H.R. 6312House110th Congress (2007-2009)Passed House

Credit Union, Bank, and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act of 2008

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

June 25, 2008

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 19, 2008

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Financial Services Committee

June 19, 2008

HouseFloor

Mr. Kanjorski moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

June 24, 2008 • 8:01 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5979-5984)

June 24, 2008 • 8:02 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6312.

June 24, 2008 • 8:02 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5979-5982)

June 24, 2008 • 8:20 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5979-5982)

June 24, 2008 • 8:20 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

June 24, 2008 • 8:20 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

June 25, 2008

Floor Debate

5 members

What members said about H.R. 6312 on the floor

1 Republican4 Democrats

Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3 · Jun 24, 2008

I thank my friend, Mr. Kanjorski, for yielding me time. I also want to congratulate Mr. Kanjorski and Mr. Royce on their hard work in crafting a bipartisan bill to provide reg relief to credit…

I thank my friend, Mr. Kanjorski, for yielding me time.

I also want to congratulate Mr. Kanjorski and Mr. Royce on their hard work in crafting a bipartisan bill to provide reg relief to credit unions.

As you know, the legislation before us today combines important provisions from credit union regulatory relief legislation previously introduced by Mr. Kanjorski and Mr. Royce with provisions from my legislation H.R. 5841, the Bank and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act of 2008.

At a time when many businesses are having difficulty obtaining access to credit, H.R. 5841 will provide important credit opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses. Among other

provisions, this legislation would remove the existing limits on small business lending for thrifts, thereby enhancing the role of savings associations as community leaders. The Homeowners Loan Act currently caps the aggregate amount of commercial loans other than small business loans at 10 percent of a savings association's assets, and it permits commercial lending, including small business lending, of up to 20 percent of assets.

According to the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, smaller businesses have experienced difficulty in obtaining relatively small loans from large commercial banks that set minimum loan amounts relatively high. Savings associations are increasingly important providers of small business credit and communities throughout the country.

This change, Mr. Chairman, will allow savings associations to continue to serve their small business customers and to further diversify their assets while also providing businesses with greater choice and flexibility to meet their credit needs.

Additionally, this proposal will significantly reduce the amount of time financial institutions spend filling out paperwork, and it will free up resources for the thousands of institutions on the front lines of community lending.

For example, the legislation would provide relief to community banks and financial institutions from requirements under the Gramm-Leach- Bliley Act to provide annual privacy notices to their customers, detailing their privacy policies and the way they share information.

While I have consistently advocated for increased protection of sensitive financial information, there should be targeted exemptions from this requirement to relieve the burden from small banks that do not share information with their affiliates and that have not otherwise changed their privacy policies.

This change, Mr. Speaker, will save small businesses millions of dollars in compliance costs while also protecting consumers from unnecessary and duplicative notices.

The legislation also contains important provisions that would repeal the prohibition against the payment of interest on business checking. This prohibition was enacted during the Depression as part of the Banking Act of 1933, to protect banks in the heat of competition from offering interest levels on deposit balances that might be sustained through risky investments.

In their 1996 report ``Streamlining of Regulatory Requirements,'' the Federal banking regulators concluded, however, that the statutory prohibition against paying interest on business accounts no longer serves a valid public purposes. For example, large financial services companies have devised products, such as ``sweep accounts'' that, in effect, provide interest on deposit accounts, giving them a competitive advantage over small community banks that may not have the capability to offer such accounts.

In addition, most small business owners don't have the minimum balances necessary to maintain a sweep account so they are forced to keep vital cash in zero-interest checking accounts. Making this small change would make a huge difference for small businesses.

Furthermore, every provision in this bill providing regulatory relief for banks and thrifts has been approved previously by Congress in one form or another. The bipartisan support for this bill shows just how important it is for both businesses and consumers that Congress pass this meaningful legislation.

America's financial services industry is the most effective and competitive in the world and my proposal will help us stay out in front. Reducing regulatory burdens on businesses and consumers is simply the right thing to.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Kanjorski and the staff, and I look forward to passage of this legislation today.

As one of the cosponsors of this legislation, I would like to engage its primary sponsor, you, Mr. Kanjorski, in a colloquy on two questions related to section 111. This section concerns the encouragement of small business development in underserved urban and rural communities.

First, I have a question about the meaning of the provision that exempts business loans made by credit unions in underserved areas from the existing cap on member business lending. Is it the intent of this provision that the proceeds from exempt loans will be used to support business operations inside underserved areas?

Thank you, Mr. Kanjorski, for that clarification.

Section 111 of the bill also includes language that member business loans in an underserved area underwritten by a credit union for a business, or a local outlet of a business, operating on a nationwide basis, shall not be eligible from exemption from the business lending cap.

