Regulatory Roundup: Opened For Comment

RISK-BASED CAPITAL: The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight on March 26 sent Congress a draft proposal that would create risk-based capital standards for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The proposal is expected to be published the week of April 12 and comments will be due four months later.

EXCESS CAPITAL: Proposal by the Federal Housing Finance Board to ban Home Loan Bank members from holding more capital in the system than is required by law. Published in the Federal Register on April 6. Comments due May 17.

CAPITAL STOCK: Interim final rule by the Finance Board kills a tax shelter that would have let member banks pay a fee to keep excess capital in a Home Loan bank. Published and effective April 6. Comments due May 17.

SBA FEES: Proposal by the Small Business Administration to prohibit nonprofit middlemen in the "504" loan program from assessing charges on lenders in excess of the standard 1.5% processing fee. Published April 2. Comments due May 3.

CHECK CLEARING: Proposal by the Federal Reserve Board to give banks more options to return checks electronically. Published Feb. 22. Comments due April 30.

THRIFT RULES: Proposal by the Office of Thrift Supervision to clarify when a unitary thrift holding company may own more than one thrift and still engage in nonfinancial activities. Published Feb. 8. Comments due April 9.

EFT '99: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking by the Treasury Department on whether banks, thrifts, and credit unions should be allowed to subcontract electronic benefit transfer services with unregulated institutions, such as check cashers, currency dealers, and money transmitters. Published Jan. 8. Comments due today.

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