[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 103 (Thursday, May 28, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31952-31957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11384]


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NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION

12 CFR Part 702

RIN 3133-AF19


Temporary Regulatory Relief in Response to COVID-19--Prompt 
Corrective Action

AGENCY: National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).

ACTION: Interim final rule.

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SUMMARY: The NCUA Board (Board) is temporarily modifying certain 
regulatory requirements to help ensure that federally insured credit 
unions (FICUs) remain operational and liquid during the COVID-19 
crisis. Specifically, the Board is issuing two temporary changes to its 
prompt corrective action (PCA) regulations. The first amends its 
regulations to temporarily enable the Board to issue an order 
applicable to all FICUs to waive the earnings retention requirement for 
any FICU that is classified as adequately capitalized. The second 
modifies its regulations with respect to the specific documentation 
required for net worth restoration plans (NWRPs) for FICUs that become 
undercapitalized. These temporary modifications will be in place until 
December 31, 2020.

DATES:  This rule is effective on May 28, 2020. Comments must be 
received on or before June 29, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by RIN 3133-
AF19, by any of the following methods (Please send comments by one 
method only):
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (703) 518-6319. Include ``[Your Name]--Comments on 
Temporary Regulatory Relief Rule in Response to COVID-19--Prompt 
Corrective Action'' in the transmittal.
     Mail: Address to Gerard Poliquin, Secretary of the Board, 
National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314-3428.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as mail address.
    Public Inspection: You may view all public comments on the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov as submitted, except 
for those we cannot post for technical reasons. The NCUA will not edit 
or remove any identifying or contact information from the public 
comments submitted. Due to social distancing measures in effect, the 
usual opportunity to inspect paper copies of comments in the NCUA's law 
library is not currently available. After social distancing measures 
are relaxed, visitors may make an appointment to review paper copies by 
calling (703) 518-6540 or emailing [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Policy and Analysis: Amanda Parkhill, 
Director, Policy Division, Office of Examination and Insurance, at 
(703) 518-6360; Legal: Marvin Shaw and Thomas Zells, Staff Attorneys, 
Office of General Counsel, at (703) 518-6540; or by mail at: National 
Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 
22314.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

A. COVID-19 Pandemic

    The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty for FICUs and their 
members. The Board is working with federal and state regulatory 
agencies, in addition to FICUs, to assist FICUs in managing their 
operations and to facilitate continued assistance to credit union 
members and communities impacted by the coronavirus. As part of these 
ongoing efforts, the Board is temporarily modifying certain regulatory 
requirements to help ensure that FICUs continue to operate efficiently, 
to ensure that FICUs maintain sufficient liquidity, and to account for 
the potential temporary increase in shares that FICUs may experience 
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the temporary amendments in 
this interim final rule will allow FICUs to better utilize resources by 
reducing the administrative burden associated with a temporary increase 
in shares. The Board has concluded that the amendments

[[Page 31953]]

will provide FICUs with necessary additional flexibility in a manner 
consistent with the NCUA's responsibility to maintain the safety and 
soundness of the credit union system. The temporary amendments are 
effective upon publication and will be in place through the end of 
calendar year 2020.

