[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10270-10274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05128]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Part 8

[Docket No. OCC-2018-0039]
RIN 1557-AE58


Assessment of Fees

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) proposes 
to revise its assessment rules to provide partial assessment refunds to 
national banks, Federal savings associations, and Federal branches and 
agencies of foreign banks (collectively, banks under OCC jurisdiction) 
that exit OCC jurisdiction within the first half of each six-month 
period beginning the day after the date of the second or fourth 
quarterly Consolidated Report of Condition and Income (Call Report). 
The proposed rule would not change the current dates of collection for 
assessments nor would it change the way in which assessments are 
calculated for banks that remain under the OCC's supervision. The 
proposed rule would also make technical changes to the assessments 
rules.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 19, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to the OCC by any of the methods set 
forth below. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal or email, if possible. Please use the title 
``Assessment of Fees'' to facilitate the organization and distribution 
of the comments. You may submit comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal--``Regulations.gov'': Go to 
www.regulations.gov. Enter ``Docket ID OCC-2018-0039'' in the Search 
Box and click ``Search.'' Click on ``Comment Now'' to submit public 
comments. Click on the ``Help'' tab on the Regulations.gov home page to 
get information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for 
submitting public comments.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E-
218, Washington, DC 20219.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E-218, 
Washington, DC 20219.
     Fax: (571) 465-4326.
    Instructions: You must include ``OCC'' as the agency name and 
``Docket ID OCC-2018-0039'' in your comment. In general, the OCC will 
enter all comments received into the docket and publish the comments on 
the Regulations.gov website without change, including any business or 
personal information that you provide such as name and address 
information, email addresses, or phone numbers. Comments received, 
including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the 
public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not include any 
information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider 
confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.
    You may review comments and other related materials that pertain to 
this rulemaking action by any of the following methods:
     Viewing Comments Electronically: Go to 
www.regulations.gov. Enter ``Docket ID OCC-2018-0039'' in the Search 
box and click ``Search.'' Click on ``Open Docket Folder'' on the right 
side of the screen. Comments and supporting materials can be viewed and 
filtered by clicking on ``View all documents and comments in this 
docket'' and then using the filtering tools on the left side of the 
screen. Click on the ``Help'' tab on the Regulations.gov home page to 
get information on using Regulations.gov. The docket may be viewed 
after the close of the comment period in the same manner as during the 
comment period.
     Viewing Comments Personally: You may personally inspect 
comments at the OCC, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20219. For 
security reasons, the OCC requires that visitors make an appointment to 
inspect comments. You may do so by calling (202) 649-6700 or, for 
persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, TTY, (202) 649-5597. Upon 
arrival, visitors will be required to present valid government-issued 
photo identification and submit to security screening in order to 
inspect comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Thomas, AT Team Lead, 
Financial Management, (202) 649-5540; or Mitchell Plave, Special 
Counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 649-5490; or for persons 
who are deaf or hearing impaired, TTY, (202) 649-5597, 400 7th Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Bank Act \1\ and the Home Owners' Loan Act \2\ 
authorize the Comptroller to fund the OCC's operations through 
assessments, fees, and other charges on banks.\3\ In setting 
assessments, the Comptroller has broad authority to consider variations 
among institutions, including the nature and scope of the activities of 
the entity, the amount and type of assets that the entity holds, the 
financial and managerial condition of the entity, and any other factor 
the Comptroller determines is appropriate.\4\
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    \1\ Revised Statutes of the United States, Title LXII, 12 U.S.C. 
1 et seq.
    \2\ The Home Owners' Loan Act, 12 U.S.C. 1461 et seq.
    \3\ 12 U.S.C. 16, 481, 482, 1467.
    \4\ 12 U.S.C. 16. See also 12 U.S.C. 1467 (providing that the 
Comptroller has the authority to recover costs of examination of 
Federal savings associations ``as the Comptroller deems necessary or 
appropriate'').
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    The OCC collects assessments from banks in accordance with 12 CFR 
part 8. Under part 8, the base assessment for banks is calculated using 
a table with eleven categories, or brackets, each of which comprises a 
range of asset-size values. The assessment for each bank is the sum of 
a base amount, which is the same for every bank in its asset-size 
bracket, plus a marginal amount, which is computed by applying a 
marginal assessment rate to the amount in excess of the lower boundary 
of the asset-size bracket.\5\ The marginal assessment rate declines as 
asset size increases, reflecting economies of scale in bank examination 
and supervision.
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    \5\ 12 CFR 8.2(a). Only the total domestic assets of Federal 
branches and agencies are subject to assessment. 12 CFR 8.2(b)(2).
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    The OCC's annual Notice of Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency Fees and Assessments (Notice of Fees) sets forth the marginal 
assessment rates applicable to each asset-size bracket for each year, 
as well as other assessment components and fees. Under part 8, the OCC 
may adjust the marginal rates to account for inflation through the 
annual Notice of Fees.\6\ The OCC also has the discretion under part 8 
to adjust marginal rates by amounts other than inflation.\7\ The OCC 
may issue an interim or amended Notice of Fees if the Comptroller 
determines that it is