It is the phrase ``operating on a nationwide basis'' where I have a question. For the purpose of this section, it would seem that a business located in an underserved area that meets the other criteria, like a small family-owned business but which has a Web site that sells their goods to anyone who visits it, would not be treated as a business operated on a nationwide basis for the purpose of this section, as the economic benefit from those sales is going to that business in the underserved area.

Have I correctly characterized the intent of this section?

Thank you for this clarification, Mr. Kanjorski. I agree with your assessments.

Rep. Paul E. KanjorskiD-PA-11 · Jun 24, 2008

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6312) to advance credit union efforts to promote economic growth, modify credit union regulatory standards and reduce burdens, to…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6312) to advance credit union efforts to promote economic growth, modify credit union regulatory standards and reduce burdens, to provide regulatory relief and improve productivity for insured depository institutions, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks as to this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 4\1/2\ minutes.

(Mr. KANJORSKI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6312. This bill will make a number of statutory improvements in the laws concerning credit unions, banks and thrifts. It will also help consumers assist businesses, ease paperwork burdens and promote economic development in underserved communities.

In developing this bill, we have sought to identify an appropriate balance between competing interests. I am

especially pleased that this legislation contains a number of important provisions affecting credit unions. Some of these provisions have previously passed the House, including the sections concerning the treatment of loans made by credit unions to nonprofit religious organizations, the authority of credit unions to invest in high-grade securities and the governance of credit unions.

The bill also contains a number of new provisions based on the proposals first set out in the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act, or CURIA. The inclusion of these provisions in this bill is an important step forward in our legislative debates about how best to ensure that credit unions can better serve their members.

One provision found in CURIA and contained in this bill we are now considering will permit all Federal credit unions, regardless of charter type, to expand services to eligible communities that the Treasury Department determines meets income, unemployment and other distress criteria. This change fixes a drafting error made nearly a decade ago when the Congress passed H.R. 1151, the Credit Union Membership Access Act.

Like CURIA, we also make in this bill important and sensible modifications to the definition of an ``underserved area.'' Moreover, the legislation will allow credit unions to help underserved communities in two other important ways:

First, at the request of the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, it will permit credit unions to provide short-term, unsecured loans to anyone in their field of membership. Second, it will exempt loans made to small businesses operating in underserved areas, consensus tracks from the existing member business lending caps. Together, these two provisions will help to promote economic development and will provide a stable source of funds for businesses and individuals.

Another provision in this bill that permits financial institutions to pay interest on business checking accounts will also help small business growth. I have worked for more than a decade on this issue, and have previously introduced legislation to implement the recommendations first made by regulators in 1996.

Before closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank several of my colleagues for their assistance in bringing this legislation forward today: The gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) provided essential guidance and assistance in developing this legislative product. Additionally, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) has stood with me for 5 years as we have worked on a bipartisan basis to update the laws governing credit unions. I am grateful for his support. The gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) also provided important contributions to the package before us, especially regarding the reduction of paperwork burdens and the collection of needed information about consumer banking services and costs.

In sum, Mr. Speaker, this bill will help credit unions to provide better services and to promote economic growth in underdeveloped areas. Moreover, H.R. 6312 is, without question, the most significant piece of credit union legislation considered in the House in nearly a decade. H.R. 6312 will also appropriately ease regulatory burdens but will still protect the interests of consumers. It also addresses some of the concerns of banks and thrifts.

Because it is a balanced product, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 6312.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) who wishes to enter into a colloquy.

Yes, the provision would exempt from the cap those loans that are used to support business operations in an underserved area in order to stimulate economic growth in these areas.

Yes, you have. As the title of the section indicates, the intent of this section is to promote economic growth by encouraging small business development in underserved urban and rural communities. We want to help businesses and business owners that have a presence there, like a mom-and-pop operation with an Internet store. Moreover, we have taken steps in the legislation to ensure that a locally owned franchise that consists only of local operations shall not be treated as a business operating on a nationwide basis.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Edward R. RoyceR-CA-40 · Jun 24, 2008

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise also in support of this legislation. This is the Credit Union, Bank and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act that we have before us. As our…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise also in support of this legislation. This is the Credit Union, Bank and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act that we have before us.

As our capital markets continue to change and continue to evolve, the regulatory model overseeing our financial institutions must adjust as well. This legislation today is a small example of this effort to improve the regulatory structure overseeing the banks and the credit unions and the thrifts. By reducing the regulatory burdens, H.R. 6312 allows credit unions and banks and thrifts to devote more resources toward better servicing their customers and toward better serving those who use these institutions.