B. Prompt Corrective Action

1. Statutory Provisions
    In 1998, Congress enacted the Credit Union Membership Access Act 
(``CUMAA'').\1\ CUMAA amended the Federal Credit Union Act (``the 
Act'') to require the NCUA to adopt by regulation a system of PCA 
consisting of minimum capital standards and corresponding remedies to 
improve the net worth of federally-insured ``natural person'' credit 
unions.\2\ The purpose of PCA is to ``resolve the problems of insured 
credit unions at the least possible long-term loss to the [National 
Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (`NCUSIF')].'' \3\
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    \1\ Pubic Law 105-219, 112 Stat. 913 (1998).
    \2\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d et seq.
    \3\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(a)(1).
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    The statute designated three principal components of PCA: (1) A 
framework combining mandatory actions prescribed by statute with 
discretionary actions developed by the NCUA; (2) an alternative system 
of PCA to be developed by the NCUA for FICUs which CUMAA defines as 
``new;'' and (3) a risk-based net worth requirement to apply to FICUs 
which the NCUA defines as ``complex.'' For FICUs other than those 
meeting the statutory definition of a ``new'' FICU, CUMAA mandated a 
framework of mandatory and discretionary supervisory actions indexed to 
five statutory net worth categories. These categories include ``well 
capitalized,'' ``adequately capitalized,'' ``undercapitalized,'' 
``significantly undercapitalized,'' and ``critically 
undercapitalized.'' The mandatory actions and conditions triggering 
conservatorship and liquidation are expressly prescribed by statute.\4\ 
To supplement the mandatory actions, the statute directed the NCUA to 
develop discretionary actions which are ``comparable'' to the 
``discretionary safeguards'' available under section 38 of the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Act, which is the statute that applies PCA to other 
federally-insured depository institutions.\5\
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    \4\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(e), (f), (g), and (i); 12 U.S.C. 
1786(h)(1)(F); 12 U.S.C. 1786(a)(3)(A)(1).
    \5\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(b)(1)(A); S. Rep. No. 193, 105th Cong., 2d 
Sess. 12 (1998) (S. Rep.); H.R. Rep. No. 472, 105th Cong; see also 
12 U.S.C. 1831o (Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act 
setting forth the PCA requirements for banks).
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    The Act addresses the earnings retention requirement applicable to 
FICUs that are not well capitalized.\6\ Such FICUs are required to 
annually set aside as net worth an amount equal to not less than 0.4% 
of their total assets.\7\ The Board has the authority to decrease the 
earnings retention requirement.\8\ To accomplish this, the Board may 
issue an order, if it determines that the decrease is necessary to 
avoid a significant redemption of shares and further the purpose of 
that PCA provision of the Act. The Act also requires the Board to 
periodically review any order issued under that section.\9\
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    \6\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(e).
    \7\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(e)(1).
    \8\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(e)(2).
    \9\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(e)(2)(B).
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    Separately, 12 U.S.C. 1790d(f) sets forth requirements related to 
NWRPs, which FICUs must submit to the NCUA and which the NCUA must 
review when a FICU becomes undercapitalized. The regulatory provisions 
addressing the procedures and documentation requirements for NWRPs are 
codified at 12 CFR 702.206 and are detailed below.
2. Regulatory Provisions
    In February 2000, the NCUA Board adopted part 702 and subpart L of 
part 747, establishing a comprehensive system of PCA that combines 
mandatory supervisory actions prescribed by the statute with 
discretionary supervisory actions developed by the NCUA (2000 final 
rule).\10\ Each of these supervisory actions index to the five 
statutory net worth categories noted above. In addition, the 2000 final 
rule permits the NCUA to impose ``other action to better carry out the 
purpose of PCA'' than any discretionary supervisory action available in 
that category.\11\ In the proposal that provided the basis for the 2000 
final rule, the Board noted that ``Part 702 also amplifies the terms of 
the statutory exception to the 0.4% minimum set aside. Specifically, 
the Board stated that it interprets the phrase by order to indicate 
that exceptions to the 0.4% statutory minimum are to be granted on a 
case-by-case basis.'' \12\ The Board has historically interpreted these 
orders on a case-by-case basis. However, given the current 
unprecedented situation where many FICUs broadly face similar 
circumstances that affect net worth, the Board has determined that it 
is appropriate to implement the changes in this rule, as detailed 
below.
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    \10\ 65 FR 8560 (Feb. 18, 2000).
    \11\ 12 CFR 702.202(b)(9).
    \12\ 64 FR 27090 (May 18, 1999).
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    In this rulemaking, the Board is adopting two changes to the PCA 
requirements. The first amends Sec.  702.201 of the NCUA's regulations 
to allow the Board to temporarily waive the earnings retention 
requirement for an adequately capitalized FICU, and the second modifies 
Sec.  702.206(c) of the NCUA's regulations with respect to NWRPs.
    Section III of this preamble discusses the temporary regulatory 
amendments in greater detail.

