[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 235 (Thursday, December 6, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72783-72787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29233]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

31 CFR Part 1010

RIN 1506-AB20


Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Definitions of Transmittal of 
Funds and Funds Transfer

AGENCY: Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (``FinCEN''), Treasury; 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; request for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of 
the Department of the Treasury, and the Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System (Board) are proposing amendments to the 
regulatory definitions of ``funds transfer'' and ``transmittal of 
funds'' under the regulations implementing the Bank Secrecy Act. The 
proposed changes are intended to maintain the current scope of the 
definitions and are necessary in light of changes to the Electronic 
Fund Transfer Act that will result in certain currently covered 
transactions being excluded from Bank Secrecy Act requirements.

DATES: Written comments on this NPRM must be submitted on or before 
January 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to:
    FinCEN: You may submit comments, identified by Regulatory 
Identification Number (RIN) 1506-AB20, by any of the following methods:
     Federal E-rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Include RIN 1506-AB20 
in the submission.
     Mail: FinCEN, P.O. Box 39, Vienna, VA 22183. Include RIN 
1506-AB20 in the body of the text. Please submit comments by one method 
only. Comments submitted in response to this NPRM will become a matter 
of public record. Therefore, you should submit only information that 
you wish to make publicly available.
    Inspection of comments: Public comments received electronically or

[[Page 72784]]

through the U. S. Postal Service sent in response to a notice and 
request for comment will be made available for public review as soon as 
possible on www.regulations.gov. Comments received may be physically 
inspected in the FinCEN reading room located in Vienna, Virginia. 
Reading room appointments are available weekdays (excluding holidays) 
between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., by calling the Disclosure Officer at (703) 
905-5034 (not a toll-free call).
    Board: Please submit your comments, identified by Docket No. OP-
1445 by one method only, using any of the following methods:
     Agency Web Site: http://www.federalreserve.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include the 
docket number in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 452-3819 or (202) 452-3102.
     Mail: Address to Robert deV. Frierson, Secretary, Board of 
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20551.
    All public comments will be made available on the Board's Web site 
at http://www.federalreserve.gov/generalinfo/foia/ProposedRegs.cfm as 
submitted, unless modified for technical reasons. Accordingly, comments 
will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information. 
Public comments may also be viewed electronically or in paper 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: FinCEN: The FinCEN regulatory helpline 
at (800) 949-2732 and select Option 6.
    Board: Koko Ives, Senior Supervisory Financial Analyst, (202) 973-
6163, Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation, or Dena L. 
Milligan, Senior Attorney, (202) 452-3900, Legal Division. For the 
hearing impaired only, Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD), 
(202) 263-4869.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Statutory Provisions

