Availability of funds and collection of checks (Regulation CC): Check processing operations restructuring; routing symbols reassigned,
[Federal Register: April 15, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 73)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 19921-19922]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap04-1]
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[[Page 19921]]
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
12 CFR Part 229
[Regulation CC; Docket No. R-1190]
Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks
AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.
SUMMARY: The Board of Governors is amending appendix A of Regulation CC to delete the reference to the Charleston check processing office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and reassign the Federal Reserve routing symbols currently listed under that office to the Cincinnati office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. These amendments reflect the restructuring of check processing operations within the Federal Reserve System.
DATES: The final rule will become effective on June 26, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack K. Walton II, Assistant Director (202) 452-2660), or Joseph P. Baressi, Senior Financial Services Analyst (202) 452-3959), Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems; or Adrianne G. Threatt, Counsel (202) 452-3554), Legal Division. For users of Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) only, contact (202) 263-4869.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulation CC establishes the maximum period a depositary bank may wait between receiving a deposit and making the deposited funds available for withdrawal.\1\ A depositary bank generally must provide faster availability for funds deposited by a ``local check'' than by a ``nonlocal check.'' A check drawn on a bank is considered local if it is payable by or at a bank located in the same Federal Reserve check processing region as the depositary bank. A check drawn on a nonbank is considered local if it is payable through a bank located in the same Federal Reserve check processing region as the depositary bank. Checks that do not meet the requirements for ``local'' checks are considered ``nonlocal.''
\1\ For purposes of Regulation CC, the term ``bank'' refers to any depository institution, including commercial banks, savings institutions, and credit unions.
Appendix A to Regulation CC contains a routing number guide that assists banks in identifying local and nonlocal banks and thereby determining the maximum permissible hold periods for most deposited checks. The appendix includes a list of each Federal Reserve check processing office and the first four digits of the routing number, known as the Federal Reserve routing symbol, of each bank that is served by that office. Banks whose Federal Reserve routing symbols are grouped under the same office are in the same check processing region and thus are local to one another.
As explained in detail in the Board's final rule published in the Federal Register on May 28, 2003, the Federal Reserve Banks decided in early 2003 to reduce the number of locations at which they process checks.\2\ As part of this restructuring process, the Charleston office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond will cease processing checks on June 26, 2004. As of that date, banks with routing symbols currently assigned to the Charleston office for check processing purposes will be reassigned to the Cincinnati office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. As a result of this change, some checks that are drawn on and deposited at banks located in the Charleston and Cincinnati check processing regions and that currently are nonlocal checks will become local checks subject to faster availability schedules. Also, after June 26, 2004, the restructured Cincinnati check processing region will cross Federal Reserve District lines. Banks located in that region therefore no longer will be able to determine that a check is nonlocal solely because the paying bank for that check is located in another Federal Reserve District.
\2\ See 68 FR 31592, May 28, 2003. In addition to the general advance notice of future amendments previously provided by the Board, as well as the Board's notices of final amendments, the Reserve Banks are striving to inform affected depository institutions of the exact date of each office transition at least 120 days in advance. The Reserve Banks' communications to affected depository institutions are available at http://www.frbservices.org.
To assist banks in identifying local and nonlocal banks, the Board accordingly is amending the lists of routing symbols associated with the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Cleveland to reflect the transfer of operations from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond's Charleston office to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's Cincinnati office. These amendments are effective June 26, 2004, to coincide with the effective date of the underlying check processing changes. The Board is providing advance notice of these amendments to give affected banks ample time to make any needed processing changes. The advance notice will also enable affected banks to amend their availability schedules and related disclosures, if necessary, and provide their customers with notice of these changes.\3\ The Federal Reserve routing symbols assigned to all other Federal Reserve branches and offices will remain the same at this time. The Board of Governors, however, intends to issue similar notices at least 60 days prior to the elimination of check operations at some other Reserve Bank offices, as described in the May 2003 Federal Register document.
\3\ Section 229.18(e) of Regulation CC requires that banks notify account holders who are consumers within 30 days after implementing a change that improves the availability of funds.
Administrative Procedure Act
The Board has not followed the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 553(b) relating to notice and public participation in connection with the adoption of this final rule. The revisions to the appendices are technical in nature, and the routing symbol revisions are required by the statutory and regulatory definitions of ``check-processing region.'' Because there is no substantive change on which to seek public input, the Board has determined that the section 553(b) notice and comment procedures are unnecessary.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506; 5 CFR part 1320, Appendix A.1), the Board has reviewed the final rule under
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authority delegated to the Board by the Office of Management and Budget. This technical amendment to appendix A of Regulation CC will delete the reference to the Charleston check processing office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and reassign the routing symbols listed under that office to the Cincinnati office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. The depository institutions that are located in the affected check processing regions and that include the routing numbers in their disclosure statements would be required to notify customers of the resulting change in availability under Sec. 229.18(e). However, because all paperwork collection procedures associated with Regulation CC already are in place, the Board anticipates that no additional burden will be imposed as a result of this rulemaking.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 229
Banks, Banking, Federal Reserve System, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Authority and Issuance
0 For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board is amending 12 CFR part 229 to read as follows:
PART 229--AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND COLLECTION OF CHECKS (REGULATION CC)
0 1. The authority citation for part 229 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.
0 2. The Fourth and Fifth Federal Reserve District routing symbol lists in appendix A are revised to read as follows:
Appendix A To Part 229--Routing Number Guide To Next-Day Availability Checks and Local Checks
* * * * *
Fourth Federal Reserve District
[Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland]
Head Office
0410 2410 0412 2412 0430 2430 0432 2432 0433 2433 0434 2434
Cincinnati Branch
0420 2420 0421 2421 0422 2422 0423 2423 0515 2515 0519 2519
Columbus Office
0440 2440 0441 2441 0442 2442
Fifth Federal Reserve District
[Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond]
Baltimore Branch
0510 2510 0514 2514 0520 2520 0521 2521 0522 2522 0540 2540 0550 2550 0560 2560 0570 2570
Charlotte Branch
0530 2530 0531 2531
Columbia Office
0532 2532 0539 2539 * * * * *
By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, acting through the Secretary of the Board under delegated authority, April 9, 2004. Jennifer J. Johnson, Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 04-8527 Filed 4-14-04; 8:45 am]
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