II. Legal Authority

    The Board is issuing this interim final rule pursuant to its 
authority under the Act.\13\ The Act grants the Board a broad mandate 
to issue regulations governing both federal credit unions and, more 
generally, all FICUs. For example, section 120 of the Act is a general 
grant of regulatory authority and authorizes the Board to prescribe 
rules and regulations for the administration of the Act.\14\ Section 
209 of the Act is a plenary grant of regulatory authority to issue 
rules and regulations necessary or appropriate for the Board to carry 
out its role as share insurer for all FICUs.\15\ Other provisions of 
the Act confer specific rulemaking authority to address prescribed 
issues or circumstances.\16\ Accordingly, the Act grants the Board 
broad rulemaking authority to ensure that the credit union industry and 
the NCUSIF remain safe and sound. Such specific rulemaking authority is 
set forth in section 216(b) with respect to PCA.\17\
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    \13\ 12 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.
    \14\ 12 U.S.C. 1766(a).
    \15\ 12 U.S.C. 1789.
    \16\ An example of a provision of the Act that provides the 
Board with specific rulemaking authority is section 207 (12 U.S.C. 
1787), which is a specific grant of authority over share insurance 
coverage, conservatorships, and liquidations.
    \17\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(b).
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III. Section-by-Section Analysis

A. Section 702.201--Earnings Retention Requirement for ``Adequately 
Capitalized'' FICUs

    With respect to earnings retention, a FICU that is classified as 
``adequately capitalized'' or lower must increase the dollar amount of 
its net worth quarterly by an amount equivalent to at least \1/10\th of 
a percent of its total assets and must quarterly transfer at least that 
amount (for a total of 0.4% annually) from undivided earnings to its 
regular reserve account every quarter until it is ``well capitalized.'' 
\18\ The purpose of this provision is to restore a FICU that is less 
than well capitalized to a well-

[[Page 31954]]

capitalized position in an incremental manner.
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    \18\ This relief is provided for FICUs that are required to make 
an earnings retention transfer under Sec. Sec.  702.201, 702.202, 
702.203, 702.204, 702.304, and 702.305.
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    As discussed above, current Sec.  702.201 provides that the Board 
may waive this requirement on a case-by-case basis upon application by 
an affected FICU. The Act provides broader authority for the Board to 
issue an order to waive this requirement and does not require an 
application or individual orders.\19\ In response to the COVID-19 
pandemic and resulting economic disruption, the Board has determined 
that it is appropriate to amend Sec.  702.201 temporarily to provide 
express regulatory authority for the Board to issue a single order 
waiving the earnings retention requirement for all FICUs that are 
classified as adequately capitalized during this time, subject to the 
applicable Regional Director retaining authority to subsequently 
require an application if a particular FICU poses undue risk to the 
NCUSIF or exhibits material safety and soundness concerns. Amending the 
regulation in this manner will allow the Board to respond to 
circumstances broadly affecting many FICUs with a single issuance 
rather than numerous individual waiver approvals. This provision will 
be effective on May 28, 2020 and will expire on December 31, 2020, 
consistent with other recent COVID-19 regulatory relief rules that the 
Board has issued. Separate from this regulatory amendment, the Board 
intends to issue the order described above, which will be applicable to 
adequately capitalized FICUs and will grant relief from the earnings 
retention requirement without requiring those FICUs to submit 
applications and receive individual waiver approvals, subject to the 
qualification noted above.
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    \19\ See 1 U.S.C. 1 (providing that unless context indicates 
otherwise, words importing the singular also apply to several 
persons or parties).
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    The Board is exercising this authority under 12 U.S.C. 1790d(e)(2) 
in order to enhance flexibility in the application of the earnings 
retention requirement to avoid a reduction of shares and thus retain 
system liquidity and capital adequacy, thereby furthering the purpose 
of PCA. The Board further notes that during this time, FICU operations 
have been significantly disrupted because of stay-at-home orders, 
reduced staff, and related complications. This procedure will lessen 
the administrative burden on FICUs, and the NCUA in providing this 
relief, by avoiding the need for numerous waiver applications and 
responses. The Board notes that qualification in the planned order 
regarding FICUs that pose undue risk or material safety and soundness 
concerns will help ensure that the purposes of PCA are maintained 
during this time.
    This approach affords the agency the flexibility to address 
potential difficulties faced by FICUs during this time of unprecedented 
economic hardship. The Board also notes that the current, specific 
requirements on earnings retention waivers are based on a regulatory 
provision rather than a specific statutory directive.\20\ Accordingly, 
the Board has flexibility to modify the regulatory provision to address 
the financial circumstances of individual FICUs as well as the broader 
credit union system. This is consistent with the overall statutory 
structure of PCA, which combines both mandatory and discretionary 
provisions.
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    \20\ The Board notes that 12 U.S.C. 1790d(e)(1) requires 
earnings retention. However, additional provisions in 12 CFR part 
702, including those related to timing and the content of the 
application, supplement this statutory provision.
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    Credit union members are facing unprecedented pressures and looking 
to FICUs to provide necessary credit or access to funds, which could 
place strain on FICU liquidity. Allowing for a broad order relieving 
adequately capitalized FICUs from this requirement is consistent with 
the statutory criteria for issuing such an order, namely avoiding a 
significant redemption of shares and furthering the purpose of 12 
U.S.C. 1790d to ``resolve the problems of insured credit unions at the 
least possible long-term loss to the Fund.'' \21\
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    \21\ 12 U.S.C. 1790d(a)(1).
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    Accordingly, the Board is amending Sec.  702.201 to adopt the 
temporary provision to issue a broadly applicable order. The Board 
plans to issue through a separate action an order consistent with this 
new provision to set forth the terms of relief from the earnings 
retention requirement.