    The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as 
amended by the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and other legislation, which 
legislative framework is commonly referred to as the Bank Secrecy Act 
(``BSA''),\1\ authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury (``Secretary'') 
to require financial institutions to keep records and file reports that 
``have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory 
proceedings, or in the conduct of intelligence or counterintelligence 
activities, including analysis, to protect against international 
terrorism.'' \2\ The Secretary has delegated to the Director of FinCEN, 
the authority to implement, administer and enforce compliance with the 
BSA and associated regulations.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The BSA is codified at 12 U.S.C. 1829b and 1951-1959, 18 
U.S.C. 1956, 1957, and 1960, and 31 U.S.C. 5311-5314 and 5316-5332 
and notes thereto, with implementing regulations at 31 CFR Chapter 
X. See 31 CFR 1010.100(e).
    \2\ 31 U.S.C. 5311.
    \3\ Treasury Order 180-01 (Sept. 26, 2002).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The BSA was amended by the Annunzio-Wylie Anti-Money Laundering Act 
of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-550) (``Annunzio-Wylie''). Annunzio-Wylie 
authorizes the Secretary and Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System (the ``Board'') to issue joint regulations requiring insured 
banks to maintain records of domestic funds transfers.\4\ In addition, 
Annunzio-Wylie authorizes the Secretary and the Board to issue joint 
regulations requiring insured banks and certain nonbank financial 
institutions to maintain records of international funds transfers and 
transmittals of funds.\5\ Annunzio-Wylie requires the Secretary and the 
Board, in issuing regulations for international funds transfers and 
transmittals of funds, to consider the usefulness of the records in 
criminal, tax, or regulatory investigations or proceedings, and the 
effect of the regulations on the cost and efficiency of the payments 
system.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ 12 U.S.C. 1829b(b)(2) (2006). Treasury has independent 
authority to issue regulations requiring nonbank financial 
institutions to maintain records of domestic transmittals of funds.
    \5\ 12 U.S.C. 1829b(b)(3) (2006).
    \6\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Electronic Fund Transfer Act (``EFTA'') \7\ was enacted in 1978 
to establish the rights and liabilities of consumers as well as the 
responsibilities of all participants in electronic fund transfer 
activities. The EFTA is implemented by Regulation E, which sets up the 
framework that establishes the rights, liabilities, and 
responsibilities of participants in electronic fund transfer 
systems.\8\ Section 1073 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act),\9\ added a new section 919 to 
the EFTA, creating a comprehensive new system of consumer protections 
for remittance transfers sent by consumers in the United States to 
individuals and businesses in foreign countries. Because the new 
section 919 of the EFTA defines ``remittance transfers'' broadly, most 
electronic transfers of funds sent by consumers in the United States to 
recipients in other countries will be subject to the new protections.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 1693 et seq.
    \8\ 12 CFR part 1005.
    \9\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376, section 1073 (2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Background Information

A. Current Regulations Regarding Funds Transfers and Transmittals of 
Funds

    On January 3, 1995, FinCEN and the Board jointly issued a rule that 
requires banks and nonbank financial institutions to collect and retain 
information on certain funds transfers and transmittals of funds 
(``recordkeeping rule'').\10\ At the same time, FinCEN issued the 
``travel rule,'' which requires banks and nonbank financial 
institutions to include certain information on funds transfers and 
transmittals of funds sent to other banks or nonbank financial 
institutions.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ 31 CFR 1020.410(a)) (recordkeeping requirements for banks); 
31 CFR 1010.410(e) (recordkeeping requirements for nonbank financial 
institutions). The Board revised its Regulation S (12 CFR part 219) 
to incorporate by reference the recordkeeping rule codified in Title 
31 of the CFR, as well as to impose a 5-year record-retention 
requirement with respect to the recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements.
    \11\ 31 CFR 1010.410(f).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The recordkeeping and travel rules provide uniform recordkeeping 
and transmittal requirements for financial institutions and are 
intended to help law enforcement and regulatory authorities detect, 
investigate, and prosecute money laundering and other financial crimes 
by preserving an information trail about persons sending and receiving 
funds through the funds transfer system.
    In general, the recordkeeping rule requires financial institutions 
to retain information on transmittals of funds of $3,000 or more and 
requires banks to retain information on funds transfers of $3,000. 
Under the recordkeeping rule, a financial institution must retain the 
following information for transmittals of funds of $3,000 or more:
     If acting as a transmittor's financial institution, either 
the original, microfilmed, copied, or electronic record of the 
information received, or the following information: (a) The name and 
address of the transmittor; (b) the amount of the transmittal order; 
(c) the

[[Page 72785]]