Since the 108th Congress, as Mr. Kanjorski mentioned, he and I have coauthored the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act in an effort to modernize the regulatory model overseeing America's credit unions. We have made tremendous strides over the years. That bill, which is called CURIA now, has the support of 150 Members of this Chamber, and while today's legislation may not go as far as some would like, it is important that we not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The Credit Union, Bank and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act has several worthwhile provisions which deserve consideration.

Among other things, this measure clarifies the intent of the Credit Union Membership Access Act, which is that all federally chartered credit unions should be allowed to serve underserved areas around the country. By increasing the field of membership and by exempting member business loans made in these underserved areas, this provision will allow credit unions to extend credit to these areas. Following a hearing in the Financial Services Committee, this provision was adjusted to ensure those areas that benefit are, indeed, underserved.

Additionally, this bill would support the community development work of nonprofit religious institutions by excluding such loans from credit union business lending caps. I introduced legislation to do just this back in 2003 with the intent of closing a longstanding liquidity gap between creditors and nonprofit organizations.

I believe the other major provisions contained in CURIA and which are not in today's legislation are important, and I believe they should not be forgotten. In particular, I am going to continue to push to modernize the capital requirements for our credit unions because we must replace the current one-size-fits-all leverage capital requirement with a more rigorous, two-part, net worth structure that will more closely monitor actual asset risk. This will put credit unions' capital requirements on par with those of other FDIC-insured institutions.

One hundred fifty Members of this Congress have signed on to CURIA, and it will remain the ultimate objective for those of us trying to bring the regulatory structure of overseeing credit unions into the 21st century.

Today's legislation joins regulatory relief for credit unions with improvements geared towards thrifts and towards banks. Representative Moore's reg relief bill, much of which has been incorporated into this measure, will remove several unnecessary regulatory burdens faced by these financial institutions, allowing them to better serve their customers.

Among other things, the bill provides savings institutions with greater lending flexibility by removing limits on small business and on auto loans. The bill also increases the ability of savings associations to invest in small business investment companies and to make commercial real estate loans. Furthermore, this measure 6312 authorizes banks and thrifts to pay interest on business checking accounts for their customers.

Again, I would like to thank Chairman Kanjorski, and I would like to thank Representative Moore for their work on this legislation. This bill is an important step toward removing some of the unnecessary regulatory burdens placed on our Nation's financial institutions.

I have no further speakers on this side, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35 · Jun 25, 2008

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6312, The Credit Union, Bank, and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act of 2008. I am particularly pleased to speak in favor of this legislation because I have…

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6312, The Credit Union, Bank, and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act of 2008. I am particularly pleased to speak in favor of this legislation because I have always been a strong supporter of credit unions. These institutions have been effective in pursuit of their mission to serve people of modest means and underserved communities, both of which characterize much of my district. Regulatory improvement in this industry is long overdue and I want to thank Mr. Kanjorski and Mr. Moore for their work on this bill.

Credit union regulatory relief is especially urgent in light of the nation's current financial crisis. We are either at the brink of a recession--or already in one--largely because of the crisis in the subprime mortgage market that has led to a wave of foreclosures unlike any since the Great Depression. In significant part, this crisis resulted from certain financial institutions, many of them largely unregulated, peddling dangerous mortgage loan products to borrowers who did not fully understand the risk they were taking on. Meanwhile, the lenders themselves whisked their own risk to the four corners of the earth via securitization and the secondary market. Much of the Financial Services Committee's work in the past year has involved working to enact legislation that prevents this from ever happening again.

Notably, credit unions did not help to create this mess. Indeed, analysis of 2006 home mortgage disclosure data reveals that credit unions were far less likely than other lenders to make subprime loans to low and moderate income households, especially minorities.

So credit unions were not part of the problem. But they can and must be part of the solution. If there is any lesson to be learned from this crisis, it is that low or moderate income households and residents of underserved communities don't just need access to any credit, but rather access to sound and appropriate financial products. Credit unions stand ready to provide such products to more people and more communities, but need Congressional action to do so. Specifically, H.R. 6312 would allow credit unions to extend their services to areas with high unemployment rates and below median incomes that are generally underserved by other depository institutions.