[[Page 10271]]

necessary to revise assessments to meet the OCC's supervisory 
obligations.\8\
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    \6\ 12 CFR 8.2(a)(4).
    \7\ Id.
    \8\ 12 CFR 8.8(b).
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    Under 12 CFR 8.2, the OCC collects assessments on a semiannual 
basis, with fees due by March 31 and September 30 of each year for the 
six-month period beginning on January 1 and July 1 before each payment 
date.\9\ Under this schedule, banks pay half of the semiannual 
assessment prospectively and half retrospectively. This schedule for 
collection of assessments was adopted in 2005, when the OCC issued a 
rule to streamline the assessments billing process.\10\ Between 1976, 
when the OCC adopted the marginal assessments structure, and 2005, the 
OCC collected assessments prospectively for five months and 
retrospectively for one month.\11\
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    \9\ 12 CFR 8.2(a) and 8.2(b).
    \10\ 70 FR 69641 (Nov. 17, 2005).
    \11\ 41 FR 3285 (Jan. 22, 1976).
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    Under 12 CFR 8.2(a)(5) and (b)(3), each bank subject to the 
jurisdiction of the OCC on the date of the second or fourth quarterly 
Call Report is subject to the full assessment for the next six-month 
period. As noted in the Notice of Fees for 2018,\12\ only those 
institutions leaving OCC jurisdiction before the close of business on 
those dates avoid paying the semiannual assessment for the period 
beginning January 1 or July 1, as applicable.
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    \12\ See OCC Bulletin 2017-60 (Office the Comptroller of the 
Currency Fees and Assessments).
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II. Proposed Changes

Assessment Refunds

    Under the current assessments structure, banks that are subject to 
the jurisdiction of the OCC on the last day of the six-month period 
ending on December 31 or June 30 are subject to the full assessment for 
the next six-month period beginning January 1 or July 1, with payment 
due March 31 or September 30, as appropriate.\13\ Under the proposed 
rule, banks that leave OCC jurisdiction by the appropriate payment due 
date would receive a refund of assessments for the second three months 
of the semiannual assessment period. For example, a bank that was 
subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC as of December 31 would receive 
a refund of assessments for the second three months of the semiannual 
assessment period beginning January 1 if it leaves OCC jurisdiction by 
March 31.
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    \13\ 12 CFR 8.2(a) and 8.2(b).
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    The proposed rule is intended to eliminate the requirement that 
banks prospectively pay for one half of each assessment period after 
they no longer are subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC by setting 
the refund equal to the prospective portion of the assessment. Under 
the current rule, the payment due date effectively divides each six-
month period into two three-month periods, and a bank subject to the 
jurisdiction of the OCC on the date of the applicable Call Report 
(December 31 or June 30) must pay the full assessment on the payment 
due date of the semiannual assessment (March 31 and September 30) even 
if it has left OCC jurisdiction by that date. This structure can result 
in banks prospectively paying assessment fees for three-month periods 
during which they are not subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC at any 
time. The proposed rule would maintain semiannual payments, but provide 
refunds equal to the prospective half of the assessment to banks that 
leave the jurisdiction of the OCC between the date of the applicable 
Call Report and the date of collection. In doing so, the proposed rule 
would assess a bank to cover only any three-month period during which 
it was subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC.