execution date of the transmittal order; (d) any payment instructions 
received from the transmittor with the transmittal order; (e) the 
identity of the recipient's financial institution; (f) as many of the 
following items as are received with the transmittal order: the name 
and address of the recipient, the account number of the recipient, and 
any other specific identifier of the recipient; and (g) if the 
transmittor's financial institution is a nonbank financial institution, 
any form relating to the transmittal of funds that is completed or 
signed by the person placing the transmittal order.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ 31 CFR 1010.410(e)(1)(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     If acting as an intermediary financial institution, or a 
recipient financial institution, either the original, microfilmed, 
copied, or electronic record of the received transmittal order.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ 31 CFR 1010.410(e)(1)(ii) and (iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Banks are required to maintain analogous information for funds 
transfers of $3,000 or more, but the rule uses different terminology to 
describe the parties.\14\ The recordkeeping rule requires that the data 
be retrievable and available upon request to FinCEN, to law 
enforcement, and to regulators to whom FinCEN has delegated BSA 
compliance examination authority. Records required to be retained by 
the recordkeeping rule must be made available to Treasury or the Board 
upon request.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ 31 CFR 1020.410(a).
    \15\ 12 U.S.C. 1829b(b)(3)(C); 12 CFR 219.24.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the travel rule, a financial institution acting as the 
transmittor's financial institution must obtain and include in the 
transmittal order the following information on transmittals of funds of 
$3,000 or more: (a) Name and, if the payment is ordered from an 
account, the account number of the transmittor; (b) the address of the 
transmittor; (c) the amount of the transmittal order; (d) the execution 
date of the transmittal order; (e) the identity of the recipient's 
financial institution; (f) as many of the following items as are 
received with the transmittal order: the name and address of the 
recipient, the account number of the recipient, and any other specific 
identifier of the recipient; and (g) either the name and address or the 
numerical identifier of the transmittor's financial institution. A 
financial institution acting as an intermediary financial institution 
must include in its respective transmittal order the same data points 
listed above, if received from the sender.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ 31 CFR 1010.410(f)(1)-(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The recordkeeping rule and the travel rule apply to transmittals of 
funds and funds transfers. A ``transmittal of funds'' is defined as a 
series of transactions beginning with the transmittor's transmittal 
order, made for the purpose of making payment to the recipient of the 
order (31 CFR 1010.100(ddd)). The term includes any transmittal order 
issued by the transmittor's financial institution or an intermediary 
financial institution intended to carry out the transmittor's 
transmittal order. The term transmittal of funds includes a funds 
transfer. A ``funds transfer'' is a series of transactions beginning 
with the originator's payment order, made for the purpose of making 
payment to the beneficiary of the order. The term includes any payment 
order issued by the originator's bank or an intermediary bank intended 
to carry out the originator's payment order (31 CFR 1010.100(w)). Under 
the current definitions, transmittals of funds and funds transfers 
governed by the EFTA as well as any other funds transfers that are 
effected through an automated clearinghouse, an automated teller 
machine, or a point-of-sale system, are excluded from the definitions 
of ``transmittal of funds'' and ``funds transfer'' under the BSA.
    When the recordkeeping and travel rules were adopted, the EFTA 
governed only electronic funds transfers as defined in section 
903(a)(7) of that Act. The term ``electronic fund transfer'' includes 
any transfer of funds that is initiated through an electronic terminal, 
telephone, computer, or magnetic tape, for the purpose of ordering, 
instructing, or authorizing a financial institution to debit or credit 
a consumer's account (including a payroll card account). The term 
includes, but is not limited to, (a) Point-of-sale transfers; (b) 
automated teller machine transfers; (c) direct deposits or withdrawals 
of funds; (d) transfers initiated by phone as part of a bill-payment 
plan, and (e) transfers resulting from debit card transactions, whether 
or not initiated through an electronic terminal. The term does not 
include certain transfers of funds, such as those originated by check, 
draft, or similar paper instrument; those issued as a means of 
guaranteeing the payment or authorizing the acceptance of a check, 
draft, or similar paper instrument; or those made in the context of a 
purchase or sale of certain securities or commodities.\17\ Wire or 
other similar transfers conducted through Fedwire[supreg] or similar 
wire transfer systems primarily used for transfers between financial 
institutions or between businesses are also specifically excluded from 
the definition of ``electronic fund transfer.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 1693a(7); 12 CFR 1005.3(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Section 1073 of the Dodd-Frank Act and EFTA