B. Section 702.206(c)--Net Worth Restoration Plans (NWRPs); Contents of 
NWRP

    With respect to NWRPs, the Act provides a broad directive that a 
FICU that is less than adequately capitalized must submit an applicable 
net worth restoration plan to the NCUA. The NCUA, by regulation, has 
provided additional details to flesh out this statutory provision. 
Section 702.206(a) of the NCUA's regulations specifies the schedule for 
filing the plan, and Sec.  702.206(c) of the NCUA's regulations 
outlines the contents of a net worth restoration plan.\22\
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    \22\ 12 CFR 702.206(c). Under the current regulation, an NWRP 
must--
     Specify--
    [cir] A quarterly timetable of steps the credit union will take 
to increase its net worth ratio so that it becomes ``adequately 
capitalized'' by the end of the term of the NWRP, and to remain so 
for four (4) consecutive calendar quarters. If ``complex,'' the 
credit union is subject to a risk-based net worth requirement that 
may require a net worth ratio higher than six percent (6%) to become 
``adequately capitalized'';
    [cir] The projected amount of earnings to be transferred to the 
regular reserve account in each quarter of the term of the NWRP as 
required under Sec.  702.201(a), or as permitted under Sec.  
702.201(b);
    [cir] How the credit union will comply with the mandatory and 
any discretionary supervisory actions imposed on it by the NCUA 
Board under this subpart;
    [cir] The types and levels of activities in which the credit 
union will engage; and
    [cir] If reclassified to a lower category under Sec.  
702.102(b), the steps the credit union will take to correct the 
unsafe or unsound practice(s) or condition(s);
     Include pro forma financial statements, including any 
off-balance sheet items, covering a minimum of the next two years; 
and
     Contain such other information as the NCUA Board has 
required.
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    The Board has decided that it is appropriate to waive the net worth 
restoration plan content requirements for FICUs that become classified 
as undercapitalized (has a net worth ratio of 4 percent to 5.99 
percent) predominantly as a result of share growth. In these cases, the 
FICU may submit a significantly simpler net worth restoration plan to 
the applicable Regional Director noting that the FICU fell to 
undercapitalized because of share growth. Specifically, a FICU would be 
required to attest that its reduction in capital was caused by share 
growth and that such share growth is a temporary condition due to the 
COVID-19 pandemic. Federally insured, state-chartered credit unions 
must comply with applicable state requirements when submitting NWRPs 
for state supervisory authority approval.
    When reviewing NWRPs submitted under this authority, the Regional 
Director will determine if the decrease in the net worth ratio was 
predominantly a result of share growth. To assess the reason for the 
decrease, the Regional Director will analyze the numerator and 
denominator of the net worth ratio. If there is no change or an 
increase in the numerator and an increase in the denominator, this 
would indicate that the decrease in the net worth ratio was due to 
share growth. If there is an increase in the denominator and a decrease 
in the numerator, the Regional Director will analyze whether the 
decrease in the numerator would have caused the credit union to fall to 
a lower net worth classification if there were no change in the 
denominator. If so, the credit union's net worth decline would not be 
predominantly due to share growth and the credit union

