[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 12, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 12CFR211.29]

[Page 380-381]
 
                       TITLE 12--BANKS AND BANKING
 
                   CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
 
PART 211--INTERNATIONAL BANKING OPERATIONS (REGULATION K)--Table of Contents
 
                Subpart B--Foreign Banking Organizations
 
Sec. 211.29  Applications by state branches and state agencies to conduct activities not permissible for federal branches.

    (a) Scope. A state branch or state agency shall file with the Board 
a prior written application for permission to engage in or continue to 
engage in any type of activity that:
    (1) Is not permissible for a federal branch, pursuant to statute, 
regulation, official bulletin or circular, or order or interpretation 
issued in writing by the Comptroller; or
    (2) Is rendered impermissible due to a subsequent change in statute, 
regulation, official bulletin or circular, written order or 
interpretation, or decision of a court of competent jurisdiction.
    (b) Exceptions. No application shall be required by a state branch 
or state agency to conduct any activity that is otherwise permissible 
under applicable state and federal law or regulation and that:
    (1) Has been determined by the FDIC, pursuant to 12 CFR 
362.4(c)(3)(i) through (c)(3)(ii)(A), not to present a significant risk 
to the affected deposit insurance fund;
    (2) Is permissible for a federal branch, but the Comptroller imposes 
a quantitative limitation on the conduct of such activity by the federal 
branch;
    (3) Is conducted as agent rather than as principal, provided that 
the activity is one that could be conducted by a state-chartered bank 
headquartered in the same state in which the branch or agency is 
licensed; or
    (4) Any other activity that the Board has determined may be 
conducted by any state branch or state agency of a foreign bank without 
further application to the Board.
    (c) Contents of application. An application submitted pursuant to 
paragraph (a) of this section shall be in letter form and shall contain 
the following information:
    (1) A brief description of the activity, including the manner in 
which it will be conducted, and an estimate of the expected dollar 
volume associated with the activity;
    (2) An analysis of the impact of the proposed activity on the 
condition of the U.S. operations of the foreign bank in general, and of 
the branch or agency in particular, including a copy, if available, of 
any feasibility study, management plan, financial projections, business 
plan, or similar document concerning the conduct of the activity;
    (3) A resolution by the applicant's board of directors or, if a 
resolution is not required pursuant to the applicant's organizational 
documents, evidence of approval by senior management, authorizing the 
conduct of such activity and the filing of this application;
    (4) If the activity is to be conducted by a state branch insured by 
the FDIC, statements by the applicant:
    (i) Of whether or not it is in compliance with 12 CFR 346.19 (Pledge 
of Assets) and 12 CFR 346.20 (Asset Maintenance);
    (ii) That it has complied with all requirements of the FDIC 
concerning an application to conduct the activity and the status of the 
application, including a copy of the FDIC's disposition of such 
application, if available; and
    (iii) Explaining why the activity will pose no significant risk to 
the deposit insurance fund; and
    (5) Any other information that the Reserve Bank deems appropriate.

[[Page 381]]

    (d) Factors considered in determination. (1) The Board shall 
consider the following factors in determining whether a proposed 
activity is consistent with sound banking practice:
    (i) The types of risks, if any, the activity poses to the U.S. 
operations of the foreign banking organization in general, and the 
branch or agency in particular;
    (ii) If the activity poses any such risks, the magnitude of each 
risk; and
    (iii) If a risk is not de minimis, the actual or proposed procedures 
to control and minimize the risk.
    (2) Each of the factors set forth in paragraph (d)(1) of this 
section shall be evaluated in light of the financial condition of the 
foreign bank in general and the branch or agency in particular and the 
volume of the activity.
    (e) Application procedures. Applications pursuant to this section 
shall be filed with the appropriate Federal Reserve Bank. An application 
shall not be deemed complete until it contains all the information 
requested by the Reserve Bank and has been accepted. Approval of such an 
application may be conditioned on the applicant's agreement to conduct 
the activity subject to specific conditions or limitations.
    (f) Divestiture or cessation. (1) If an application for permission 
to continue to conduct an activity is not approved by the Board or, if 
applicable, the FDIC, the applicant shall submit a detailed written plan 
of divestiture or cessation of the activity to the appropriate Federal 
Reserve Bank within 60 days of the disapproval.
    (i) The divestiture or cessation plan shall describe in detail the 
manner in which the applicant will divest itself of or cease the 
activity, and shall include a projected timetable describing how long 
the divestiture or cessation is expected to take.
    (ii) Divestiture or cessation shall be complete within one year from 
the date of the disapproval, or within such shorter period of time as 
the Board shall direct.
    (2) If a foreign bank operating a state branch or state agency 
chooses not to apply to the Board for permission to continue to conduct 
an activity that is not permissible for a federal branch, or which is 
rendered impermissible due to a subsequent change in statute, 
regulation, official bulletin or circular, written order or 
interpretation, or decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, the 
foreign bank shall submit a written plan of divestiture or cessation, in 
conformance with paragraph (f)(1) of this section within 60 days of the 
effective date of this part or of such change or decision.