Critically, it would also allow some people who don't belong to a local credit union nonetheless to go to that credit union for short term loans, as an alternative to the exorbitant rates charged by payday lenders. This is progress in achieving the outcome policymakers must pursue in the financial services sector, namely, connecting households of modest means with the soundest financial products and institutions available to them.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Rep. Jason AltmireD-PA-4 · Jun 24, 2008

I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, there are over 90 million members of America's credit unions, including more than 168,000 in the district I represent. Each of them will benefit from passage of…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued June 25, 2008

        [Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 6312 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

2d Session
H. R. 6312

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 25, 2008

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To advance credit union efforts to promote economic growth, modify
credit union regulatory standards and reduce burdens, to provide
regulatory relief and improve productivity for insured depository
institutions, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Credit Union,
Bank, and Thrift Regulatory Relief Act of 2008''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--CREDIT UNIONS

Sec. 101. Investments in securities by Federal credit unions.
Sec. 102. Increase in investment limit in credit union service
organizations.
Sec. 103. Member business loan exclusion for loans to nonprofit
religious organizations.
Sec. 104. Authority of NCUA to establish longer maturities for certain
credit union loans.
Sec. 105. Providing the National Credit Union Administration with
greater flexibility in responding to market
conditions.
Sec. 106. Conversions of certain credit unions to a community charter.
Sec. 107. Credit union participation in the SBA section 504 program.
Sec. 108. Amendments relating to credit union service to underserved
areas.
Sec. 109. Short-term payday loan alternatives within field of
membership.
Sec. 110. Credit union governance.
Sec. 111. Encouraging small business development in underserved urban
and rural communities.
TITLE II--SAVINGS ASSOCIATION PROVISIONS

Sec. 201. Restatement of authority for Federal savings associations to
invest in small business investment
companies.
Sec. 202. Removal of limitation on investments in auto loans.
Sec. 203. Repeal of qualified thrift lender requirement with respect to
out-of-state branches.
Sec. 204. Small business and other commercial loans.
Sec. 205. Increase in limits on commercial real estate loans.
Sec. 206. Savings association credit card banks.
TITLE III--NOTICE PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Exception to annual privacy notice requirement under the
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.
TITLE IV--BUSINESS CHECKING

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Interest-bearing transaction accounts authorized for all
businesses.
Sec. 403. Interest-bearing transaction accounts authorized.
Sec. 404. Rules of construction.
Sec. 405. Consumer banking costs assessment.

TITLE I--CREDIT UNIONS

SEC. 101. INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES BY FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS.

Section 107 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1757) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``A Federal credit union'' and inserting
``(a) In General.--A Federal credit union''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Investment for the Credit Union's Own Account.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to the investments
authorized in subsection (a), a Federal credit union may
purchase and hold for its own account such investment
securities of investment grade as the Board may authorize by
regulation, subject to such limitations and restrictions as the
Board may prescribe in the regulations.
``(2) Percentage limitations.--
``(A) Single obligor.--In no event may the total
amount of investment securities of any single obligor
or maker held by a Federal credit union for the credit
union's own account exceed at any time an amount equal
to 10 percent of the net worth of the credit union.
``(B) Aggregate investments.--In no event may the
aggregate amount of investment securities held by a
Federal credit union for the credit union's own account
exceed at any time an amount equal to 10 percent of the
assets of the credit union.
``(3) Investment security defined.--
``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection,
the term `investment security' means marketable
obligations evidencing the indebtedness of any person
in the form of bonds, notes, or debentures and other
instruments commonly referred to as investment
securities.
``(B) Further definition by board.--The Board may
further define the term `investment security'.
``(4) Investment grade defined.--The term `investment
grade' means with respect to an investment security purchased
by a credit union for its own account, an investment security
that at the time of such purchase is rated in one of the 4
highest rating categories by at least 1 nationally recognized
statistical rating organization.
``(5) Clarification of prohibition on stock ownership.--No
provision of this subsection shall be construed as authorizing
a Federal credit union to purchase shares of stock of any
corporation for the credit union's own account, except as
otherwise permitted by law.''.

SEC. 102. INCREASE IN INVESTMENT LIMIT IN CREDIT UNION SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS.

Section 107(a)(7)(I) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C.
1757(7)(I)) (as so redesignated by section 101(1)) is amended by
striking ``up to 1 per centum of the total paid'' and inserting ``up to
3 percent of the total paid''.

SEC. 103. MEMBER BUSINESS LOAN EXCLUSION FOR LOANS TO NONPROFIT
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

Section 107A(a) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C.
1757a(a)) is amended by inserting ``, excluding loans made to nonprofit
religious organizations,'' after ``total amount of such loans''.

SEC. 104. AUTHORITY OF NCUA TO ESTABLISH LONGER MATURITIES FOR CERTAIN
CREDIT UNION LOANS.

Section 107(a)(5) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C.
1757(5)) (as so redesignated by section 101(1)) is amended in the
matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``except as otherwise
provided herein'' and inserting ``or any longer maturity as the Board
may allow, in regulations, except as otherwise provided in this Act''.

SEC. 105. PROVIDING THE NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION WITH
GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN RESPONDING TO MARKET CONDITIONS.

Section 107(a)(5)(A)(vi)(I) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12
U.S.C. 1757(5)(A)(vi)(I)) (as so redesignated by section 101(1)) is
amended by striking ``six-month period and that prevailing interest
rate levels'' and inserting ``6-month period or that prevailing
interest rate levels''.