Technical and Conforming Amendments

    The proposed rule also includes technical and conforming 
amendments. These are intended to reduce ambiguity and further 
consistent terminology throughout 12 CFR part 8. The first change would 
amend Sec. Sec.  8.5(d) and 8.6(c)(1)(iii) concerning the condition 
surcharge to replace the phrase ``at its most recent examination'' with 
the phrase ``prior to December 31 or June 30, as appropriate.'' This 
change would clarify that the condition surcharge is calculated in 
tandem with the OCC's calculation of other assessment components based 
on Call Report information as of December 31 and June 30 of each 
year.\14\ This amendment to the rule would not change the OCC's current 
practice of calculating a bank's surcharge as of its most recent 
ratings prior to December 31 and June 30, as appropriate. Under this 
policy, surcharges are neither raised nor lowered between December 31 
and June 30, as appropriate, and the collection dates of March 31 and 
September 30, as appropriate.
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    \14\ See OCC Bulletin 2017-60 (Office the Comptroller of the 
Currency Fees and Assessments) (describing the process for 
calculating assessments).
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    The second change would make several revisions to 12 CFR 8.7 
concerning interest on delinquent assessments and fees and refunds in 
the case of an error or miscalculation of assessments or fees. First, 
it would add the prefatory clause, ``Within 30 calendar days of receipt 
of such notice, the OCC shall either--'' at Sec.  8.7(b)(1). This 
clause was originally included at Sec.  8.7(b) as introductory text and 
was inadvertently deleted in connection with a prior rulemaking. 
Restoring it would clarify the OCC's obligations under Sec.  8.7(b). 
This change would also redesignate the current Sec.  8.7(b)(1) and (2) 
as Sec.  8.7(b)(1)(i) and (ii), respectively. In addition, the proposed 
rule would redesignate the current Sec.  8.7(b) concluding text as 
Sec.  8.7(b)(2). Finally, the proposed rule would simplify the language 
used in Sec.  8.7(a) and (b) and clarify that provisions dealing with 
special examination or investigation fees apply to any institution 
subject to such an exam or investigation. These amendments would not 
change the OCC's current policy of considering assessment payments 
delinquent if received after the time for payment specified in 12 CFR 
8.2; considering special examination and investigation fees delinquent 
if not received within 30 calendar days of the invoice date; requiring 
interest on delinquent payments and fees; and providing either a refund 
or notice of its unwillingness to accept a refund request within 30 
calendar days of receipt of a request.
    The proposed rule would also conform all references to the ``Office 
of the Comptroller of the Currency,'' ``Comptroller of the Currency,'' 
or ``Office'' to ``OCC,'' except with respect to references to the 
Notice of Fees; conform all references to ``Notice of Comptroller of 
the Currency Fees'' or ``Notice of Comptroller of the Currency of 
Fees'' to ``Notice of Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Fees 
and Assessments''; add hyphens to all compound modifiers where a hyphen 
is not currently used; remove references to ``Thrift Financial 
Reports,'' which are no longer used; remove a duplicate reference to 
``Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System'' in 12 CFR 
8.6(c)(1)(iii); remove a duplicate and unnecessary citation to 
authority in 12 CFR 8.6(a); replace an incorrect reference to ``each 
national bank'' with a reference to ``each Federal branch and agency'' 
in 12 CFR 8.2(b)(1); add the modifier ``national'' to references to 
banks and terms, such as ``independent credit card banks,'' as 
appropriate; add the term ``independent trust'' before references to 
banks and Federal savings associations in 12 CFR 8.6(c)(1)(iii) and add 
a reference to independent trust Federal savings associations where the 
provision currently only refers to banks; and add conforming references 
to Federal branches and agencies, as necessary.

