Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Extension of Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comment.

SUMMARY:

The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning its information collection titled, “Disclosure of Financial and Other Information by National Banks—12 CFR 18.”

DATES:

You should submit written comments by March 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

You should direct comments to the Communications Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Public Information Room, Mailstop 1-5, Attention: 1557-0182, 250 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20219. Due to delays in paper mail in the Washington area, commenters are encouraged to submit comments by fax or e-mail. Comments may be sent by fax to (202) 874-4448, or by e-mail to regs.comments@occ.treas.gov. You can inspect and photocopy the comments at the OCC's Public Information Room, 250 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20219. You can make an appointment to inspect the comments by calling (202) 874-5043.

A copy of the comments should also be sent to the OMB Desk Officer for the OCC: Joseph F. Lackey, Jr., Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or by e-mail to jlackeyj@omb.eop.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You can request additional information from John Ference, Acting OCC Clearance Officer, or Camille Dixon, (202) 874-5090, Legislative and Regulatory Activities Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 250 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The OCC is proposing to extend OMB approval of the following information collection:

Title: Disclosure of Financial and Other Information by National Banks—12 CFR 18.

OMB Number: 1557-0182.

Description: This submission covers an existing regulation and involves no change to the regulation or to the information collection requirements. The OCC requests only that OMB extend its approval of the information collection.

This disclosure of information is needed to facilitate informed decision making by existing and potential customers and investors by improving public understanding of , and confidence in, the financial condition of an individual national bank. The disclosed information is used by depositors, security holders, and the general public in evaluating the condition of, and deciding whether to do business with, a particular national bank. Disclosure and increased public knowledge complements OCC's efforts to promote the safety and soundness of national banks and the national banking system.

The information collections contained in part 18 are found in 12 CFR 18.4(c) and 18.8. Section 18.4(c) permits a national bank to prepare an optional narrative for inclusion in its annual disclosure statement. Section 18.8 requires that a national bank promptly furnish materials in response to a request.

Type of Review: Extension, without change, of a currently approved collection.

Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,450.

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 2,450.

Frequency of Response: Annual.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1,225 hours.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility;

(b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information;

(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and

(e) Estimates of capital or startup costs and costs of operation, maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.