SEC. 106. CONVERSIONS OF CERTAIN CREDIT UNIONS TO A COMMUNITY CHARTER.

Section 109(g) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1759(g))
is amended by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new
paragraph:
``(3) Criteria for continued membership of certain member
groups in community charter conversions.--In the case of a
voluntary conversion of a common-bond credit union described in
paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) into a community credit
union described in subsection (b)(3), the Board shall
prescribe, by regulation, the criteria under which the Board
may determine that a member group or other portion of a credit
union's existing membership, that is located outside the well-
defined local community, neighborhood, or rural district that
shall constitute the community charter, can be satisfactorily
served by the credit union and remain within the community
credit union's field of membership.''.

SEC. 107. CREDIT UNION PARTICIPATION IN THE SBA SECTION 504 PROGRAM.

Section 107(a)(5)(A)(iii) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12
U.S.C. 1757(5)(A)(iii)) (as so redesignated by section 101(1)) is
amended by inserting ``, and applicable regulations,'' after
``specified in the law''.

SEC. 108. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO CREDIT UNION SERVICE TO UNDERSERVED
AREAS.

(a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 109(c) of the Federal
Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1759(c)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Exception for underserved areas.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding subsection (b),
the Board may approve an application by a Federal
credit union to allow the membership of such credit
union to include any person or organization whose
principal residence or place of business is located
within a local community, neighborhood, or rural
district if--
``(i) the Board determines--
``(I) at any time after August 7,
1998, that all of the local community,
neighborhood, or rural district taken
into account for purposes of this
paragraph is an underserved area (as
defined in section 101(10)); and
``(II) at the time of such
approval, that the credit union is well
capitalized or adequately capitalized
(as defined in section 216(c)(1)); and
``(ii) before the end of the 24-month
period beginning on the date of such approval,
the credit union has established and maintains
an office or facility in the local community,
neighborhood, or rural district at which credit
union services are available.
``(B) Termination of approval.--Any failure of a
Federal credit union to meet the requirement of clause
(ii) of subparagraph (A) by the end of the 24-month
period referred to in such clause shall constitute a
termination, as a matter of law, of any approval of an
application under this paragraph by the Board with
respect to the membership of such credit union.
``(C) Annual credit union reporting requirement.--
Any Federal credit union which has an application
approved under this paragraph shall submit an annual
report to the Administration on the number of members
of the credit union who are members by reason of such
application and the number of offices or facilities
maintained by the credit union in the local community,
neighborhood, or rural district taken into account by
the Board in approving such application.
``(D) Publication by administration.--The
Administration shall publish annually a report
containing--
``(i) a list of all the applications
approved under this paragraph prior to the
publication of the report;
``(ii) the number and locations of the
underserved areas taken into account in
approving such applications; and
``(iii) the total number of members of
credit unions who are members by reason of the
approval of such applications.''.
(b) Underserved Area Defined.--Section 101 of the Federal Credit
Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (8);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (9) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(10) the term `underserved area'--
``(A) means a geographic area consisting of a
single census tract or a group of census tracts, each
of which--
``(i) meets the criteria for--
``(I) a low income community, as
defined in section 45D(e) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or
``(II) an investment area, as
defined and designated under section
103(16) of the Community Development
Banking and Financial Institutions Act
of 1994; and
``(ii) is not a tract in which 50 percent
or more of the resident families have annual
incomes in excess of $75,000 (as adjusted
periodically by the Board, at the discretion of
the Board, to reflect changes in the average
Consumer Price Index for all-urban consumers
published by the Department of Labor); and
``(B) notwithstanding subparagraph (A), includes,
with respect to any Federal credit union, any
geographic area within which such credit union--
``(i) has received approval to provide
service before the date of the enactment of the
Credit Union, Bank, and Thrift Regulatory
Relief Act of 2008 from the National Credit
Union Administration; and
``(ii) has established a service facility
before such date of enactment.''.

SEC. 109. SHORT-TERM PAYDAY LOAN ALTERNATIVES WITHIN FIELD OF
MEMBERSHIP.

Section 107(a) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1757(5))
(as so redesignated by section 101(1)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (16) and (17) as paragraphs
(17) and (18), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (15) the end the following
new paragraph:
``(16) to make short-term unsecured loans as an alternative
to payday loans, in amounts not more than $1,000 each and for a
term of not more than 90 days, to nonmembers in the field of
membership, subject to the same terms and conditions as are
applicable under paragraph (5)(A), including the interest rate
ceiling, with respect to loans to members, to the extent
applicable, and to regulations prescribed by the Board.''.

SEC. 110. CREDIT UNION GOVERNANCE.