[[Page 10272]]

Regulatory Analysis

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the OCC may not conduct or sponsor, and an 
organization is not required to respond to, an information collection 
unless the information collection displays a currently valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number. This notice of proposed 
rulemaking does not contain a collection of information under the PRA.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    In general, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq.) requires that in connection with a rulemaking, an agency prepare 
and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis 
that describes the impact of the rule on small entities. Under section 
605(b) of the RFA, this analysis is not required if an agency certifies 
that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities and publishes its certification 
and a brief explanatory statement in the Federal Register along with 
its rule.
    The OCC currently supervises approximately 886 small entities.\15\ 
Although the number of OCC-supervised small banks affected will vary 
each year, the OCC does not expect that the proposed rule, if adopted 
as final, would affect a substantial number (generally defined as five 
percent or more of OCC-supervised small entities) in any given year, 
based on the OCC's experience with departures from the charters in 
recent years. For example, had the proposed rule applied in 2018, the 
OCC would have refunded assessments totaling $579,000 to 22 banks, 19 
of which were small banks (approximately two percent of OCC-supervised 
small entities). Similarly, if the proposed rule had applied in 2017, 
the OCC would have refunded assessments totaling $663,000 to 16 banks, 
12 of which were small banks; in 2016, the OCC would have refunded 
assessments totaling $392,000 to 26 banks, all of which were small 
banks; and in 2015, the OCC would have refunded assessments totaling 
$555,000 to 29 banks, 27 of which were small banks. In each of these 
years, the number of institutions that would have been affected by the 
proposed rule was less than five percent of OCC-supervised small 
entities. Therefore, the proposed rule would not have affected a 
substantial number of small entities during these years.
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    \15\ The OCC bases its estimate of the number of small entities 
on the SBA's size thresholds for commercial banks and savings 
institutions, and trust companies, which are $550 million and $38.5 
million, respectively. Consistent with the General Principles of 
Affiliation in 13 CFR 121.103(a), the OCC counts the assets of 
affiliated financial institutions when determining if we should 
classify an OCC-supervised institution as a small entity. The OCC 
uses December 31, 2017, to represent size because a ``financial 
institution's assets are determined by averaging the assets reported 
on its four quarterly financial statements for the preceding year.'' 
See footnote 8 of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Table of 
Size Standards.
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    The OCC also considered whether the proposed rule would result in a 
significant economic impact on small entities. In general, the OCC 
classifies the economic impact of expected cost (or benefit) to comply 
with a rule on an individual bank as significant if the total estimated 
monetized costs (or benefits) in one year are greater than 5 percent of 
the bank's total annual salaries and benefits or 2.5 percent of the 
bank's total annual non-interest expense. Based on the above criteria, 
and the refund amounts for the years 2015 through 2018 outlined above, 
the OCC estimates that impact of the proposed rule, had it been in 
place for 2015-2018, would not have had a significant economic impact 
at any of the affected institutions.
    Based on the data and experience of the OCC in recent years with 
departures from the charters, the OCC certifies that the proposed rule, 
if adopted as final, would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The OCC analyzed the proposed rule under the factors set forth in 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) (2 U.S.C. 1532). Under 
this analysis, the OCC considered whether the proposed rule includes a 
Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and 
Tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year (adjusted for inflation). The OCC has 
determined that the proposed rule, if adopted as final, would not 
impose new mandates and, therefore, would not result in the expenditure 
of $100 million or more annually by state, local, and tribal 
governments, or by the private sector.

Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994

    The Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 
1994 (RCDRIA) requires that each Federal banking agency, in determining 
the effective date and administrative compliance requirements for new 
regulations that impose additional reporting, disclosure, or other 
requirements on insured depository institutions (IDIs), consider, 
consistent with principles of safety and soundness and the public 
interest, any administrative burdens that such regulations would place 
on depository institutions, including small depository institutions, 
and customers of depository institutions, as well as the benefits of 
such regulations.\16\ In addition, new regulations and amendments to 
regulations that impose additional reporting, disclosures, or other new 
requirements on IDIs generally must take effect on the first day of a 
calendar quarter that begins on or after the date on which the 
regulations are published in final form.\17\
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    \16\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(a).
    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(b).
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    Because the proposal would not impose additional reporting, 
disclosure, or other requirements on banks, section 302 of the RCDRIA 
does not apply. Nevertheless, the requirements of RCDRIA will be 
considered as part of the overall rulemaking process. In addition, the 
OCC invites comments that will inform the OCC's consideration of 
RCDRIA.

Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires the OCC to use 
plain language in all proposed and final rules published after January 
1, 2000. The OCC invites comment on how to make this proposed rule 
easier to understand.
    For example:
     Has the OCC organized the material to inform your needs? 
If not, how could the OCC present the proposed rule more clearly?
     Are the requirements in the proposed rule clearly stated? 
If not, how could the proposal be more clearly stated?
     Does the proposed regulation contain technical language or 
jargon that is not clear? If so, which language requires clarification?
     Would a different format (grouping and order of sections, 
use of headings, paragraphing) make the proposed regulation easier to 
understand? If so, what changes would achieve that?
     Is this section format adequate? If not, which of the 
sections should be changed and how?
     What other changes can the OCC incorporate to make the 
proposed regulation easier to understand?

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 8

    Assessments, Federal branches and agencies, National banks, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Savings associations.

[[Page 10273]]

Authority and Issuance

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, chapter I of title 12 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 8--ASSESSMENT OF FEES

0
1. The authority for part 8 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 16, 93a, 481, 482, 1467, 1831c, 1867, 3102, 
3108, and 5412(b)(2)(B); and 15 U.S.C. 78c and 78l.

0
2. Section 8.2 is amended by:
0
a. Removing ``non-lead bank'' wherever it appears and adding ``non-lead 
national bank'' in its place;
0
b. Removing ``lead bank'' wherever it appears and adding ``lead 
national bank'' in its place;
0
c. Removing ``independent credit card bank'' wherever it appears and 
adding ``independent credit card national bank'' in its place;
0
d. Removing ``independent credit card banks'' wherever it appears and 
adding ``independent credit card national banks'' in its place;
0
e. Removing ``the bank's'' and by adding ``the national bank's'' in its 
place in paragraphs (a) introductory text, (a)(3), (c)(3)(iii), and 
(c)(3)(viii);
0
f. Removing ``A bank's'' and adding ``A national bank'' in its place in 
paragraph (a)(1);
0
g. Removing ``the bank'' and adding ``the national bank'' in its place 
in paragraphs (a)(1) through (3) and (c)(1) and (2);
0
h. Removing ``Comptroller of the Currency'' and adding ``OCC'' in its 
place in paragraphs (a) introductory text and (b)(1);
0
i. Removing ``Notice of Comptroller of the Currency Fees'' and adding 
``Notice of Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Fees and 
Assessments'' in its place in paragraphs (a)(6)(i) and (b)(4)(i);
0
j. Removing ``Federal branch or agency'' and adding ``Federal branch 
and agency'' in its place in paragraph (b)(4)(i);
0
k. Removing ``each bank's'' and adding ``each national bank's'' in its 
place in paragraph (a)(6)(ii)(A);
0
l. Removing ``or Thrift Financial Report, as appropriate,'' in 
paragraph (a)(6)(ii)(A);
0
m. Removing ``six month'' and adding ``six-month'' in its place in 
paragraph (b)(1);
0
n. Removing ``national bank'' and adding ``Federal branch and agency'' 
in its place in paragraph (b)(1);
0
o. Removing ``Notice of Comptroller of the Currency of Fees'' and 
adding ``Notice of Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Fees and 
Assessments'' in its place in paragraph (c)(1);
0
p. Removing ``full service'' and adding ``full-service'' in its place 
in paragraph (c)(2);
0
q. Removing ``or a bank'' and adding ``or a national bank'' in its 
place in paragraph (c)(3)(iii); and
0
r. Revising paragraphs (a)(5), (b)(3), and (d).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  8.2  Semiannual assessment.

