to an Edge corporation engaged in banking pursuant to 
section 211.12(c)(2) of Regulation K (12 CFR 211.12(c)(2)).


Sec.  240.9  Margin requirements.

    (a) Margin required. A banking institution engaging, or offering to 
engage, in retail forex transactions must collect from each retail 
forex customer an amount of margin not less than:
    (1) Two percent of the notional value of the retail forex 
transaction for major currency pairs and 5 percent of the notional 
value of the retail forex transaction for all other currency pairs;
    (2) For short options, 2 percent for major currency pairs and 5 
percent for all other currency pairs of the notional value of the 
retail forex transaction, plus the premium received by the retail forex 
customer; or
    (3) For long options, the full premium charged and received by the 
banking institution.
    (b)(1) Form of margin. Margin collected under paragraph (a) of this 
section or pledged by a retail forex customer for retail forex 
transactions in excess of the requirements of paragraph (a) of this 
section must be in the form of cash or the following financial 
instruments:
    (i) Obligations of the United States and obligations fully 
guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States;
    (ii) General obligations of any State or of any political 
subdivision thereof;
    (iii) General obligations issued or guaranteed by any enterprise, 
as defined in 12 U.S.C. 4502(10);
    (iv) Certificates of deposit issued by an insured depository 
institution, as defined in section 3(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813(c)(2));
    (v) Commercial paper;
    (vi) Corporate notes or bonds;
    (vii) General obligations of a sovereign nation;
    (viii) Interests in money market mutual funds; and
    (ix) Such other financial instruments as the Board deems 
appropriate.
    (2) Haircuts. A banking institution shall establish written 
policies and procedures that include:
    (i) Haircuts for noncash margin collected under this section; and
    (ii) Annual evaluation, and, if appropriate, modification of the 
haircuts.
    (c) Major currencies. (1) for the purposes of subsections (a)(1) 
and (a)(2), major currency means:

(i) United States Dollar (USD)
(ii) Canadian Dollar (CAD)
(iii) Euro (EUR)
(iv) United Kingdom Pound (GBP)
(v) Japanese Yen (JPY)
(vi) Swiss Franc (CHF)
(vii) New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
(viii) Australian Dollar (AUD)
(ix) Swedish Kronor (SEK)
(x) Danish Kroner (DKK)
(xi) Norwegian Krone (NOK), and
(xii) Any other currency as determined by the Board.

    (d) Margin calls; liquidation of position. For each retail forex 
customer, at least once per day, a banking institution shall:
    (1) Mark the value of the retail forex customer's open retail forex 
positions to market;
    (2) Mark the value of the margin collected under this section from 
the retail forex customer to market;
    (3) Determine whether, based on the marks in paragraphs (d)(1) and 
(d)(2) of this section, the banking institution has collected margin 
from the retail forex customer sufficient to satisfy the requirements 
of this section; and
    (4) If, pursuant to paragraph (d)(3) of this section, the banking 
institution determines that it has not collected margin from the retail 
forex customer sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this section 
then, within a reasonable period of time, the banking institution shall 
either:
    (i) Collect margin from the retail forex customer sufficient to 
satisfy the requirements of this section; or
    (ii) Liquidate the retail forex customer's retail forex 
transactions.


Sec.  240.10  Required reporting to customers.

    (a) Monthly statements. Each banking institution must promptly 
furnish to each retail forex customer, as of the close of the last 
business day of each month or as of any regular monthly date selected, 
except for accounts in which there are neither open positions at the 
end of the statement period nor any changes to the account balance 
since the prior statement period, but in any event not less frequently 
than once every three months, a statement that clearly shows:
    (1) For each retail forex customer:
    (i) The open retail forex transactions with prices at which 
acquired;
    (ii) The net unrealized profits or losses in all open retail forex 
transactions marked to the market;
    (iii) Any money, securities or other property required by Sec.  
240.9(d); and
    (iv) A detailed accounting of all financial charges and credits to 
the retail forex customer's retail forex accounts during the monthly 
reporting period, including: money, securities, or property received 
from or disbursed to such customer; realized profits and losses; and 
fees, charges, and commissions.
    (2) For each retail forex customer engaging in retail forex 
transactions that are options:
    (i) All such options purchased, sold, exercised, or expired during 
the monthly reporting period, identified by underlying retail forex 
transaction or underlying currency, strike price, transaction date, and 
expiration date;
    (ii) The open option positions carried for such customer and 
arising as of the end of the monthly reporting period, identified by 
underlying retail forex transaction or underlying currency, strike 
price, transaction date, and expiration date;
    (iii) All such option positions marked to the market and the amount 
each position is in the money, if any;
    (iv) Any money, securities or other property required by Sec.  
240.9(c); and
    (v) A detailed accounting of all financial charges and credits to 
the