(a) Expulsion of Members for Just Cause.--Subsection (b) of section
118 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1764(b)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(b) Policy and Actions of Boards of Directors of Federal Credit
Unions.--
``(1) Expulsion of members for nonparticipation or for just
cause.--The board of directors of a Federal credit union may,
by majority vote of a quorum of directors, adopt and enforce a
policy with respect to expulsion from membership, by a majority
vote of such board of directors, based on just cause, including
disruption of credit union operations, or on nonparticipation
by a member in the affairs of the credit union.
``(2) Written notice of policy to members.--If a policy
described in paragraph (1) is adopted, written notice of the
policy as adopted and the effective date of such policy shall
be provided to--
``(A) each existing member of the credit union not
less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such
policy; and
``(B) each new member prior to or upon applying for
membership.''.
(b) Term Limits Authorized for Board Members of Federal Credit
Unions.--Section 111(a) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C.
1761(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence:
``The bylaws of a Federal credit union may limit the number of
consecutive terms any person may serve on the board of directors of
such credit union.''.

SEC. 111. ENCOURAGING SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN UNDERSERVED URBAN
AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.

Section 107A(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C.
1757a(c)(1)(B)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' after the semicolon at the end of
clause (iv);
(2) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and
(3) by inserting after clause (iv) the following new
clause:
``(v) that is made to a member, the
proceeds of which are to be used for
commercial, corporate, business, farm or
agricultural purposes in an underserved area if
such extension of credit--
``(I) is made to a person or
organization whose principal residence
or place of business is located within
an underserved area (as defined in
section 101(10)) served by the credit
union, and is not a business, or a
local outlet of a business, operating
on a nationwide basis (for purposes of
the preceding clause, a locally-owned
franchise that consists only of local
operations shall not be treated as a
business operating on a nationwide
basis); or
``(II) is secured by real property
located within, or is intended to
operate as part of a business located
within, such underserved area; or''.

TITLE II--SAVINGS ASSOCIATION PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. RESTATEMENT OF AUTHORITY FOR FEDERAL SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS TO
INVEST IN SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Subparagraph (D) of section 5(c)(4) of the Home Owners' Loan Act
(12 U.S.C. 1464(c)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
``(D) Small business investment companies.--Any
Federal savings association may invest in 1 or more
small business investment companies, or in any entity
established to invest solely in small business
investment companies formed under the Small Business
Investment Act of 1958, except that the total amount of
investments under this subparagraph may not at any time
exceed the amount equal to 5 percent of capital and
surplus of the savings association.''.

SEC. 202. REMOVAL OF LIMITATION ON INVESTMENTS IN AUTO LOANS.

(a) In General.--Section 5(c)(1) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12
U.S.C. 1464(c)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(V) Auto loans.--Loans and leases for motor
vehicles acquired for personal, family, or household
purposes.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment Relating to Qualified Thrift
Investments.--Section 10(m)(4)(C)(ii) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12
U.S.C. 1467a(m)(4)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subclause:
``(VIII) Loans and leases for motor
vehicles acquired for personal, family,
or household purposes.''.

SEC. 203. REPEAL OF QUALIFIED THRIFT LENDER REQUIREMENT WITH RESPECT TO
OUT-OF-STATE BRANCHES.

Section 5(r)(1) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1464(r)(1))
is amended by striking the last sentence.

SEC. 204. SMALL BUSINESS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL LOANS.

(a) Elimination of Lending Limit on Small Business Loans.--Section
5(c)(1) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1464(c)(1)) is amended
by inserting after subparagraph (V) (as added by section 202(a) of this
title) the following new subparagraph:
``(W) Small business loans.--Small business loans,
as defined in regulations which the Director shall
prescribe.''.
(b) Increase in Lending Limit on Other Business Loans.--Section
5(c)(2)(A) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C. 1464(c)(2)(A)) is
amended by striking ``, and amounts in excess of 10 percent'' and all
that follows through ``by the Director''.

SEC. 205. INCREASE IN LIMITS ON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LOANS.

Section 5(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C.
1464(c)(2)(B)(i)) is amended by striking ``400 percent'' and inserting
``500 percent''.

SEC. 206. SAVINGS ASSOCIATION CREDIT CARD BANKS.

Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C.
1467a(a)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``and such term does not
include an institution described in section 2(c)(2)(F) of the Bank
Holding Company Act of 1956 for purposes of subsections (a)(1)(E),
(c)(3)(B)(i), (c)(9)(C)(i), and (e)(3)'' before the period at the end.

TITLE III--NOTICE PROVISIONS

SEC. 301. EXCEPTION TO ANNUAL PRIVACY NOTICE REQUIREMENT UNDER THE
GRAMM-LEACH-BLILEY ACT.

