Capital Briefs: OTS Plans Curb on Deals with Nonbank Units

Thrifts would be prohibited, under a proposal issued Monday by the Office of Thrift Supervision, from entering into reverse repurchase agreements with their nonbank affiliates.

In a reverse repo, a depository institution buys securities from another party and agrees to sell them back later at a higher price.

According to the OTS, thrifts should be barred from entering these agreements with nonbank affiliates because reverse repos are extensions of credit. The Home Owners Loan Act forbids thrifts from lending to nonbank affiliates.

Exemptions from the ban are possible if several conditions are met. Comments are due June 12.

-Bill McConnell

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