    Section 1073 of the Dodd-Frank Act, signed into law on July 21, 
2010, adds a new Section 919 to the EFTA, creating new protections for 
consumers who send remittance transfers. Authority to implement the 
EFTA (except for the interchange fee provisions in EFTA section 920) 
transferred from the Board to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 
(``CFPB'') effective July 21, 2011. On February 7, 2012, CFPB adopted a 
final rule to implement Section 919, with an effective date of February 
7, 2013.\18\ The provisions of the final rule will apply to any 
``remittance transfer,'' which is defined as the electronic transfer of 
funds requested by a sender to a designated recipient that is sent by a 
remittance transfer provider. The term applies regardless of whether 
the sender holds an account with the remittance transfer provider, and 
regardless of whether the transaction is also an electronic fund 
transfer. However, certain small dollar and securities- or commodities-
related transfers are excluded from the definition of remittance 
transfer.\19\ A ``sender'' is a consumer in a State who primarily for 
personal, family, or household purposes requests a remittance transfer 
provider to send a remittance transfer to a designated recipient.\20\ A 
``designated recipient'' is any person specified by the sender as the 
authorized recipient of a remittance transfer to be received at a 
location in a foreign country.\21\ A ``remittance transfer provider'' 
or ``provider'' is any person that provides remittance transfers for a 
consumer in the normal course of its business, regardless of whether 
the consumer holds an account with such person.\22\ Once effective, the 
provisions will extend the coverage of section 919 of the EFTA, as 
implemented by Regulation E, to transactions that were excluded from 
other portions of the EFTA and Regulation E, such as international wire 
transfers sent by consumers through banks, and cash-based transmittals 
of funds sent by a consumer through money transmitters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ 77 FR 6193 (Feb. 7, 2012).
    \19\ 12 CFR 1005.30(e).
    \20\ 12 CFR 1005.30(g).
    \21\ 12 CFR 1005.30(c).
    \22\ 12 CFR 1005.30(f).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 72786]]

C. Effect of Changes to EFTA and Regulation E on the Scope of the 
Definitions of ``Transmittal of Funds'' and ``Funds Transfer'' Under 
the Regulations Implementing the BSA

    Existing BSA regulations exclude certain types of transactions and 
payment systems that are used mostly for domestic retail transactions 
and payments from the definitions of funds transfer and transmittal of 
funds. This exclusion was implemented, not by listing the individual 
transaction types, but by referencing the law that protected the 
consumers engaged in such transactions (EFTA), and the specific payment 
systems through which such transactions are conducted (ATM, point-of-
sale, and automated clearinghouse). This method of identifying excluded 
transactions created a link between two statutes (and their 
implementing regulations) with very different goals. The BSA requires 
financial institutions to keep records and file reports on transmittals 
of funds and funds transfers (which could be either domestic or 
international, consumer- or business-related, retail or wholesale, 
cash-based or account-based) that the Secretary and the Board determine 
have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory 
investigations or proceedings, or in intelligence or 
counterintelligence matters to protect against international 
terrorism.\23\ The EFTA protects individual consumers engaging in 
certain movements of funds initiated through electronic means 
(electronic terminal, telephone, computer, online banking, magnetic 
tape, etc.) for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a 
financial institution to debit or credit a consumer's account. In spite 
of the different statutory purposes, for many years this relationship 
provided a satisfactory match, as the types of transactions covered by 
the EFTA conformed to the profile of the types of transactions that 
were appropriate to exclude from the recordkeeping and travel 
requirements under the BSA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ Insured depository institutions must keep records relating 
to funds transfers that the Secretary and the Board jointly 
determine have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or 
regulatory investigations or proceedings. 12 U.S.C. 1829(b). 
Financial institutions other than insured depository institutions, 
must keep records that the Secretary determines has a high degree of 
usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory investigations or 
proceedings, or conducting intelligence or counterintelligence 
activities to protect against international terrorism. 12 U.S.C. 
1953(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    However, the recent amendments to the EFTA and the recently 
finalized revisions to Regulation E, which are effective February 7, 
2013, will result in an expanded scope of the transactions subject to 
the EFTA's remittance provisions. Some of these transactions have, to 
date, been covered by the regulations implementing the BSA. When the 
changes to Regulation E become effective, these transactions--which 
include international funds transfers sent by consumers through banks, 
and cash-based or account-based transmittals of funds sent by consumers 
through money transmitters--will fall outside the BSA rules' 
definitions of ``funds transfer'' and ``transmittal of funds'' (31 CFR 
1010.100(w) and 1010.100(ddd)). To avoid this result, the Board and 
FinCEN are proposing to amend the definitions of funds transfer and 
transmittal of funds under the regulations implementing the BSA to 
limit the exclusion of EFTA-covered transactions from the recordkeeping 
and travel rules.

