[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36779-36780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14570]


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FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request Re: Information Collection for Qualitative Research

AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the FDIC may not conduct

[[Page 36780]]

or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an 
information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The FDIC hereby gives 
notice that it is seeking comment on a proposed new generic collection 
of information from persons who may participate in financial services 
focus groups and interviews. At the end of the comment period, any 
comments and recommendations received will be analyzed to determine the 
extent to which the collection should be modified prior to submission 
to OMB for review and approval.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 19, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to 
the FDIC by any of the following methods:
     http://www.FDIC.gov/regulations/laws/federal/notices.html
     Email: [email protected] Include the name of the 
collection in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Leneta G. Gregorie (202-898-3719), Counsel, Room NY-
5050, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20429.
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand-delivered to the guard 
station at the rear of the 17th Street Building (located on F Street), 
on business days between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

    All comments should reference ``Information Collection for 
Qualitative Research.'' A copy of the comments may also be submitted to 
the OMB desk officer for the FDIC: Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office 
Building, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leneta Gregorie, at the FDIC address 
above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposal for the Following New Generic Collection of Information

    Title: Information Collection for Qualitative Research
    OMB Number: 3064-NEW.
    Affected Public: Consumers and financial services providers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 550.
    Estimated Average Time per Response: 3.125 hours (varying from 2.5 
to 3.25 hours, including travel and intake form).
    Total Annual Burden: 1,750 hours.
    General Description of Collection: The FDIC plans to collect 
information from consumers and financial services providers through 
qualitative research methods such as focus groups, in-depth interviews, 
and/or qualitative virtual methods. The information collected will be 
used to deepen the FDIC's understanding of the knowledge, experiences, 
behaviors, capabilities, and preferences of consumers of financial 
services. These qualitative research methods will also contribute to 
the FDIC's understanding of how consumers, including those who are 
financially underserved, engage in financial services. Interviews of 
financial services providers are intended to uncover details regarding 
the opportunities and challenges regarding the provision of an array of 
financial services and products.
    Qualitative type research does not seek to measure or quantify 
results. Instead, it will allow the FDIC to explore in more depth 
consumers' attitudes and behaviors toward financial services that can 
inform FDIC's consumer protection, economic inclusion, and asset 
building strategies, as well as other consumer financial research 
topics. These qualitative methods will also provide an opportunity to 
identify specific financial services and terminology used by these 
consumers that will improve FDIC's periodic economic inclusion survey 
instruments (OMB Control Nos. 3064-0158 and 3064-0167). Interviews of 
financial services providers will help to improve the FDIC's general 
knowledge of the financial services industry.
    Participation in this information collection will be voluntary and 
conducted in person, by phone, or using other methods, such as virtual 
technology. The FDIC plans to retain an experienced contractor(s) to 
recommend the most appropriate collection method based on the 
objectives of each qualitative research effort. It is likely that each 
qualitative research effort will include a short intake form (1 or 2 
pages long). The FDIC will consult with OMB regarding each specific 
information collection during the approval period. This voluntary 
collection of information will put a slight burden on a very small 
percentage of the public. The FDIC estimates that, over the three-year 
clearance period of this request, approximately 150 focus groups and 
120 one-on-one interviews will be conducted for a variety of projects 
associated with financial services. Including travel time, this 
represents a total burden of approximately 5,250 hours or 1,750 hours 
per year for three years (3.25 hours per participant, including travel 
time and intake form x 500 participants) + (2.5 hour per participant, 
including travel time x 50 participants).

Request for Comment

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of the FDIC's functions, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the estimates of the burden of the information collection, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information 
collection on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All 
comments will become a matter of public record.

    Dated at Washington, DC, this 14th day of June 2013.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Robert E. Feldman,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-14570 Filed 6-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6714-01-P