    (a) * * *
    (5) The specific marginal rates and complete assessment schedule 
will be published in the ``Notice of Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency Fees and Assessments,'' provided for at Sec.  8.8. Each 
semiannual assessment is based upon the total assets shown in the 
national bank's or Federal savings association's most recent 
``Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income'' (Call Report) 
preceding the payment date. Each national bank or Federal savings 
association subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC on the date of the 
second or fourth quarterly Call Report as appropriate, required by the 
OCC under 12 U.S.C. 161 and 12 U.S.C. 1464(v), is subject to the full 
assessment for the next six-month period. National banks and Federal 
savings associations that are no longer subject to the jurisdiction of 
the OCC as of the date of the second or fourth quarterly Call Report, 
as appropriate, will receive a refund of assessments for the second 
three months of the semiannual assessment period.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Each semiannual assessment of each Federal branch and each 
agency is based upon the total assets shown in the Federal branch's or 
agency's Call Report most recently preceding the payment date. Each 
Federal branch or agency subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC on the 
date of the second and fourth Call Reports is subject to the full 
assessment for the next six-month period. Federal branches and agencies 
that are no longer subject to the jurisdiction of the OCC as of the 
date of the second or fourth quarterly Call Report, as appropriate, 
will receive a refund of assessments for the second three months of the 
semiannual assessment period.
* * * * *
    (d) Surcharge based on the condition of the national bank, Federal 
savings association, or Federal branch or agency. Subject to any limit 
that the OCC prescribes in the ``Notice of Office of the Comptroller of 
the Currency Fees and Assessments,'' the OCC shall apply a surcharge to 
the semiannual assessment computed in accordance with paragraphs (a) 
through (c) of this section. This surcharge will be determined by 
multiplying the semiannual assessment computed in accordance with 
paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section by--
    (1) 1.5, in the case of any national bank or Federal savings 
association that receives a composite rating of 3 under the Uniform 
Financial Institutions Rating System (UFIRS) and any Federal branch or 
agency that receives a composite rating of 3 under the ROCA rating 
system (which rates risk management, operational controls, compliance, 
and asset quality) at its most recent examination prior to December 31 
or June 30, as appropriate; and
    (2) 2.0, in the case of any national bank or Federal savings 
association that receives a composite UFIRS rating of 4 or 5 and any 
Federal branch or agency that receives a composite rating of 4 or 5 
under the ROCA rating system at its most recent examination prior to 
December 31 or June 30, as appropriate.
0
3. Section 8.6 is amended by:
0
a. Removing ``Notice of Comptroller of the Currency Fees'' and adding 
``Notice of Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Fees and 
Assessments'' in its place in paragraphs (b), (c)(1)(i) and (ii), and 
(c)(3)(vii);
0
b. Removing ``independent trust banks'' wherever it appears and adding 
``independent trust national banks'' in its place;
0
c. Removing ``independent trust bank'' wherever it appears and adding 
``Independent trust national bank'' in its place;
0
d. Removing ``trust bank'' wherever it appears and adding ``trust 
national bank'' in its place;
0
e. Removing ``trust banks'' wherever it appears and adding ``trust 
national banks'' in its place;
0
f. Removing ``the bank'' and adding ``the national bank'' in its place 
in paragraph (c)(2); and
0
g. Revising paragraphs (a) introductory text, (a)(1) and (3), and 
(c)(1)(iii).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  8.6  Fees for special examinations and investigations.

