The Federal Register

Rules Regarding Foreign Gifts and Decorations

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Board is revising its Rules Regarding Foreign Gifts and Decorations, which govern the acceptance, retention, and disposition of gifts and decorations from foreign governments by Board employees under the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act of 1966, as amended (``Act''). The revisions reorganize and update the language of the existing rules, update the internal procedures of the Office of the Secretary, augment practices for complying with the Act, and delegate certain approval and enforcement authority. The substantive requirements for compliance with the rules remain unchanged.

Consumer Leasing

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Board is proposing to amend Regulation M, which implements the Consumer Leasing Act, and the staff commentary to the regulation. Regulation M would be revised to define more specifically the standard for providing ``clear and conspicuous'' disclosures, and to provide a more uniform standard among the Board's regulations. The staff commentary would be revised to include examples of how to meet this standard. Similar proposed revisions to Regulations B, E, Z and DD appear elsewhere in today's Federal Register. These revisions are intended to help ensure that consumers receive noticeable and understandable information that is required by law in connection with obtaining consumer financial products and services. In addition, consistency among the regulations should facilitate compliance by institutions.

Electronic Fund Transfers

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Board is proposing to amend Regulation E, which implements the Electronic Fund Transfers Act, and the staff commentary to the regulation. Regulation E would be revised to require disclosures to be ``clear and conspicuous'' and to define more specifically the standard to provide a more uniform standard among the Board's regulations. The staff commentary would be revised to include examples of how to meet this standard. Similar proposed revisions to Regulations B, M, Z and DD appear elsewhere in today's Federal Register. These revisions are intended to help ensure that consumers receive noticeable and understandable information that is required by law in connection with obtaining consumer financial products and services. In addition, consistency among the regulations should facilitate compliance by institutions.

Equal Credit Opportunity

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Board is proposing to amend Regulation B, which implements the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the staff commentary to the regulation. Regulation B would be revised to define more specifically the standard for providing ``clear and conspicuous'' disclosures, and to provide a more uniform standard among the Board's regulations. The staff commentary would be revised to include examples of how to meet this standard. Similar proposed revisions to Regulations E, M, Z and DD appear elsewhere in today's Federal Register. These revisions are intended to help ensure that consumers receive noticeable and understandable information that is required by law in connection with obtaining consumer financial products and services. In addition, consistency among the regulations should facilitate compliance by institutions.

Truth in Lending

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Board is proposing to amend Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act, and the staff commentary to the regulation. Regulation Z would be revised to define more specifically the standard for providing ``clear and conspicuous'' disclosures, and to provide a more uniform standard among the Board's regulations. The staff commentary would be revised to include examples of how to meet this standard. Similar proposed revisions to Regulations B, E, M, and DD appear elsewhere in today's Federal Register. These revisions are intended to help ensure that consumers receive noticeable and understandable information that is required by law in connection with obtaining consumer financial products and services. In addition, consistency among the regulations should facilitate compliance by institutions. The Board also is proposing to add an interpretative rule of construction to state that the word ``amount'' represents a numerical amount throughout Regulation Z. The proposed updates to the s

Truth in Savings

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The Board is proposing to amend Regulation DD, which implements the Truth in Savings Act, and the staff commentary to the regulation. Regulation DD would be revised to define more specifically the standard for providing ``clear and conspicuous'' disclosures, and to provide a more uniform standard among the Board's regulations. The staff commentary would be revised to include examples of how to meet this standard. Similar proposed revisions to Regulations B, E, M, and Z appear elsewhere in today's Federal Register. These revisions are intended to help ensure that consumers receive noticeable and understandable information that is required by law in connection with obtaining consumer financial products and services. In addition, consistency among the regulations should facilitate compliance by institutions.

Change in Bank Control Notices; Acquisition of Shares of Bank or Bank Holding Companies

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The notificants listed below have applied under the Change in Bank Control Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and Sec. 225.41 of the Board's Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.41) to acquire a bank or bank holding company. The factors that are considered in acting on the notices are set forth in paragraph 7 of the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).

The notices are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The notices also will be available for inspection at the office of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing to the Reserve Bank indicated for that notice or to the offices of the Board of Governors. Comments must be received not later than December 26, 2003.

A. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Randall C. Sumner, Vice President) 411 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri 631662034:

1. Bale South Central Family Limited Partnership, Horse Cave, Kentucky; Bale South Central Family Trust, Horse Cave, Kentucky; as general partner and Thomas M. Ba

Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The companies listed in this notice have applied to the Board for approval, pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.) (BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR part 225), and all other applicable statutes and regulations to become a bank holding company and/or to acquire the assets or the ownership of, control of, or the power to vote shares of a bank or bank holding company and all of the banks and nonbanking companies owned by the bank holding company, including the companies listed below.

The applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The application also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the standards enumerated in the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the proposal also involves the acquisition of a nonbanking company, the review also includes whether

Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

Notice of Proposals To Engage in Permissible Nonbanking Activities or To Acquire Companies That Are Engaged in

Wed, Dec 10 2003 11:00:00 GMT

The companies listed in this notice have given notice under section 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1843) (BHC Act) and Regulation Y (12 CFR part 225) to engage de novo, or to acquire or control voting securities or assets of a company, including the companies listed below, that engages either directly or through a subsidiary or other company, in a nonbanking activity that is listed in Sec. 225.28 of Regulation Y (12 CFR 225.28) or that the Board has determined by Order to be closely related to banking and permissible for bank holding companies. Unless otherwise noted, these activities will be conducted throughout the United States.

Each notice is available for inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The notice also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the question whether the proposal complies with the standards of section 4 of the BHC Act. Additional information on all