EFT '99: Advanced notice of proposal by the Treasury Department. The agency is seeking public comment on whether it should let banks, thrifts, and credit unions subcontract electronic benefit transfer services with unregulated institutions, such as check cashers, currency dealers, and money transmitters. Published Jan. 8. Comments due April 8.
RECEIVERSHIPS: Proposal by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to clarify its policy on a receivership issue. When acting as a receiver for a failed bank or thrift, the agency typically will not seek to reclaim assets that the institution transferred as part of a securitization or loan participation. Published in the Federal Register on Dec. 30. Comments due March 1.
MERGERS: Proposal by the Federal Reserve Board to allow banks that merge between July 1998 and May 1999 to wait until June 1, 2000, to combine their computer systems. Normally, software changes must be instituted within one year after a merger. Published Dec. 23. Comments extended to Feb. 1.
ACH TRANSACTIONS: Proposal by the Fed to make automated clearing house transactions final at 8 a.m. of the settlement day, which is when the central bank actually makes the funds available to consumers. Published Dec. 18. Comments due March 18.
TAXES: Interim rule by the Internal Revenue Service lets taxes be paid by credit or debit card. The IRS will not pay processing fees, and credit card companies will not be permitted to use the information they collect for marketing purposes. Published Dec. 15. Effective Jan. 1. Comments due March 15.
CHECK CLEARING: Proposal by the Fed to shorten to four days, from five, the amount of time a bank generally has to credit an out-of-town check to a customer's account. Published Dec. 14. Comments due March 15.
MONEY LAUNDERING: Proposal by the four bank and thrift regulators to have banks institute "know-your-customer" policies. This would require management to identify typical transactions handled by the bank and then watch for deviations. Published jointly on Dec. 7. Comments due March 8.
LEASING: Proposal by the Fed to amend the consumer leasing staff commentary. The revised version would explain how to estimate official fees and taxes and would describe disclosures that must be made when a lease is extended. Published Dec. 3. Comments due Jan. 22.
CREDIT CARDS: Proposal by the Fed to clarify its policy on unsolicited credit cards. Published Dec. 3. Comments due Jan. 22.
CU CONVERSIONS: Under an interim rule, the National Credit Union Administration made it easier for credit unions to convert to mutual savings banks. Credit unions no longer need the agency's prior approval to convert, and they may convert based on a majority of voting members instead of a majority of voting and nonvoting members. Published and effective Nov. 27. Comments due Feb. 25.
CU CAPITAL: Proposal by the NCUA to create a prompt corrective action system. To be considered well capitalized, a credit union would have to have a net worth of 7% of assets. Published Oct. 29. Comments due Jan. 27.
LOSS RESERVES: The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision on Oct. 14 proposed global standards for loan-loss reserves and loan classifications. The proposal suggested that banks charge off loans when it becomes probable that the borrower will not repay. Comments due March 15.
BUSINESS LOANS: Under an interim rule, the NCUA capped credit union business lending at the lesser of 1.75 times net worth or 12.25% of total assets. Business loans of less than $50,000 are excluded from the cap. Published and effective Sept. 29. Comment period extended to Jan. 29.