III. Section-by-Section Analysis

    This NPRM proposes to revise the regulations implementing the BSA 
by narrowing the exclusion from definitions of ``funds transfer'' and 
``transmittal of funds.'' The term ``funds transfer'' is defined in 31 
CFR 1010.100(w). The term ``transmittal of funds'' is defined in 31 CFR 
1010.100(ddd). Both definitions state that ``funds transfers governed 
by the Electronic Fund Transfer Act of 1978 (Title XX, Pub. L. 95-630, 
92 Stat. 3728, 15 U.S.C. 1693, et seq.), as well as any other funds 
transfers that are made through an automated clearinghouse, an 
automated teller machine, or a point-of-sale system, also are excluded 
from this definition.''
    To preserve the current scope of transactions subject to the 
recordkeeping and travel rules, FinCEN and the Board propose to amend 
these definitions by revising the phrase ``funds transfers governed by 
the Electronic Fund Transfer Act of 1978'' to read ``electronic fund 
transfers as defined in section 903(7) of the Electronic Fund Transfer 
Act.'' These revisions would limit the exclusion in these definitions 
to electronic fund transfers as defined in the EFTA. Any remittance 
transfers that are covered by section 919 of the EFTA, but do not meet 
the definition of electronic fund transfer, would continue to be 
covered by the travel and recordkeeping rules.
    The Board and FinCEN believe that the proposed amendments preserve 
the current scope of transactions subject to the funds recordkeeping 
and travel rules. Nonetheless, the Board and FinCEN request comment on 
whether the proposed amendments change the scope of the current EFTA 
exclusion from the funds recordkeeping and travel rules, and thus the 
scope of transactions subject to those rules.

IV. Notice and Comment Under the Administrative Procedure Act

    FinCEN and the Board invite comment on any and all aspects of the 
proposal to amend the definitions of ``funds transfer'' and 
``transmittal of funds,'' in order to maintain their current scope, in 
view of the modifications to the EFTA's coverage.

V. Executive Orders 12866 and 13563

    Executive Orders 13563 and 12866 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. It has been determined that this proposed rule is neither 
an economically significant regulatory action nor a significant 
regulatory action for purposes of Executive Orders 13563 and 12866.

VI. Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995 Statement

    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (``Unfunded 
Mandates Act''), Public Law 104-4 (March 22, 1995), requires that an 
agency prepare a budgetary impact statement before promulgating a rule 
that may result in expenditure by the state, local, and tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year. If a budgetary impact statement is 
required, section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Act also requires an 
agency to identify and consider a reasonable number of regulatory 
alternatives before promulgating a rule. Since there is no change to 
the requirements imposed under existing regulations, FinCEN has 
determined that it is not required to prepare a written statement under 
section 202.

VII. Regulatory Flexibility Act

FinCEN

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires that 
a regulation that has a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities, small businesses, or small organizations must 
include an initial regulatory flexibility analysis describing the 
regulation's impact on small entities. Such an

[[Page 72787]]

analysis need not be undertaken if the agency has certified that the 
regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities (5 U.S.C. 605(b)). The proposed changes are 
not intended to alter any institution's existing obligations. The sole 
purpose of these amendments is to maintain the current scope of 
transactions subject to the BSA funds recordkeeping and travel rules, 
in light of changes to the EFTA. Accordingly, FinCEN hereby certifies 
that the proposed regulation is not likely to have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities for 
purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Notwithstanding this 
certification, FinCEN invites comments on the impact of this rule on 
small entities.