Section 503 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. 6803) is
amended by adding the following new subsections:
``(c) Exception to Annual Notice Requirement.--A financial
institution that--
``(1) provides nonpublic personal information only in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (b)(2) or (e) of
section 502 or regulations prescribed under section 504(b);
``(2) does not share information with affiliates under
section 603(d)(2)(A)(iii) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act; and
``(3) has not changed its policies and practices with
regard to disclosing nonpublic personal information from the
policies and practices that were disclosed in the most recent
disclosure sent to consumers in accordance with this
subsection,
shall not be required to provide an annual disclosure under this
subsection until such time as the financial institution fails to comply
with any criteria described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
``(d) Exception to Notice Requirement.--A financial institution
shall not be required to provide any disclosure under this section if--
``(1) the financial institution is licensed by a State and
is subject to existing regulation of consumer confidentiality
that prohibits disclosure of nonpublic personal information
without knowing and expressed consent of the consumer in the
form of laws, rules, or regulation of professional conduct or
ethics promulgated either by the court of highest appellate
authority or by the principal legislative body or regulatory
agency or body of any State of the United States, the District
of Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto Rico,
Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, the Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands;
or
``(2) the financial institution is licensed by a State and
becomes subject to future regulation of consumer
confidentiality that prohibits disclosure of nonpublic personal
information without knowing and expressed consent of the
consumer in the form of laws, rules, or regulation of
professional conduct or ethics promulgated either by the court
of highest appellate authority or by the principal legislative
body or regulatory agency or body of any State of the United
States, the District of Columbia, any territory of the United
States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory
of the Pacific Islands, the Virgin Islands, or the Northern
Mariana Islands.''.

TITLE IV--BUSINESS CHECKING

SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Business Checking Fairness Act of
2008''.

SEC. 402. INTEREST-BEARING TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS AUTHORIZED FOR ALL
BUSINESSES.

Section 2 of Public Law 93-100 (12 U.S.C. 1832) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections
(c) and (d), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
``(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any depository
institution may permit the owner of any deposit or account which is a
deposit or account on which interest or dividends are paid and is not a
deposit or account described in subsection (a)(2) to make up to 24
transfers per month (or such greater number as the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System may determine by rule or order), for any
purpose, to another account of the owner in the same institution. An
account offered pursuant to this subsection shall be considered a
transaction account for purposes of section 19 of the Federal Reserve
Act unless the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
determines otherwise.''.

SEC. 403. INTEREST-BEARING TRANSACTION ACCOUNTS AUTHORIZED.

(a) Repeal of Prohibition on Payment of Interest on Demand
Deposits.--
(1) Federal reserve act.--Section 19(i) of the Federal
Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 371a) is amended to read as follows:
``(i) [Repealed]''.
(2) Home owners' loan act.--The first sentence of section
5(b)(1)(B) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12 U.S.C.
1464(b)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``savings association may
not--'' and all that follows through ``(ii) permit any'' and
inserting ``savings association may not permit any''.
(3) Federal deposit insurance act.--Section 18(g) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(g)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(g) [Repealed]''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect at the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of
the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 404. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

In the case of an escrow account maintained at a depository
institution for the purpose of completing the settlement of a real
estate transaction--
(1) the absorption, by the depository institution, of
expenses incidental to providing a normal banking service with
respect to such escrow account;
(2) the forbearance, by the depository institution, from
charging a fee for providing any such banking function; and
(3) any benefit which may accrue to the holder or the
beneficiary of such escrow account as a result of an action of
the depository institution described in subparagraph (1) or (2)
or similar in nature to such action, including any benefits
which have been so determined by the appropriate Federal
regulator,
shall not be treated as the payment or receipt of interest for purposes
of this title and any provision of Public Law 93-100, the Federal
Reserve Act, the Home Owners' Loan Act, or the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act relating to the payment of interest on accounts or
deposits at depository institutions. No provision of this title shall
be construed so as to require a depository institution that maintains
an escrow account in connection with a real estate transaction to pay
interest on such escrow account or to prohibit such institution from
paying interest on such escrow account. No provision of this title
shall be construed as preempting the provisions of law of any State
dealing with the payment of interest on escrow accounts maintained in
connection with real estate transactions.

SEC. 405. CONSUMER BANKING COSTS ASSESSMENT.

(a) In General.--The Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 221 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 30 and 31 as sections 31 and
32, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 29 the following new
section:

``SEC. 30. SURVEY OF BANK FEES AND SERVICES.

