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The Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (�౦��Ϸ����) has proposed the attached amendments relating to international banking by insured state nonmember banks and insured U.S. branches of foreign banks. The proposed amendments concern Parts 303, 325, 327 and 347 of the �౦��Ϸ����'s Rules and Regulations. Comments are due by September 17, 2004.

The proposed amendments reorganize the �౦��Ϸ����'s existing rules contained in Subpart A of Part 347, addressing foreign branching and investments by insured state nonmember banks. They also expand the availability of general consent for foreign branching and investments in certain circumstances.

The proposed amendments to Subpart B of Part 347, which primarily addresses insured U.S. branches and noninsured state branches of foreign banks, reorganize the �౦��Ϸ����'s existing rules to more clearly indicate when the rules apply to state and federal insured branches or only to state branches. They also address the transferability of grandfathered U.S. branches, provide for asset maintenance based on each insured branch's daily third-party liabilities, and address certain supervisory issues related to foreign banks. In addition, the �౦��Ϸ���� is proposing to replace the fixed asset pledge percentage of 5 percent with a risk-focused asset pledge that will consider the asset maintenance and supervisory ratings for each insured branch of a foreign bank.

Although the �౦��Ϸ���� is not proposing changes to the rules in Subpart C of Part 347, which addresses accounting and reporting issues relating to international loans, the public is invited to bring particular issues about those rules to the �౦��Ϸ����'s attention at this time. The public is also invited to comment on issues raised in the preamble to the attached Federal Register notice regarding deposit insurance for U.S. wholesale branches of foreign banks.

Written comments may be sent to Robert E. Feldman, Executive Secretary, Attention: Comments/Executive Secretary Section, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20429. Comments also may be mailed electronically to comments@fdic.gov or hand-delivered to the guard station at the rear of the 17th Street building (located on F Street) on business days between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Comments also may be faxed to (202) 898-3838.

For more information, please contact John Di Clemente, Chief, International Section, Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection, at 202-898-3540 or Rodney D. Ray, Counsel, Legal Division, at 202-898-3556.

For your reference, �౦��Ϸ���� Financial Institution Letters may be accessed from the �౦��Ϸ����'s Web site at www.fdic.gov/news/financial-institution-letters/2004/index.html . To learn how to automatically receive �౦��Ϸ���� Financial Institution Letters through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html .

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• July 19, 2004, Federal Register, pages 43059-43087
• July 19, 2004, Federal Register, pages 43059-43087 - PDF 218k ( PDF Help )

Distribution: �౦��Ϸ����-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)

NOTE: Paper copies of �౦��Ϸ���� financial institution letters may be obtained through the �౦��Ϸ����'s Public Information Center, 801 17th Street, NW, Room 100, Washington, DC 20434 (1-877-275-3342 or (703) 562-2200).