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would not be eligible to submit a streamlined NWRP.
    The Board has determined that it is appropriate to modify the 
regulation addressing NWRPs given the disruption caused by the COVID-19 
pandemic. The Board believes that it will be able to fulfill its 
statutory duty to evaluate the net worth restoration plan even if the 
plan is more concise and streamlined than plans submitted prior to the 
COVID-19 crisis. Such a streamlined approach is acceptable because the 
more extensive information required under the current requirements may 
not be practicable or useful under the current situation. Further, the 
current requirement addresses methods for the Board to evaluate the 
plan and not for approval. The Board believes it can determine if a 
plan is acceptable even if it lacks some of the detailed submissions 
that the current regulation specifies. The Board further notes that if 
a FICU temporary falls below being adequately capitalized (or lower) 
because of share growth, the risk is limited and net worth will likely 
increase as the shares are withdrawn.

IV. Regulatory Procedures

A. Administrative Procedure Act

    The Board is issuing the interim final rule without prior notice 
and the opportunity for public comment and the delayed effective date 
ordinarily prescribed by the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).\23\ 
Pursuant to the APA, general notice and the opportunity for public 
comment are not required with respect to a rulemaking when an ``agency 
for good cause finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief 
statement of reasons therefor in the rules issued) that notice and 
public procedure thereon are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' \24\
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    \23\ 5 U.S.C. 553.
    \24\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3).
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    The Board believes that the public interest is best served by 
implementing the interim final rule immediately upon publication in the 
Federal Register. The Board notes that the COVID-19 pandemic is 
unprecedented. It is a rapidly changing and difficult to anticipate how 
the disruptions caused by the pandemic will manifest themselves within 
the financial system and how individual FICUs may be impacted. Because 
of the widespread impact of a pandemic and the speed with which 
disruptions have transmitted throughout the United States, the Board 
believes it is has good cause to determine that ordinary notice and 
public procedure are impracticable and that moving expeditiously in the 
form of an interim final rule is in the best of interests of the public 
and the FICUs that serve that public. The temporary regulatory changes 
are proactive steps that are designed to alleviate potential liquidity 
and resource strains including strains on capital adequacy and are 
undertaken with expedience to ensure the maximum intended effects are 
in place at the earliest opportunity.
    The Board values public input in its rulemakings and believes that 
providing the opportunity for comment enhances its regulations. 
Accordingly, the Board is soliciting comments on its rules even when 
not required under the APA, such as for the rules it issues on an 
interim-final basis. The amendment made by the interim final rule will 
automatically expire at the close of December 31, 2020, and are limited 
in number and scope. For these reasons, the Board finds that there is 
good cause consistent with the public interest to issue the rule 
without advance notice and comment.\25\
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    \25\ For the same reasons, the Board is not providing the usual 
60-day comment period before finalizing this rule. See NCUA 
Interpretive Ruling and Policy Statement (IRPS) 87-2, as amended by 
IRPS 03-2 and IRPS 15-1. 80 FR 57512 (Sept. 24, 2015), available at 
https://www.ncua.gov/files/publications/irps/IRPS1987-2.pdf.
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    The APA also requires a 30-day delayed effective date, except for 
(1) substantive rules which grant or recognize an exemption or relieve 
a restriction; (2) interpretative rules and statements of policy; or 
(3) as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause.\26\ Because the 
rule relieves currently codified limitations and restrictions, the 
interim final rule is exempt from the APA's delayed effective date 
requirement. As an alternative basis to make the rule effective without 
the 30-day delayed effective date, the Board finds there is good cause 
to do so for the same reasons set forth above regarding advance notice 
and opportunity for comment.
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    \26\ 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
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B. Congressional Review Act

