Regulatory Roundup: Action Expected Soon

FIELD OF MEMBERSHIP: The National Credit Union Administration Board willmeet Aug. 31 to consider proposed changes to chartering and field of membership rules.

ELECTRONIC BENEFITS: The Treasury Department is expected in the next several weeks to issue a final regulation on making most federal government payments electronically by 1999. In late June, agency officials said they would make direct deposit voluntary for those who receive Social Security and other federal benefits. Separately, the Treasury is expected to propose rules on accounts that banks may offer under contract with the government to recipients who lack bank accounts. Banks will be required to offer four free monthly withdrawals and be allowed to charge a small monthly fee.

INTERNAL CONTROLS: The OCC is expected by late August to issue new guidance on internal controls. The guidance is intended to help bank executives improve in-house auditing procedures, maintain underwriting standards, manage mergers, and deal with technological change.

ELECTRONIC BANKING: The OCC is expected this month to release risk- management guidelines on banking by personal computer. Meanwhile, the Exam Council expects to issue consumer protection guidelines for electronic banking.

MONEY LAUNDERING: Regulators are expected to propose long-delayed rules governing how federal financial institutions verify the identity of their customers. Regulators have been working on "know-your-customer" rules, which are meant to deter money launderers, since May 1996.

OP-SUB ACTIVITIES: The OCC is expected to act on applications filed by NationsBank Corp. to establish real estate development and lease financing operating subsidiaries. Comments were due in May 1997.

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