[[Page 46666]]

retail forex customer's retail forex accounts during the monthly 
reporting period, including: money, securities, or property received 
from or disbursed to such customer; realized profits and losses; 
premiums and mark-ups; and fees, charges, and commissions.
    (b) Confirmation statement. Each banking institution must, not 
later than the next business day after any retail forex transaction, 
send:
    (1) To each retail forex customer, a written confirmation of each 
retail forex transaction caused to be executed by it for the customer, 
including offsetting transactions executed during the same business day 
and the rollover of an open retail forex transaction to the next 
business day;
    (2) To each retail forex customer engaging in forex option 
transactions, a written confirmation of each forex option transaction, 
containing at least the following information:
    (i) The retail forex customer's account identification number;
    (ii) A separate listing of the actual amount of the premium, as 
well as each mark-up thereon, if applicable, and all other commissions, 
costs, fees and other charges incurred in connection with the forex 
option transaction;
    (iii) The strike price;
    (iv) The underlying retail forex transaction or underlying 
currency;
    (v) The final exercise date of the forex option purchased or sold; 
and
    (vi) The date the forex option transaction was executed.
    (3) To each retail forex customer engaging in forex option 
transactions, upon the expiration or exercise of any option, a written 
confirmation statement thereof, which statement shall include the date 
of such occurrence, a description of the option involved, and, in the 
case of exercise, the details of the retail forex or physical currency 
position which resulted therefrom including, if applicable, the final 
trading date of the retail forex transaction underlying the option.
    (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) 
of this section, a retail forex transaction that is caused to be 
executed for a pooled investment vehicle that engages in retail forex 
transactions need be confirmed only to the operator of such pooled 
investment vehicle.
    (d) Controlled accounts. With respect to any account controlled by 
any person other than the retail forex customer for whom such account 
is carried, each banking institution shall promptly furnish in writing 
to such other person the information required by paragraphs (a) and (b) 
of this section.
    (e) Introduced accounts. Each statement provided pursuant to the 
provisions of this section must, if applicable, show that the account 
for which the banking institution was introduced by an introducing 
broker and the name of the introducing broker.


Sec.  240.11  Unlawful representations.

    (a) No implication or representation of limiting losses. No banking 
institution engaged in retail foreign exchange transactions or its 
related persons may imply or represent that it will, with respect to 
any retail customer forex account, for or on behalf of any person:
    (1) Guarantee such person or account against loss;
    (2) Limit the loss of such person or account; or
    (3) Not call for or attempt to collect margin as established for 
retail forex customers.
    (b) No implication of representation of engaging in prohibited 
acts. No banking institution or its related persons may in any way 
imply or represent that it will engage in any of the acts or practices 
described in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (c) No Federal government endorsement. No banking institution or 
its related persons may represent or imply in any manner whatsoever 
that any retail forex transaction or retail forex product has been 
sponsored, recommended, or approved by the Board, the Federal 
government, or any agency thereof.
    (d) Assuming or sharing of liability from bank error. This section 
shall not be construed to prevent a banking institution from assuming 
or sharing in the losses resulting from the banking institution's error 
or mishandling of a retail forex transaction.
    (e) Certain guaranties unaffected. This section shall not affect 
any guarantee entered into prior to the effective date of this part, 
but this section shall apply to any extension, modification or renewal 
thereof entered into after such date.


Sec.  240.12  Authorization to trade.