``(a) Biennial Survey Required.--The Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System shall obtain biennially a sample, which is
representative by type and size of the institution (including small
institutions) and geographic location, of the following retail banking
services and products provided by insured depository institutions and
insured credit unions (along with related fees and minimum balances):
``(1) Checking and other transaction accounts.
``(2) Negotiable order of withdrawal and savings accounts.
``(3) Automated teller machine transactions.
``(4) Other electronic transactions.
``(b) Minimum Survey Requirement.--The biennial survey described in
subsection (a) shall meet the following minimum requirements:
``(1) Checking and other transaction accounts.--Data on
checking and transaction accounts shall include, at a minimum,
the following:
``(A) Monthly and annual fees and minimum balances
to avoid such fees.
``(B) Minimum opening balances.
``(C) Check processing fees.
``(D) Check printing fees.
``(E) Balance inquiry fees.
``(F) Fees imposed for using a teller or other
institution employee.
``(G) Stop payment order fees.
``(H) Nonsufficient fund fees.
``(I) Overdraft fees.
``(J) Fees imposed in connection with bounced-check
protection and overdraft protection programs.
``(K) Deposit items returned fees.
``(L) Availability of no-cost or low-cost accounts
for consumers who maintain low balances.
``(2) Negotiable order of withdrawal accounts and savings
accounts.--Data on negotiable order of withdrawal accounts and
savings accounts shall include, at a minimum, the following:
``(A) Monthly and annual fees and minimum balances
to avoid such fees.
``(B) Minimum opening balances.
``(C) Rate at which interest is paid to consumers.
``(D) Check processing fees for negotiable order of
withdrawal accounts.
``(E) Fees imposed for using a teller or other
institution employee.
``(F) Availability of no-cost or low-cost accounts
for consumers who maintain low balances.
``(3) Automated teller transactions.--Data on automated
teller machine transactions shall include, at a minimum, the
following:
``(A) Monthly and annual fees.
``(B) Card fees.
``(C) Fees charged to customers for withdrawals,
deposits, and balance inquiries through institution-
owned machines.
``(D) Fees charged to customers for withdrawals,
deposits, and balance inquiries through machines owned
by others.
``(E) Fees charged to noncustomers for withdrawals,
deposits, and balance inquiries through institution-
owned machines.
``(F) Point-of-sale transaction fees.
``(4) Other electronic transactions.--Data on other
electronic transactions shall include, at a minimum, the
following:
``(A) Wire transfer fees.
``(B) Fees related to payments made over the
Internet or through other electronic means.
``(5) Other fees and charges.--Data on any other fees and
charges that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System determines to be appropriate to meet the purposes of
this section.
``(6) Federal reserve board authority.--The Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System may cease the
collection of information with regard to any particular fee or
charge specified in this subsection if the Board makes a
determination that, on the basis of changing practices in the
financial services industry, the collection of such information
is no longer necessary to accomplish the purposes of this
section.
``(c) Biennial Report to Congress Required.--
``(1) Preparation.--The Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System shall prepare a report of the results of each
survey conducted pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this
section and section 136(b)(1) of the Consumer Credit Protection
Act.
``(2) Contents of the report.--In addition to the data
required to be collected pursuant to subsections (a) and (b),
each report prepared pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include a
description of any discernible trend, in the Nation as a whole,
in a representative sample of the 50 States (selected with due
regard for regional differences), and in each consolidated
metropolitan statistical area (as defined by the Director of
the Office of Management and Budget), in the cost and
availability of the retail banking services, including those
described in subsections (a) and (b) (including related fees
and minimum balances), that delineates differences between
institutions on the basis of the type of institution and the
size of the institution, between large and small institutions
of the same type, and any engagement of the institution in
multistate activity.
``(3) Submission to the congress.--The Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System shall submit an biennial report
to the Congress not later than June 1, 2009, and before the end
of each 2-year period beginning after such date.
``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the term `insured
depository institution' has the meaning given such term in section 3 of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and the term `insured credit union'
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Federal Credit
Union Act.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--
(1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 136(b) of the
Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1646(b)(1)) is amended to read
as follows:
``(1) Collection required.--The Board shall collect, on a
semiannual basis, from a broad sample of financial institutions
which offer credit card services, credit card price and
availability information including--
``(A) the information required to be disclosed
under section 127(c);
``(B) the average total amount of finance charges
paid by consumers; and
``(C) the following credit card rates and fees:
``(i) Application fees.
``(ii) Annual percentage rates for cash
advances and balance transfers.
``(iii) Maximum annual percentage rate that
may be charged when an account is in default.
``(iv) Fees for the use of convenience
checks.
``(v) Fees for balance transfers.
``(vi) Fees for foreign currency
conversions.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect on January 1, 2009.
(c) Repeal of Other Report Provisions.--Section 1002 of Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 and section
108 of the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act
of 1994 are hereby repealed.

Passed the House of Representatives June 24, 2008.

Attest:

LORRAINE C. MILLER,

Clerk.