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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Supervisory Policy and Guidance Topics

Applications

Banking organizations are generally required to seek prior Federal Reserve approval to become a bank holding company, to acquire ownership in a bank holding company, or to engage in new activities. The Federal Reserve also reviews filings by individuals and companies that seek to acquire ownership in a bank holding company or state member bank under the Change in Bank Control Act. Merger applications and membership applications are reviewed by the Federal Reserve when the resulting institution would be a state member bank.

For bank holding company applications, the Federal Reserve is required to take into account the likely effects of the acquisition on competition, the convenience and needs of the communities to be served, the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the companies and banks involved, and the effectiveness of the company’s policies to combat money laundering. In additional, a bank holding company seeking financial holding company status must file a written declaration with the Federal Reserve System, certifying that the company meets the capital, managerial, and other requirements to be a financial holding company.

Sections on this page:
 

Policy Letters

Applications

SR 13-7 / CA 13-4
State Member Bank Branching Considerations
SR 12-16 / CA 12-12
Interagency Statement on Restrictions on Conversions of Troubled Banks
SR 12-12 / CA 12-11
Implementation of a New Process for Requesting Guidance from the Federal Reserve Regarding Bank and Nonbank Acquisitions and Other Proposals
SR 11-13
Guidance Regarding Prior Notices with Respect to Dividend Declarations by Savings Association Subsidiaries of Savings and Loan Holding Companies
SR 11-12
Deregistration Procedures for Certain Savings and Loan Holding Companies
SR 11-11/CA 11-5
Supervision of Savings and Loan Holding Companies (SLHCs)
SR 11-3
De Novo Interstate Branching by State Member Banks
SR 11-2/CA 11-2
Examinations of Insured Depository Institutions Prior to Membership or Mergers into State Member Banks
SR 10-12
Interagency Supervisory Guidance on Bargain Purchases and FDIC- and NCUA-Assisted Acquisitions
SR 08-5
Processing of De Novo Bank Membership Applications
SR 03-19
Guidance on Change in Bank Control Procedures
SR 03-16
Application Filing Information Web Page
SR 03-10
Enhancement to the Name Check Process Related to Applications Reviewed by the Federal Reserve
SR 03-6
Guidance Regarding Restrictions on Institutions in Troubled Condition
SR 03-2
Adoption of Regulation W Implementing Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act
SR 02-17
Guidance Regarding Indemnification Agreements and Payments
SR 02-9
Guidance Regarding Significant Changes in the General Character of a State Member Bank’s Business and Compliance with Regulation H
SR 02-8
Implementation of Section 327 of the USA Patriot Act in the Applications Process
SR 02-3
Revisions to Procedures for Processing Applications and Prior Notifications under Regulation K Resulting From Recent Revisions to Regulation K
SR 98-14 (SUP)
Interagency Policy Statement on Branch Names
SR 97-13 (APP)
Streamlined Section 4 Procedures for Well-Capitalized and Well-Managed Banking Organizations
SR 97-12 (APP)
Streamlined Section 3 Procedures for Well-Capitalized and Well-Managed Banking Organizations
SR 97-10 (APP)
Guidance on Protested Proposals
SR 96-39 (APP)
Joint Venture Proposals Pursuant to Regulation Y: Guidance Regarding Issues, and Criteria for Delegation
SR 96-28 (SUP)
Subchapter S Election for Federal Income Taxes
SR 91-17
Application and Supervision Standards for De Novo State Member Banks
 

Additional Resources

 

Manual References

  • Bank Holding Company Supervision Manual
    • Section 2030.0, "Grandfather Rights – Retention and Expansion of Activities"
    • Section 2090.0, "Control and Ownership – General"
    • Section 2090.05, "Qualified Family Partnerships"
    • Section 2090.1, "Control and Ownership (Change in Control)"
    • Section 2090.2, "BHC Formations"
    • Section 3060.0, "Section 4(c)(6) and (7) of the BHC Act (Ownership of Shares in Any Nonbank Company of 5 Percent or Less)"
    • Section 3111.0, "Section 4(c)(8) of the BHC Act (Acquisition of Savings Associations)"
Last update: April 5, 2013