    (a) Specific authorization required. No banking institution may 
directly or indirectly effect a retail forex transaction for the 
account of any retail forex customer unless, before the transaction 
occurs, the retail forex customer specifically authorized the banking 
institution to effect the retail forex transaction.
    (b) A retail forex transaction is ``specifically authorized'' for 
purposes of this section if the retail forex customer specifies:
    (1) The precise retail forex transaction to be effected;
    (2) The exact amount of the foreign currency to be purchased or 
sold; and
    (3) In the case of an option, the identity of the foreign currency 
or contract that underlies the option.


Sec.  240.13  Trading and operational standards.

    (a) Internal rules, procedures, and controls required. A banking 
institution engaging in retail forex transactions shall establish and 
implement internal rules, procedures, and controls designed, at a 
minimum, to:
    (1) Ensure, to the extent reasonable, that each order received from 
a retail forex customer that is executable at or near the price that 
the banking institution has quoted to the customer is entered for 
execution before any order in any retail forex transaction for:
    (i) A proprietary account;
    (ii) An account in which a related person has an interest, or any 
account for which such a related person may originate orders without 
the prior specific consent of the account owner if the related person 
has gained knowledge of the retail forex customer's order prior to the 
transmission of an order for a proprietary account;
    (iii) An account in which a related person has an interest, if the 
related person has gained knowledge of the retail forex customer's 
order prior to the transmission of an order for a proprietary account; 
or
    (iv) An account in which a related person may originate orders 
without the prior specific consent of the account owner, if the related 
person has gained knowledge of the retail forex customer's order prior 
to the transmission of an order for a proprietary account;
    (2) Prevent banking institution related persons from placing 
orders, directly or indirectly, with another person in a manner 
designed to circumvent the provisions of paragraph (a)(1) of this 
section; and
    (3) Fairly and objectively establish settlement prices for retail 
forex transactions.
    (b) Disclosure of retail forex transactions. No banking institution 
engaging in retail forex transactions may disclose that an order of 
another person is being held by the banking institution, unless the 
disclosure is necessary to the effective execution of such order or the 
disclosure is made at the request of the Board.
    (c) Handling of retail forex accounts of related persons of retail 
forex counterparties. No banking institution engaging in retail forex 
transactions shall knowingly handle the retail forex account of any 
related person of another

[[Page 46667]]

retail forex counterparty unless the banking institution:
    (1) Receives written authorization from a person designated by such 
other retail forex counterparty with responsibility for the 
surveillance over such account pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section;
    (2) Prepares immediately upon receipt of an order for the account a 
written record of the order, including the account identification and 
order number, and records thereon to the nearest minute, by time-stamp 
or other timing device, the date and time the order is received; and
    (3) Transmits on a regular basis to the other retail forex 
counterparty copies of all statements for the account and of all 
written records prepared upon the receipt of orders for the account 
pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
    (d) Related person of banking institution establishing account at 
another retail forex counterparty. No related person of a banking 
institution working in the banking institution's retail forex business 
may have an account, directly or indirectly, with another retail forex 
counterparty unless the other retail forex counterparty:
    (1) Receives written authorization to open and maintain the account 
from a person designated by the banking institution of which it is a 
related person with responsibility for the surveillance over the 
account pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this section; and
    (2) Transmits on a regular basis to the banking institution copies 
of all statements for the account and of all written records prepared 
by the other retail forex counterparty upon receipt of orders for such 
account pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
    (e) Prohibited trading practices. No banking institution engaging 
in retail forex transactions may:
    (1) Enter into a retail forex transaction, to be executed pursuant 
to a market or limit order at a price that is not at or near the price 
at which other retail forex customers, during that same time period, 
have executed retail forex transactions with the banking institution;
    (2) Adjust or alter prices for a retail forex transaction after the 
transaction has been confirmed to the retail forex customer;
    (3) Provide a retail forex customer a new bid price for a retail 
forex transaction that is higher than its previous bid without 
providing a new asked price that is also higher than its previous asked 
price by a similar amount;
    (4) Provide a retail forex customer a new bid price for a retail 
forex transaction that is lower than its previous bid without providing 
a new asked price that is also lower than its previous asked price by a 
similar amount; or
    (5) Establish a new position for a retail forex customer (except 
one that offsets an existing position for that retail forex customer) 
where the banking institution holds outstanding orders of other retail 
forex customers for the same currency pair at a comparable price.