Board

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
requires an agency either to provide an initial regulatory flexibility 
analysis with a proposed rule or certify that the proposed rule will 
not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The proposed regulation covers insured banks and certain 
nonbank financial institutions that are engaged in funds transfers and 
transmittals of funds. The Board believes it is unlikely that the 
proposed regulation will have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. Nonetheless, the Board has 
prepared an initial regulatory flexibility analysis pursuant to the 
RFA. The Board welcomes comment on all aspects of the initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis. A final regulatory flexibility 
analysis will be conducted after consideration of comments received 
during the public comment period.
    1. Statement of the need for, and objectives of, the proposed 
regulation. The Dodd-Frank Act's amendments to the EFTA expanded the 
types of transactions that are covered by the EFTA and therefore 
excluded from the definition of funds transfer and transmittal of funds 
in 31 CFR 1010.100(w) and 31 CFR 1010.100(ddd), respectively. This 
proposed regulation is necessary to retain the current scope of 
transactions subject to recordkeeping rule.
    2. Small entities affected by the proposed regulation. The 
requirements of this proposed regulation, like the existing 
requirements, apply to all financial institutions subject to the Bank 
Secrecy Act, regardless of size. Based on Call Report data as of June 
30, 2012, approximately 3,820 insured depository institutions had total 
domestic assets of $175 million or less.\24\ In addition, the 
requirements of this proposed regulation to affect financial 
institutions that are not ``insured depository institutions'' under the 
Federal Depository Insurance Act. For example, as of June 30, 2012, 
approximately 6,120 credit unions had total domestic assets of $175 
million or less.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ U.S. Small Business Administration. Table of Small Business 
Size Standards Matched to North American Industry Classification 
System Codes, available at http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/serv_sstd_tablepdf.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. Compliance requirements. The proposed regulation, like the 
current regulation, requires insured depository institutions and 
nonbank financial institutions to collect and retain information on 
funds transfers and transmittals of funds. The proposed regulation does 
not change the scope of the information currently required to be 
collected or retained and does not change the funds transfers and 
transmittals of funds for which the information currently must be 
collected and maintained.
    4. Other Federal rules. The Board believes that no Federal rules 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the proposed regulation.
    5. Significant alternatives to the proposed regulation. The Board 
welcomes comment on any significant alternatives that would minimize 
the impact of the proposal on small entities.

VIII. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collection of information requirements have been reviewed and 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') under section 
3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA'') (44 U.S.C. 
3507(d). (OMB Control No. 1506-0058 (recordkeeping requirements for 
financial institutions under Sec.  1010.410(e) and (f)) and 1506-0059 
(recordkeeping requirements for banks under Sec.  1020.410(a)). Under 
the PRA, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. This proposal intends to keep the 
same scope of transactions subject to the requirements of the 
recordkeeping and travel rules as currently are subject to these 
requirements. With no change to the types or scope of transactions 
covered under the regulations, there is no impact on the burden 
estimates already approved under the requirements of the PRA.

List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 1010

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Banks and banking, 
Currency, Investigations, Law enforcement, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 31 CFR part 1010 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 1010--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 1010 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1829b and 1951-1959; 31 U.S.C. 5311-5314, 
5316-5332; title III, secs. 311, 312, 313, 314, 319, 326, 352, Pub. 
L. 107-56, 115 Stat. 307.

    2. Section 1010.100 is amended by:
    a. Revising the last sentence of paragraph (w), and
    b. Revising the last sentence of paragraph (ddd) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  1010.100  General definitions.

* * * * *
    (w) Funds Transfer. * * * Electronic fund transfers as defined in 
section 903(7) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 U.S.C. 
1693a(7)), as well as any other funds transfers that are made through 
an automated clearinghouse, an automated teller machine, or a point-of-
sale system, are excluded from this definition.
* * * * *
    (ddd) Transmittal of funds. * * * Electronic fund transfers as 
defined in section 903(7) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (15 
U.S.C. 1693a(7)), as well as any other funds transfers that are made 
through an automated clearinghouse, an automated teller machine, or a 
point-of-sale system, are excluded from this definition.
* * * * *

In concurrence:

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, November 27, 2012.
Robert deV. Frierson,
Secretary of the Board.

    Dated: November 26, 2012.
Jennifer Shasky Calvery,
Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
[FR Doc. 2012-29233 Filed 12-5-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P; 4810-2P-P