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Banking Agencies Propose Revised CRA Guidance
On March 18, the Federal Reserve Board, the FDIC, and the OCC proposed revisions to the “Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment” (Q&As). Focused primarily on community development, the revised Q&As aim to (i) clarify how the agencies consider community development activities outside an institution’s assessment area, both in the broader statewide or regional area and in nationwide funds, (ii) clarify how to determine whether recipients of community services are low- or moderate-income; (iii) explain the consideration of certain community development services, (iv) address the treatment of qualified investments to organizations that use only a portion of the investment to support a community development purpose, and (v) clarify that community development lending should be evaluated in such a way that it may have a positive, neutral, or negative impact on the large institution lending test rating. In remarks to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition on March, 20, 2013, Comptroller Thomas Curry described the proposed changes and stressed that they are the first steps the agencies will take to address issues raised during a 2010 outreach effort to reappraise the CRA and identify gaps between CRA implementation and changes in the structure of the banking industry, and how customers access and use credit and financial products. Mr. Curry also promised training and revised examination procedures to ensure more consistent application of CRA rules. The agencies will accept comments on the revisions for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register.
U.S. Law Enforcement Authorities and Regulators Resolve Significant Money Laundering and Sanctions Investigations
On December 11, a major international bank holding company announced agreements with U.S. law enforcement authorities and federal bank regulators to end investigations into alleged inadequate compliance with anti-money laundering and sanctions laws by the holding company and its U.S. subsidiaries (collectively the banks). Under these agreements, the banks will make payments totaling $1.92 billion, will continue to cooperate fully with regulatory and law enforcement authorities, and will take further action to strengthen its compliance policies and procedures. As part of the resolution, the bank entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the DOJ pursuant to which the banks will forfeit $1.256 billion, $375 million of which satisfies a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The four-count criminal information filed in conjunction with the DPA charges that the banks violated the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and to conduct appropriate due diligence on its foreign correspondent account holders. The DOJ also alleged that the banks violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Trading with the Enemy Act by illegally conducting transactions on behalf of customers in certain countries that were subject to sanctions enforced by OFAC. The banks agreed to pay a single $500 million civil penalty to satisfy separate assessments by the OCC and FinCEN related to the same alleged conduct, as well as a $165 million penalty to the Federal Reserve Board. The banks already have undertaken numerous voluntary remedial actions, including to (i) substantially increase AML compliance spending and staffing, (ii) revamp their Know Your Customer program, (iii) exit 109 correspondent relationships for risk reasons, and (iv) claw back bonuses for a number of senior officers. The banks also have undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of their structure, controls, and procedures, including to (i) simplify the control structure, (ii) create new compliance positions and elevate their roles, (iii) adopt a set of guidelines limiting business in those countries that pose a high financial crime risk, and (iv) implement a single global standard shaped by the highest or most effective anti-money laundering standards available in any location where the banks operates. Pursuant to the DPA, an independent monitor will evaluate the banks’ continued implementation of these and other enhanced compliance measures.
In a separate matter, on December 10, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. and the DOJ announced the resolution of a joint investigation into a British bank’s alleged movement of more than $200 million through the U.S. financial system primarily on behalf of Iranian and Sudanese clients by removing information that would have revealed the payments as originating with a sanctioned country or entity, and thereby avoiding OFAC scrutiny. To resolve the matter, the bank was required to pay $227 million in penalties and forfeiture, and to enter into a DPA and corresponding Statement of Facts. Through the DPA, the bank admitted that it violated New York State law by falsifying the records of New York financial institutions and by submitting false statements to its state and federal regulators about its business conduct, and agreed to certain enhanced compliance practices and procedures. The payment also satisfies a settlement with OFAC over the same practices, while the Federal Reserve Board required an additional $100 million penalty to resolve its parallel investigation. The settlement follows an earlier settlement between this British bank and the New York Superintendent of Financial Services regarding the same alleged conduct.
OCC Releases 2013 Fee Structure
On November 30, the OCC published Bulletin 2012-40, which informs all national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches and agencies of foreign banks of fees charged by the OCC for calendar year 2013. The Bulletin explains that the marginal rates of the OCC’s general assessment schedule continue to be indexed based on changes in the Gross Domestic Product Implicit Price Deflator for the previous June-to-June period, and that the 2013 adjustment of 1.7 percent will apply to the first $20 billion in assets of a covered institution. The Bulletin further explains that the assessment schedule continues to include a surcharge for institutions that require increased supervisory resources, and that the OCC will continue to provide a 12 percent reduction on the assessment for nonlead national banks, federal savings associations, or federal branches or agencies of a foreign bank. The new assessments are effective January 1, 2013 and are due March 29, 2013 and September 30, 2013, based on call report information as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013, respectively.
OCC Refines Consideration of BSA/AML Examination Findings
On September 28, the OCC issued Bulletin 2012-30 to refine how examiners consider Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) examination findings in the FFIEC Uniform Ratings System and the OCC’s risk assessment system for national banks and federal savings associations, and in the Risk Management, Operational Controls, Compliance, and Asset Quality ratings and risk assessment system for federal branches and agencies of foreign banking organizations. To align OCC practices with those of other federal regulators, OCC examiners no longer consider BSA/AML findings when assigning consumer compliance ratings. However, the findings still are considered when assessing overall compliance risk. Additionally, the current practice of considering such findings in the safety and soundness context will continue, and serious compliance deficiencies create a presumption that a bank’s management component rating will be hurt. Similarly, current practices regarding consideration of findings with regard to foreign banks remain applicable.
FDIC Finalizes Rule and Guidance Regarding Assessment of Risk Capital Requirements
On July 24, the FDIC published a final rule that prohibits any insured savings association from acquiring or retaining a corporate debt security unless the association first determines that the issuer has adequate capacity to meet its obligations through the projected life of the security. An issuer would satisfy this requirement if it presents a low risk of default and is likely to make a full and timely repayment of principal and interest. The final rule is largely identical to the rule as proposed, but makes one change to clarify the rule and harmonize it with parallel OCC regulations. In conjunction with the final rule, the FDIC also finalized guidance meant to assist savings associations in conducting due diligence to determine whether a security is eligible under the final rule. The finalized guidance is substantially similar to the proposed version. The final rule took effect July 21, 2012.
Federal Prudential Regulators Issue Final Stress Test Guidance
On May 14, the Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation issued guidance on stress tests for banks with more than $10 billion in total consolidated assets. The final guidance provides, in a manner largely consistent with the proposed guidance, principles for banks to follow when conducting stress tests, including: (i) a stress testing framework, (ii) general stress testing principles, (iii) stress testing approaches and applications, (iv) the importance of stress testing in assessing the adequacy of capital and liquidity, and (v) the need for internal governance and controls over the stress testing framework. The regulators amended the final guidance to clarify certain issues raised during the comment period, including changes to (i) incorporate an additional principle for stress testing, (ii) clarify application of the guidance to U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banking organizations, (iii) clarify the role of a bank’s liabilities and operational risk in conducting a stress test, (iv) explain that senior management should have the primary responsibility for stress testing implementation and technical design, and (v) clarify that a banking organization’s minimum annual review and assessment should ensure that stress testing coverage is comprehensive, tests are relevant and current, methodologies are sound, and results are properly considered. In a separate announcement, the banking regulators explicitly addressed concerns raised by community bankers by explaining that community banks are neither required nor expected to conduct the stress tests described above. However, the statement stresses that all banking organizations, regardless of size, should have the capacity to analyze the potential impact of adverse outcomes on their financial condition.