Sec.  240.14  Supervision.

    (a) Supervision by the banking institution. A banking institution 
engaging in retail forex transactions shall diligently supervise the 
handling by its officers, employees, and agents (or persons occupying a 
similar status or performing a similar function) of all retail forex 
accounts carried, operated, or advised by the banking institution and 
all activities of its officers, employees, and agents (or persons 
occupying a similar status or performing a similar function) relating 
to its retail forex business.
    (b) Supervision by officers, employees, or agents. An officer, 
employee, or agent of a banking institution must diligently supervise 
his or her subordinates' handling of all retail forex accounts at the 
banking institution and all the subordinates' activities relating to 
the banking institution's retail forex business.


Sec.  240.15  Notice of transfers.

    (a) Prior notice generally required. Except as provided in 
paragraph (b) of this section, a banking institution must provide a 
retail forex customer with 30 days' prior notice of any assignment of 
any position or transfer of any account of the retail forex customer. 
The notice must include a statement that the retail forex customer is 
not required to accept the proposed assignment or transfer and may 
direct the banking institution to liquidate the positions of the retail 
forex customer or transfer the account to a retail forex counterparty 
of the retail forex customer's selection.
    (b) Exceptions. The requirements of paragraph (a) of this section 
shall not apply to transfers:
    (1) Requested by the retail forex customer;
    (2) Made by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver 
or conservator under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; or
    (3) Otherwise authorized by applicable law.
    (c) Obligations of transferee banking institution. A banking 
institution to which retail forex accounts or positions are assigned or 
transferred under paragraph (a) of this section must provide to the 
affected retail forex customers the risk disclosure statements and 
forms of acknowledgment required by this part and receive the required 
signed acknowledgments within sixty days of such assignments or 
transfers. This requirement shall not apply if the banking institution 
has clear written evidence that the retail forex customer has received 
and acknowledged receipt of the required disclosure statements.


Sec.  240.16  Customer dispute resolution.

    (a) No banking institution shall enter into any agreement or 
understanding with a retail forex customer in which the customer 
agrees, prior to the time a claim or grievance arises, to submit any 
claim or grievance regarding any retail forex transaction or disclosure 
to any settlement procedure.
    (b) Election of forum.
    (1) Within 10 business days after the receipt of notice from the 
retail forex customer that the customer intends to submit a claim to 
arbitration, the banking institution shall provide the customer with a 
list of persons qualified in dispute resolution.
    (2) The customer must, within 45 days after receipt of such list, 
notify the national bank of the person selected. The customer's failure 
to provide such notice shall give the banking institution the right to 
select a person from the list.
    (c) Enforceability. A dispute settlement procedure may require 
parties using the procedure to agree, under applicable state law, 
submission agreement, or otherwise, to be bound by an award rendered in 
the procedure if the agreement to submit the claim or grievance to the 
procedure was made after the claim or grievance arose. Any award so 
rendered by the procedure will be enforceable in accordance with 
applicable law.
    (d) Time limits for submission of claims. The dispute settlement 
procedure used by the parties may not include any unreasonably short 
limitation period foreclosing submission of a customer's claims or 
grievances or counterclaims.
    (e) Counterclaims. A procedure for the settlement of a retail forex 
customer's claims or grievances against a banking institution or 
employee thereof may permit the submission of a counterclaim in the 
procedure by a person against whom a claim or grievance is brought if 
the counterclaim:
    (1) Arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject 
of the retail forex customer's claim or grievance; and

[[Page 46668]]

    (2) Does not require for adjudication the presence of essential 
witnesses, parties, or third persons over which the settlement process 
lacks jurisdiction.

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, July 28, 2011.
Jennifer J. Johnson,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2011-19535 Filed 8-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P