    For purposes of the Congressional Review Act,\27\ the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) makes a determination as to whether a final 
rule constitutes a ``major'' rule. If the OMB deems a rule to be a 
``major rule,'' the Congressional Review Act generally provides that 
the rule may not take effect until at least 60 days following its 
publication.
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    \27\ 5 U.S.C. 801-808.
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    The Congressional Review Act defines a ``major rule'' as any rule 
that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs of the OMB finds has resulted in or is likely to result in (A) 
an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; (B) a major 
increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, 
Federal, State, or local government agencies or geographic regions, or 
(C) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based 
enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and 
export markets.\28\
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    \28\ 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
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    For the same reasons set forth above, the Board is adopting the 
interim final rule without the delayed effective date generally 
prescribed under the Congressional Review Act. The delayed effective 
date required by the Congressional Review Act does not apply to any 
rule for which an agency for good cause finds (and incorporates the 
finding and a brief statement of reasons therefor in the rule issued) 
that notice and public procedure thereon are impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.\29\ In light of 
current market uncertainty, the Board believes that delaying the 
effective date of the rule would be contrary to the public interest for 
the same reasons discussed above.
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    \29\ 5 U.S.C. 808.
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    As required by the Congressional Review Act, the Board will submit 
the final rule and other appropriate reports to Congress and the 
Government Accountability Office for review.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) applies to rulemakings in 
which an agency by rule creates a new paperwork burden on regulated 
entities or modifies an existing burden (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)). For 
purposes of the PRA, a paperwork burden may take the form of a 
reporting, recordkeeping, or a third-party disclosure requirement, 
referred to as an information collection.
    The amendment to Sec.  702.201 is decreasing the earnings retention 
requirement for all FICUs that are classified as adequately capitalized 
during this time. Currently, FICUs must request a waiver for each 
quarterly transfer made from undivided earning to its regular reserve 
account until well capitalized. By the actions of this rule the waiver 
requirement is temporary suspended for adequately capitalized credit 
unions and the information collection requirement will be reduced

[[Page 31956]]

from 113 respondents providing three waivers annually to 23 
respondents.
    Section 702.206 provides that a FICU that is less than adequately 
capitalized must submit an applicable NWRP to the NCUA. The temporary 
rule allows a FICU that becomes undercapitalized to submit a 
significantly simpler NWRP to NCUA, which will reduce the estimated 
burden associated with the preparation from 27 hours to 2 hours. This 
would affect an estimated 31 FICUs that would fall under the category 
of undercapitalized.
    The information collection requirements of part 702 (subparts A 
through D) are currently covered by OMB control number 3133-0154. These 
temporary amendments will reduce the number of estimated responses from 
482 to 155, with a decrease in the estimated total burden hours by 
2,854, for a total information collection burden of 569 hours.
    NCUA has obtain emergency approval from the Office of Management 
and Budget for a 6-month period. During this time the Agency will 
accept public comments on the information collection requirements and 
take appropriate action in the final request for PRA approval.
    OMB Control Number: 3133-0154.
    Title of information collection: Prompt Corrective Actions, 12 CFR 
702 (Subparts A-D).
    Estimated number of respondents: 89.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1.74.
    Estimated total annual responses: 155.
    Estimated burden per response: 3.67.
    Estimated total annual burden: 569.
    The NCUA invites comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, 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 collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology; and (e) estimates of capital or 
start-up costs and cost of operation, maintenance, and purchase of 
services to provide information.
    All comments are a matter of public records. Interested persons are 
invited to submit written comments on the information collection to 
Dawn Wolfgang, National Credit Union Administration, 1775 Duke Street, 
Suite 6032, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; Fax No. 703-519-8579; or email 
at [email protected]. Given the limited in-house staff because of 
the COVID-19 pandemic, email comments are preferred.

D. Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132 \30\ encourages independent regulatory 
agencies to consider the impact of their actions on state and local 
interests. The NCUA, an independent regulatory agency, as defined in 44 
U.S.C. 3502(5), voluntarily complies with the Executive order to adhere 
to fundamental federalism principles. The interim final rule will not 
have substantial direct effects on the states, on the relationship 
between the National Government and the states, or on the distribution 
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. 
The Board has therefore determined that this rule does not constitute a 
policy that has federalism implications for purposes of the Executive 
order.
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    \30\ Executive Order 13132 on Federalism, was signed by former 
President Clinton on August 4, 1999, and subsequently published in 
the Federal Register on August 10, 1999 (64 FR 43255).
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E. Assessment of Federal Regulations and Policies on Families

    The NCUA has determined that this interim final rule will not 
affect family well-being within the meaning of Section 654 of the 
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999.\31\
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    \31\ Public Law 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 (1998).
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F. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires that when 
an agency issues a proposed rule or a final rule pursuant to the APA 
\32\ or another law, the agency must prepare a regulatory flexibility 
analysis that meets the requirements of the RFA and publish such 
analysis in the Federal Register.\33\ Specifically, the RFA normally 
requires agencies to describe the impact of a rulemaking on small 
entities by providing a regulatory impact analysis. For purposes of the 
RFA, the Board considers FICUs with assets less than $100 million to be 
small entities.\34\
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    \32\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
    \33\ 5 U.S.C. 603, 604.
    \34\ NCUA IRPS 15-1. 80 FR 57512 (Sept. 24, 2015).
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    As discussed previously, consistent with the APA,\35\ the Board has 
determined for good cause that general notice and opportunity for 
public comment is unnecessary, and therefore the Board is not issuing a 
notice of proposed rulemaking. Rules that are exempt from notice and 
comment procedures are also exempt from the RFA requirements, including 
conducting a regulatory flexibility analysis, when among other things 
the agency for good cause finds that notice and public procedure are 
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. 
Accordingly, the Board has concluded that the RFA's requirements 
relating to initial and final regulatory flexibility analysis do not 
apply.
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    \35\ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Nevertheless, the Board seeks comment on whether, and the extent to 
which, the interim final rule would affect a significant number of 
small entities.

List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 702

    Credit unions, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    By the NCUA Board, this 21st day of May 2020.
Gerard Poliquin,
Secretary of the Board.

    For the reasons set forth above, the Board amends 12 CFR part 702 
as follows:

PART 702--CAPITAL ADEQUACY

0
1. The authority citation for part 702 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1766(a), 1790d.


0
2. Amend Sec.  702.201 by redesignating paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) as 
paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii), respectively, and adding a new paragraph 
(b)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  702.201   Prompt corrective action for ``adequately capitalized'' 
credit unions.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, starting on May 
28, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020, for a credit union that is 
adequately capitalized:
    (i) The NCUA Board may issue an administrative order specifying 
temporary revisions to the earnings retention requirement, to the 
extent the NCUA Board determines that such lesser amount--
    (A) Is necessary to avoid a significant redemption of shares; and
    (B) Would further the purpose of this part.
    (ii) Despite the issuance of an administrative order under 
paragraph (b)(2) of the section, the Regional Director may require a 
credit union to submit an earnings transfer waiver under paragraph 
(b)(1) if the credit

[[Page 31957]]

union poses an undue risk the National Credit Union Share Insurance 
Fund or exhibits material safety and soundness concerns.
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  702.206 by adding paragraph (c)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  702.206   Net worth restoration plans.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (c)(1), (2), and (3) of this 
section, the Board may permit a credit union that is undercapitalized 
to submit to the Regional Director a streamlined NWRP plan attesting 
that its reduction in capital was caused by share growth and that such 
share growth is a temporary condition due to COVID-19. A streamlined 
NWRP plan is permitted between May 28, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2020-11384 Filed 5-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7535-01-P