    (a) Fees. The OCC may assess a fee for:
    (1) Examining the fiduciary activities of national banks, Federal 
branches of foreign banks, and Federal savings associations and related 
entities;
* * * * *
    (3) Conducting special examinations and investigations of an entity 
with respect to its performance of activities described in section 7(c) 
of the Bank Service Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1867(c)) if the OCC 
determines that

[[Page 10274]]

assessment of the fee is warranted with regard to a particular national 
bank, Federal branch or agency of a foreign bank, or Federal savings 
association because of the high risk or unusual nature of the 
activities performed; the significance to the national bank's, Federal 
branch's or agency's, or Federal saving association's operations and 
income of the activities performed; or the extent to which the national 
bank, Federal branch or agency, or Federal savings association has 
sufficient systems, controls, and personnel to adequately monitor, 
measure, and control risks arising from such activities;
* * * * *
    (c) * * * (1) * * *
    (iii) Surcharge based on the condition of the independent trust 
national bank or of the independent trust Federal savings association. 
Subject to any limit that the OCC prescribes in the ``Notice of Office 
of the Comptroller of the Currency Fees and Assessments,'' the OCC 
shall adjust the semiannual assessment computed in accordance with 
paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section by multiplying that 
figure by 1.5 for each independent trust national bank and independent 
trust Federal savings association that receives a composite UFIRS 
rating of 3 at its most recent examination prior to December 31 or June 
30, as appropriate, and by 2.0 for each independent trust national bank 
and independent trust Federal savings association that receives a 
composite UFIRS rating of 4 or 5 at such examination.
* * * * *
0
4. Section 8.7 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  8.7  Payment of interest on delinquent assessments and 
examination and investigation fees.

    (a) Each national bank, Federal savings association, Federal 
branch, and Federal agency shall pay to the OCC interest on its 
delinquent payments of semiannual assessments. In addition, each 
institution subject to a special examination or investigation fee shall 
pay to the OCC interest on its delinquent payments of special 
examination and investigation fees. Semiannual assessment payments will 
be considered delinquent if they are received after the time for 
payment specified in Sec.  8.2. Special examination and investigation 
fees will be considered delinquent if not received by the OCC within 30 
calendar days of the invoice date.
    (b) In the event that an institution believes that the notice of 
assessments or special examination and investigation fees contains an 
error or miscalculation, the institution may provide the OCC with a 
written request for a revised notice and a refund of any overpayments. 
Any such request for a revised notice and refund must be made after 
timely payment of the semiannual assessment under the dates specified 
in Sec.  8.2 or timely payment of the special examination and 
investigation fee within 30 calendar days of the invoice date.
    (1) Within 30 calendar days of receipt of such notice, the OCC 
shall either--
    (i) Refund the amount of the overpayment; or
    (ii) Provide notice of its unwillingness to accept the request for 
a revised notice of assessments. In the latter instance, the OCC and 
the entity claiming the overpayment shall thereafter attempt to reach 
agreement on the amount, if any, to be refunded; the OCC shall refund 
this amount within 30 calendar days of such agreement.
    (2) The OCC shall be considered delinquent if it fails to return an 
overpayment in accordance with the time limitations specified in this 
paragraph (b). The OCC shall pay interest on any such delinquent 
payments.
* * * * *
0
5. Section 8.8 is amended by revising the section heading and paragraph 
(b) to read as follows:


Sec.  8.8  Notice of Office of the Comptroller of the Currency fees and 
assessments.

* * * * *
    (b) Interim and amended notice of fees. The OCC may issue a 
``Notice of Interim Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Fees and 
Assessments'' or a ``Notice of Amended Office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency Fees and Assessments'' from time to time throughout the year 
as necessary. Interim or amended notices will be effective 30 days 
after issuance.

     Dated: March 13, 2019.
Joseph M. Otting,
Comptroller of the Currency.
[FR Doc. 2019-05128 Filed 3-19-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-33-P